BMW Motorrad Motorsport's Leon Haslam (Photo: Evan Williams)

The question will be whether the bike in race trim is up to the task.

Haslam was quickest at the Portimao test in November. The team tested at Valencia last week and declared all was good. They don’t give any trophies for preseason testing but it looks promising.

An interesting note in the press release from Valencia… the phrase “updated software for the BMW electronics,” was included. It has been rumored that the team would switch to an aftermarket brand like Magneti Marelli or Cosworth for this year. This statement seems to indicate they are sticking with their own stuff, but is that really the case?

In the end, it doesn’t matter. What’s important: BMW has been stuck in a rut, competitive but not quite competitive enough for a win for the last few seasons and well off a championship pace. Everyone is expecting at least a victory out of BMW in 2012. It doesn’t matter how you do it. They just need to get it done.

Yamaha pulling out pulling out might have thinned the field at the front some but it isn’t going to slow Checa, Biaggi, and the other frontrunners down.

BMW is a proud company with a rich history in motorsports and a high level of engineering expertise. But motorcycle racing is a highly specialized beast and requires a unique set of knowledge and personnel. Getting beat is a challenge that makes you better in the end.

Will they kick down the door?