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BMW Motorrad delights the crowds at Goodwood House

13/07/2010

The 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed was a complete success – with the crowds privileged with non-stop sunshine, BMW provided a range of classic and modern motorcycles with riders old and new.

Three very different BMW bikes tackled the Goodwood House hillclimb including the Vari-Trac Park Lane S 1000 RR ridden by World Superbike star Troy Corser. He was accompanied by a modified F 800 R in the capable hands of BMW Motorrad’s new Irish stunt master Mattie Griffin and a classic, thunderous1923 R32 Kompressor under the control of Motorcycle News road tester and S 1000 RR racer Michael Neeves.

While MCN’s Neeves gave the Kompressor a gentle leg-stretch and treated the visitors to the unsilenced roar of the supercharged boxer, Australian racer Corser let his Park Lane S 1000 RR show off all 190+ bhp with a few power wheelies on his way up the hill.

But it was Mattie Griffin who gave the masses the biggest thrills of the weekend, treating them to a daily double-dose of high-octane stunts and tricks up Lord March’s famous driveway. The Irish stunt rider’s crowd-pleasing show included no-handed wheelies, feet-up burnouts and riding with legs over the bars.

Aussie racer Troy was impressed enough by Mattie’s tricks and skills to take part in one – volunteering to stand in the track while Griffin performed burnouts, stoppies and tight wheelie turns within a hand’s reach of him.

In between the hilltop runs, the three BMW machines were on display in the paddock area where visitors could get up close and personal with them and – if they were lucky- grab an autograph or photo opportunity with the three riders.

Elsewhere at the festival, the BMW Pavillion proved immensely popular, with festival-goers flocking to see a range of current BMW automobiles and motorcycles including the HP2 Sport and S 1000 RR. The latest BMW Art Car, an M3 GT2 painted by American artist Jeff Koons, also took to the hillclimb course.