KTM might have over-egged the pudding recently, but there is no doubt that taking part in motorsport and winning does wonders for a brand’s reputation and ultimately sales success. Over the border, BMW have been much more conservative in their two-wheeled racing program but Dakar success and a WSBK championship have done wonders for the GS and M1000RR models. And too often people forget the roading racing pedigree of the famed Boxer engine, so Douglas Park BMW Motorrad decided to use a build-off competition to fly the flag for the famous flatty. Going up against the biggest and best BMW dealerships in the UK, the guys built this R nineT they call ‘DPM1 Motorsport’ and won over the public to take out the top spot at the annual NEC Motorcycle Live Show.
The renowned BMW Boxer engine and motorsport are generally only associated with the history of the Dakar rally. But that misses twenty years of some seriously incredible racing that has taken place across Europe, predominantly in Germany, in the BoxerCup. The original series saw the likes of Grand Prix legends Randy Mamola and Jorge Martínez Aspar compete on tricked-out RS1100s, which would go on to inspire the Sport version of the model, and for 2003-2005 a full-blown BoxerCup Replika was made available to the general public via the company’s dealer network, for those who wanted to ride like the stars.
Other competitors have included custom bike building superstar Marcus Walz and a bunch of motoring journalists, and with the series transitioning to the BMW R nineT when it was launched, it provided excellent support racing to the IDM championship and periods alongside WSBK and BSB. So, when BMW Motorrad UK announced the Motorcycle Live Competition, the motorsport fanatics at the Douglas Park dealership in Scotland decided it was the perfect chance to remind the world, that an air-cooled Boxer twin can be a true track bike. The challenge would be crafting the BMW to the set budget and getting it all done in time.
Starting with a 2016 nineT, the main focus was always going to be on getting the visual aspects of the build right. This was never intended to be a top-spec track monster, and given it was built to be sold on as a street bike, slicks and big-budget racing suspension would simply be overkill. And there is a starting modification that makes all BoxerCup bikes, no matter the model, stand out; the belly pan. The design chosen by the team has long sweeping lines, with neat cutouts for the header pipes and the lower sections design, mandated by sanctioning bodies, captures the oil should you nuke the engine trying to chase the win.
The next obvious addition was to add a bikini fairing, and rather than go for the looks, again function is the name of the game. There’s no Ducati 750SS replica piece here, instead the cowl tucks tight to the triple trees, while the large smoked screen helps to get the rider out of the air and aids top speed when properly tucked in. The intake cover has been customised to offer a sleeker design, and fitting the theme is the Rizoma quick-release fuel filler. The stock front fender stays in place, but behind it, the oil cooler has been treated to a blacked out cover and the belly pan features a meshed off mouthpiece to help direct cool air over the engine.
At the back of the bike, a shortened subframe helps to neaten things up and the rear fender is now all but a distant memory. To get the all-important colour scheme bang on, the guys turned to 8Ball Custom Paintwork to lay down the glossy stuff. The traditional BMW BoxerCup white was chosen as the main hue, with the tricolour from the M Sport decals used as the contrasting colours across the length of the build. And given the nineT was launched as part of BMW’s 90th anniversary celebrations, it was the obvious choice for the race number of the bike.
To further celebrate the milestone, a set of ’90 Jahre’ badges were made up just for the build and serve as frame plugs in front of the footpegs. Then there is that seat, stitched in a paint matching red leather, the diamond pattern adds a major touch of class and the back pad gives it a racey mix to boot. To keep things street legal, an axle-mounted number plate holder was added, with wiring for the light neatly run alongside the brake line. A small LED brake light then helps to keep the back of the bike tidy, with bullet-like indicators fitted up front and rear, and the big ear factory mirrors are tossed aside for bar end types.
Finally, that famous Boxer could have some of its glorious burble unleashed, and there is no better way to do that than by fitting up an Akrapovic exhaust. Key areas of the system feature carbon fibre covers to prevent the rider from burning their leg, and in the spirit of the BoxerCup, a set of valve cover protectors prevent too much lean angle from grinding down the metal. Further protection comes from a full-length Evotech Performance engine guard, and a CTek onboard charger makes keeping the battery topped up between blasts as easy as can be. In front of a full house at the NEC, the Douglas Park team took out the top prize, and the fans were obviously keen to celebrate the true all-around brilliance of the Boxer.
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