Franchise Notes: BMW Motorrad To Leave Superbike World Championship After Season

Starting at the conclusion of this season, BMW Motorrad will terminate its factory involvement in the FIM Superbike World Championship. BMW Motorrad's resources and commitment will switch to other motorsport activities like the int'l customer sports program starting in '14. BMW Motorrad General Dir Stephan Schaller said, "BMW Motorrad will remain involved in motorsport and in doing so we will focus on the int'l customer sport in all its facets" (BMW). ... With the National Rugby League Cronulla Sharks in the grip of a full-blown Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigation, "officials can take solace in the fact that the club's long-suffering fans have rallied like never before." NRL statistics highlighted that "the Sharks have recorded an unprecedented increase in membership." For the first time in the club's history, "membership has passed the 10,000 mark" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/25).