Spectacular custom roadster to commemorate the 50th anniversary of BMW Motorrad’s victory in the Daytona race and the conquest of the AMA Superbike Championship in 1976.
BMW Motorrad presents the BMW R 1300 R Superhooligan at the 84th edition of the Daytona 200, held from 5 to 7 March 2026. With this model, BMW Motorrad commemorates and pays tribute to Steve McLaughlin’s victory in the first Superbike race at Daytona 50 years ago, on 6 March 1976, as well as Reg Pridmore’s victory in the first AMA Superbike Championship. Both riders competed on BMW R 90 S motorcycles for the Butler & Smith team and made history in the world of motorcycling. This year, BMW Motorrad brand ambassador Nate Kern is also actively participating in the Mission Foods Super Hooligan series presented by Roland Sands with the BMW R 1300 R Superhooligan as part of MotoAmerica Daytona 200.
“A highly dynamic project from the BMW Motorrad Custom Speed Shop, paying tribute to Steve McLaughlin’s victory at Daytona with the BMW R 90 S R 90 S.”
A small group of BMW Motorrad employees from the BMW Motorrad Custom Speed Shop took the opportunity to honour this historic racing achievement with a spectacular custom bike: the BMW R 1300 R Superhooligan. As part of this extraordinary project, Philipp Ludwig, as project manager, together with Katrin Torge, vehicle designer, Andreas Martin, colour and graphics designer, and Theresa Stukenbrock, together with the experience and passion of prototype builders Paul Summerer and Thomas Becker, created a unique vehicle.
The design incorporates the basic stylistic and technical elements of the 145 hp (107 kW) BMW R 1300 R, which serves as the basis, and skilfully translates them into the highly dynamic design language of a naked superbike, thus referencing the characteristic design elements of the almost naked superbikes of 50 years ago. For example, the start number fields and the wide handlebars.
Tributes to Steve McLaughlin’s victory at Daytona 50 years ago are reflected not only in the Superhooligan’s start number 83, but also in components painted in the colour of the BMW R 90 S of the time, including the front mudguards and tank side panels. Matching this, the blue used on the brake calipers of the BMW M 1000 RR also appears on the aluminium rear frame and the fixed fork tubes of the fully adjustable Wilbers inverted front fork, which has been lengthened by 30 mm to increase the rake angle. The spring of the fully adjustable Wilbers shock absorber is also finished in a matching shade of blue.
The high dynamic driving requirements of the Custom Roadster, capable of reaching speeds of up to 275 km/h and offering a superbike-level driving experience, are achieved thanks to the lightweight BMW M 1000 RR carbon front wheel, which improves manoeuvrability, and a wide range of lightweight, high-strength carbon fibre components from both the BMW Motorrad programme and Ilmberger Carbon Parts. Fully adjustable hand levers from Advik, a lightweight, loud titanium exhaust system with carbon silencer from Akrapovič and milled footrests from BMW Motorrad complete the Custom Roadster project, which focuses on supersport bikes.
The BMW R 1300 R Superhooligan will be on display alongside its historic predecessor, the Butler & Smith BMW R 90 S, and legendary figures from the 1976 racing season at Daytona.
When the 50th anniversary of the iconic 200-mile race in sunny Daytona, Florida, is celebrated from 5 to 7 March 2026, BMW Motorrad will also commemorate one of the most significant milestones in its more than 100-year history.
In 1976, the AMA Superbike Series was launched as a national championship and was immediately recognised as an ideal platform to further reinforce the sporty image and dynamic riding qualities of the successful BMW R 90 S. This required not only race-ready chassis modifications, but also a significant increase in engine performance. To achieve this, Butler & Smith hired Udo Gietl as chief mechanic and engine tuner, while Todd Schuster was tasked with optimising the chassis.
Born in 1940, Udo Gietl left Germany after World War II and emigrated to Florida, where this passionate motocross rider and electrical engineer worked for NASA and on Polaris submarines, among other projects, before joining Butler & Smith. There, he quickly earned an excellent reputation as a BMW technician when two BMW R 69 S motorcycles he had prepared finished first and second in the 1969 Danville 5-hour race. Motivated by this success, Gietl continued to develop BMW racing motorcycles based on the BMW R 75/5 in the following years, culminating in early success with the BMW R 90 S.
With Reg Pridmore, who at the time also ran a BMW dealership in Santa Barbara, Steve McLaughlin and Gary Fisher, the Butler & Smith team not only had a strong trio of riders, but also extremely competitive racing machines. The BMW R 90 S motorcycles were meticulously prepared by Udo Gietl and Todd Schuster.
Steve McLaughlin won the race on 6 March 1976, in a photo finish ahead of his teammate Reg Pridmore, snatching victory from him in the final metres. It was a double victory for BMW. Unfortunately, a gearbox failure on Gary Fisher’s bike, after he had led the race for several laps, prevented what would have been a sensational triple victory. At the end of the season, BMW Motorrad achieved the ultimate triumph: Reg Pridmore became the first AMA Superbike champion.
Now, 50 years later, the protagonists of that era are reuniting in Daytona. Daytona winner Steve McLaughlin, AMA Superbike champion Reg Pridmore, Gary Fisher’s daughters Heidi and Kimberly, as well as Udo Gietl and numerous guests of honour are meeting up with the BMW R 1300 Superhooligan from the BMW Motorrad Custom Speed Shop and the victorious BMW R 90 S racing machines from that era. The BMW R 90 S has been loaned by BMW Group Classic from the BMW Museum and specially prepared in its in-house racing workshop for use in the Daytona 200.
About BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides top-class financial services. BMW Group’s production network comprises more than 30 production plants across the world; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2024, the BMW Group sold more than 2.45 million passenger cars and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. Pre-tax profit for the 2024 financial year was €11 billion, with revenue amounting to €142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 employees.
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Source: BMW Press Club GROUP SPAIN