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MotoGP Czech GP: Ogura scorches to first pole position

MotoGP
Czech GP
MotoGP Czech GP: Ogura scorches to first pole position

Has Alpine finally started its return climb?

Feature
Formula 1
Has Alpine finally started its return climb?

Formula E Sanya: Dennis wins red-flagged race as championship leader Evans retires

Formula E
Sanya ePrix
Formula E Sanya: Dennis wins red-flagged race as championship leader Evans retires

Supercars Darwin: Allen wins as Mostert impresses

Supercars
Darwin Triple Crown
Supercars Darwin: Allen wins as Mostert impresses

Trackhouse Aprilia set to finalise Raul Fernandez 2027 MotoGP deal

MotoGP
Czech GP
Trackhouse Aprilia set to finalise Raul Fernandez 2027 MotoGP deal

Acosta points out the major flaw in MotoGP's plan to ban front holeshot device mid-season

MotoGP
Czech GP
Acosta points out the major flaw in MotoGP's plan to ban front holeshot device mid-season

The bold Ferrari turnaround that enabled Hamilton's Barcelona win

Feature
Formula 1
Barcelona-Catalunya GP
The bold Ferrari turnaround that enabled Hamilton's Barcelona win

Vital step made towards USA's WRC return

WRC
Vital step made towards USA's WRC return

BMW sure to solve development issues

BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen is confident his team will get on top of the reasons why they could could not match Ferrari and McLaren's development rate this year

The pace of the F1.08 in the first half of the season helped Robert Kubica take BMW Sauber's maiden victory in the Canadian Grand Prix and briefly move to the top of the championship standings.

However, they were unable to keep up the development of their car and slipped away from the pace of their title rivals over the second half of the campaign.

That area is viewed as key if BMW Sauber are to fight for the world championship next year - and Theissen says he has little doubt the team will get to grips with exactly what they need to do to ensure there is no repeat in 2009.

"We are now in the process of analyzing it," said Theissen about the development issue. "We will do that in the same way we did it earlier this year, when the initial performance of the car was not satisfying.

"I am sure we will get on top of it in order to have a steeper development curve again. Last year was good in terms of in-season development, so there is no reason why we should not be strong again."

Theissen believes the early work the team did on their 2009 car was not a factor in hindering their progress over the course of this season.

"No. Definitely not," he explained. "We ran both programmes in parallel and the key issue is that some projects which showed an advantage in simulation as well as the wind tunnel did not prove to be an advantage on the track. That is what we have to analyse."

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