Since 1999, BMW has been MotoGP’s official provider of safety cars. These cars are the ones you see in front and behind the pack of riders as they take their warm-up laps. They also appear if there is an emergency on the race track itself.
For the first time in 20 years, BMW will be fielding a superbike as one of the official safety vehicles in MotoGP. It will begin this season, which will commence on March 28, 2021, with the Grand Prix of Qatar in Losail.
The 2021 MotoGP season in Qatar will also serve as the debut of the BMW M3, M4, and M5 CS Safety Cars. They will be joined by the new BMW M 1000 RR Safety Bike. The BMW M 1000 RR is the first M model from BMW Motorrad.
It won't be competing in MotoGP but it will be in the Superbike World Championship (WSBK).
“The safety car fleet is the focal point of our involvement in the MotoGP and we are very proud to be starting the season with four new vehicles for the first time in our 20-year history as ‘Official Car of MotoGP’,” said Markus Flasch, CEO BMW M GmbH. “Our three new safety cars are based on production models, which deliver outstanding performance and driving dynamics that make them ideally suited to appear in the MotoGP. They will be joined by the new BMW M 1000 RR as the safety bike. The first M model on two wheels has been developed in motorsport and will meet the most exacting requirements on the racetrack. We are looking forward to the season-opener in Qatar and seeing our new fleet in action.”
BMW M is taking a new approach to colors with the safety cars this year. Instead of appearing in classic motorsport white, the safety vehicles will be sporting exclusive colors from M production models: the BMW M3 Competition Sedan Safety Car will be in Frozen Grey Dark Metallic, the BMW M4 Competition Coupe Safety Car will be in São Paulo Yellow, and the BMW M5 CS Safety Car will be in Frozen Deep Green Metallic.
When designing the livery, BMW M has again chosen to stay with a classic, purist safety car look. It emphasizes the basic colors of the vehicles, simultaneously underlining the typical appearance of a safety car. The new BMW M 1000 RR Safety Bike is white with the well-known M colors, bearing the livery that the BMW M 1000 RR will also be using in the Superbike World Championship (WSBK).
