As the European MotoGP season kicked off last weekend at Jerez in Spain, BMW M announced its continued involvement in the most exciting motorsport championship in the world and presented its 2009 safety fleet, which includes two BMW motorcycles and the eagerly awaited, all-new 555 hp X6 M.

MotoGP followers will see BMW S 1000 RR and HP2 Sport machines being used as Safety Bikes at the front of each Grand Prix grid. The new Superbike will be familiar to race fans as the machine that BMW Motorrad Motorsport team riders Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus are campaigning in this year's World Superbike series, but for many it will be the first time they have seen the special liveried bike in real life.

The new S 1000 RR is the pinnacle of BMW Motorrad's skill and precision engineering, and because the series production version is not due for launch until later this year, the designated riders (supplied by series organiser Dorna) have to sign confidentiality agreements to prevent any details of this eagerly anticipated new model being 'leaked' to the press. Journalists and invited VIPs are, however, able to enjoy laps of the various circuits on the formidable HP2 Sport, which has been used by television presenters to describe various tracks from a rider's perspective.

Before each of the world championship races starts, one of the motorcycles will make a lap to check the track and the racing lines for the safety of the riders, followed by the X6 M. Then, three minutes before the official 'warm-up lap' starts, the M6 safety car will do one lap and then after the actual race has started, will follow at the back of the grid just in case something happens. Usually, experienced motorcyclists employed by Dorna ride the bikes, although famous riders and former GP racers - including Randy Mamola and Luca Cadalora - have also performed this role, as well as motorcycle journalists.

This is the 11th season that BMW has been the Official Car of MotoGP and has supplied a selection of high-performance cars for series organisers Dorna and IRTA officials to use throughout the 17-race world championship. Each of the Safety Cars gets transported to every round of the title chase, providing swift and immediate transport for Race Control, the Stewards and Medical crews should they need to get to the Craner Curves at Donington or the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca.

Heading the Safety Car fleet is the new BMW X6 M, which was only recently unveiled at the New York Motor Show. Alongside it on each MotoGP grid will be the 507 bhp V10 BMW M6. Race Director Paul Butler will have a BMW M5 Touring at his disposal, while the Medical Car will be a 330i Touring, together with a brand new M3 Sedan for the Safety Officer - who just happens to be former 500cc World Champion Franco Uncini. Finally, the Race Stewards will have the use of a X5 4.8i. Elsewhere there are up to 25 other BMWs tending to the needs of guests from the VIP Village and MotoGP Paddock.

The MotoGP riders are not just battling for honours in the World Championship, but they have once more been racing for two brand new BMWs in the 2009 season - one for being the fastest during the MotoGP Official Test at Jerez, and the other will go to the Best Qualifier throughout the 17-race season.

An ultra exclusive BMW 135i 'BMW Sauber F1 Team Edition' (only 135 of these cars were made, in respect of the 135 points that the BMW Sauber F1 team scored last year in Formula One) went to the fastest rider at Jerez, which just happened to be Casey Stoner. The 2007 world champion speared his way around the Jerez track during the 45 minute session in an utterly stunning 1:38.646 seconds, leaving the other riders trailing in his wake, with only reigning champion Valentino Rossi anything like close. For Stoner this was the perfect start to the season in his bid to recapture the MotoGP title.

As in previous years, BMW is also sponsoring the BMW M Award for the best overall qualifier in MotoGP. With a points system identical to that used by the MotoGP World Championship for race positions (25 points for pole position, 20 for second etc), Stoner is hoping to make it three out of three. He came up double top in 2008, running off with a BMW Z4 M Roadster at the test, and then a BMW M3 Cabrio at the end of the year - and these cars to go next to the M3 Coupe that he won in 2007 when he was en route to the world title. That's one impressive garage full of BMWs; however, not as impressive as Valentino Rossi, who has four tucked away back in Italy, while Sete Gibernau has two near Barcelona.

After three rounds of this year's series, the young Australian currently leads the BMW M Award standings by just three points from Valentino Rossi, with Motegi winner Jorge Lorenzo one point further back in third place.

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