MotoGP star wins BMW M3 Touring

Following the culmination of the 2022 MotoGP season it was time for the traditional presentation of the BMW M award for the fastest MotoGP qualifier of the season.

This year it was Francesco Bagnaia that walked away with the laurels, earning himself a BMW M3 Competition Touring with xDrive. The keys were handed over by Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M and Carmelo Expeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports at the last round of the championship in Valencia, Spain.

BMW M have had a close partnership with MotoGP for 20 years, which sees the high performance brand provide performance vehicles for use as the safety car and medical car, ensuring the safety of riders at circuits across the world. During these 20 years there have been 15 vehicles have fulfilled these important roles including the BMW Z8, BMW 645 Ci, BMW Z4, BMW M4 Competition, BMW M8 Competition, BMW M8 Gran Coupe as well as the current BMW M3 Touring.

Ducati rider Bagnaia managed to clinch five out of the 20 pole positions this season, making him a clear winner in outright pace when it comes to the traditional Saturday afternoon qualifying session.

“I am so happy to have won the BMW M award as it has been my goal since I started competing in MotoGP and I finally achieved it this year, I cant wait to get behind the wheel. BMW M has also unveiled the prize for next years award, in the form of the M2 and this gives me extra motivation to defend my fastest qualifier title when the 2023 season commences,” said Bagnaia.

“The award for the best qualifier at the final has become a firm tradition for us, and I am delighted to be able to hand over the winner’s car for the BMW M Award to Pecco Bagnaia for the first time. I am sure that he will have a lot of fun with our first BMW M3 Touring. We are proud to have presented the BMW M Award for the 20th time. It is fantastic that this accolade is still as appealing to riders as it was two decades ago. Which is why I am pleased that we are able to look ahead to the next MotoGP season and the BMW M Award 2023 here in Valencia. The new BMW M2 is our latest M high-performance automobile, which made its world debut very recently – making it the perfect winner’s car for next year.” said BMW M CEO van Meel.

The BMW M3 Touring adds a new body variant to the BMW M line up of performance models in the premium midsize performance category. This model combines an authentic motor sport feeling with a very distinct character and a broad spread of practical qualities.

The powertrain includes the TwinPower Turbocharged six-cylinder engine that boasts 375kW and 650Nm paired with an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic and M xDrive all-wheel drive. The result is a vehicle that can sprint from standstill to 100km/h in 3.6 seconds and can reach 200km/h in just 12.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 250km/h or 280km/h if the M Driver’s package is added.

The variable use interior of the first BMW M3 Touring results in a unique offering that allows drivers to experience typical M-performance in a package that is practical for everyday use.

Electrically adjustable M Sport seats with memory function and seat heating plus Merino leather trim come standard in the M3 Touring, however M Carbon bucket seats are available as an option. The rear compartment features three full-size seats and the backrest can be split in a 40:20:40 fashion, allowing the boot space to be expanded from 500 litres to 1 510 litres, as required.