HP motor racing, Dirt Days Penzberg, D

Although the Dirt Days in Penzberg, south of Lake Starnberg, formerly known as the notorious "Accept no Limits" event, are not part of any racing series, the race is well known throughout the country and always attracts a large number of visitors.

For Christian Pfeiffer it was virtually a home game, when last Saturday afternoon, he lined up on his HP2 Enduro, together with Simo Dirssi, in the large 4-stroke class (450 cm³ and above) event, hoping to qualify for the grand "Master of Dirt" final the following Sunday.

Right from the start, the two of them were among the front runners. Over the first few laps, they managed to work their way to second and third place (Kirssi and Pfeiffer respectively), despite strong defensive tactics from the others and the at times narrow track.

From this point on, the two of them alternated positions, and roughly half way through the race, they finally overtook the leader and dominated the field in duo formation.

Pfeiffer was forced to relinquish the peak position to the somewhat more forceful Kirssi, but unfortunately, twenty minutes before the finish, he fell following a table jump and had to leave the race.

As a former world stunt champion, Pfeiffer survived this spectacular move with little more than a few bruises.

Kirssi continued the confident leader, at times he was even two whole minutes of the rider in second place - but only three laps before the finish, his fuel reserves ran out, costing him the race.

Despite the delay necessitated by the refuelling, Simo Kirssi still managed to finish the race in second place - an excellent performance.

On Sunday morning, Christian Pfeiffer took part in the standard Enduro race, in order to secure himself a place in the final event. He won the race confidently, which was only to be expected, since - it has to be said - there really was no serious competition for this top-class combination of man and machine.

And so to the "Master of Dirt" final, where everything counted. All qualifying riders start off together in a fast lap. The last one to finish has to leave the competition and the remaining riders take part in the next elimination round. This continues until the Master of Dirt has won through.

Pfeiffer and Kirssi started well every time, winning a number of holeshots in the process. Around half way through, Pfeiffer lost out due to a stalled engine. Kirssi continued impressively until the fourth round from the end, when an error of judgement caused him to drop out of the race.

HP motor racing, Tollwitzer Talkessel, D

BMW Motorrad celebrated its successful return to off-road sports with its brand new HP 2 enduro motorcycle, on Saturday, 10 April, when it took part in the first heat of the German Cross Country Championship (GCC) in Tollwitz, near Leipzig.

The BMW Motorrad Feil Enduro team selected Simo Kirssi, winner of last year`s GCC, to enter the Class 1 (professionals) race. The HP 2 enduro immediately demonstrated its competitive confidence, despite the fact that the other motorcycles participating in the event were around 70 kilograms lighter.

The start of the race in Le Mans fashion was compromised somewhat due to a jammed wooden slat, and a loose cable in the first lap also resulted in a considerable time loss.

But this was not enough to worry Kirssi, and once the repair had been completed, he rejoined the race from behind, racing along the sandy ground surface.

Altogether, he had around 80 (!) other riders to overtake over the two hours of the race. And in the end, the three minutes lost in the first lap unfortunately proved too much to afford him a place in the first ten.

The "Flying Finn" was the eighteenth to cross the finish line, but he nevertheless managed to complete the course ahead of a number of other international stars (including the European Enduro Champion 2003, Werner Müller).

The winner of the race was the Frenchman, Arnaud Demester, who finished ahead of the Swede, Thomas Benipson and Valeriy Doczenko from the Ukraine.

Altogether, a total of almost 600 riders, both men and women, had lined up at the start of the course in Tollwitz. The climax came with the Class 1 and 2 heats on the Sunday afternoon.

For further information and to view the results lists, please go to: www.german-cross-country.de.

HP2 Enduro models

This dream has now been brought to fruition by a team of enthusiastic developers who are all passionate offroad motorcyclists themselves.

The BMW HP2 Enduro is a lightweight, off-road flat-twin enduro born out of this passion, impressively demonstrating the sporty potential of BMW Motorrad. This is not a design study never to be made reality or a modified version of a serial production motorcycle: it is an exclusive, distinctive, high-performance model in its own right. And it is a motorcycle which does not need role models – because it is one itself. A bike full of individualised and innovative solutions. And one which is like no other to ride. A genuine BMW.

HP2 Megamoto models

Originally single-cylinder enduros were fitted with road tyres, thus creating a new class: the Supermoto.

But now the BMW Motorrad engineers have put a 2-cylinder on wheels which simply goes way beyond the usual dimensions. A truly exceptional motorcycle which defines its own class: the HP2 Megamoto. With refined features ex works, this model is a blend of the typical Supermoto elements – perfect handling with outstanding directional stability and low weight – with the strengths of a powerful flat twin – low centre of gravity, abundant pulling power even at the lowest engine speeds – to form a unique synthesis. By using top quality parts and materials, a motorcycle has been created which is like no other. For the ambitious BMW Motorrad developers this was a fascinating opportunity to put their ideas into practice. Individual design perfectly geared towards functional efficiency, serial production technology of the highest quality which has passed the toughest practical tests – an absolutely exclusive, distinctive and high-performance model which stands apart from all others. And which is rides like no other. A true BMW.