Chaz Davies aims for more WSB victories in 2013

Chaz Davies is confident he can build on his impressive first season in the World Superbike championship by adding more victories when the 2013 campaign gets underway in Australia later this month.

Davies will partner Italian Marco Melandri on a BMW S1000RR machine this season and after breaking his victory duck at the Nurburgring in Germany last year, the British rider is hoping to challenge for more wins and a top five overall championship position this season.

After winning the 2011 World Supersport crown, Davies was ninth in his rookie WSB campaign but he told MCN: “My plan is to improve again on last year but I am not setting my targets too high. I want to work into it and get to know the BMW a bit more before I get too far ahead of myself.

The main goal is to finish in the top five in the championship and I’m quite optimistic we can achieve that. It is my second season in World Superbikes and I had four podiums last year and a few wasted opportunities. Last year a win came as a surprise to me and I didn’t expect to win at any stage. Everything seemed to click into place and sometimes it goes like that. Hopefully I can add a few more wins this year.”

BMW’s S1000RR came close to winning the title in 2012 before Melandri’s challenge suffered a dramatic late collapse and Davies said further improvements are the in the pipeline to ensure the bike is a leading contender again.

He added: “We all know that the power delivery needs to be improved to make it a bit smoother. They’ve made a step with that over the winter but the bike seemed immediately better in Jerez when I rode it and I think there are more steps to come.

We won’t have anything for the first race but there is some new development going on. We need to keep the same power but make the bike smoother because that means it is better for the tyre life as well. BMW are putting in a lot of effort with the engine and electronics and it is all looking positive for a good season.”