The 2023 season in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) concluded with the finale at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the two teams showed that the BMW M 1000 RR had the potential for a top six result in Spain. However, despite their efforts, they were missing the necessary racing luck to achieve the desired results. The best race results were eighth positions secured by Scott Redding and Michael van der Mark from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. Garrett Gerloff displayed the pace for top positions but was unlucky this time. Loris Baz had a tough final weekend as a BMW WorldSBK factory rider at Jerez de la Frontera.
In Superpole qualifying, Redding secured eighth position, Gerloff ninth, Van der Mark claimed 13th place, and Baz started in 18th. The first main race proved to be challenging for both teams. Baz finished in 13th place, the highest-placed BMW factory rider. Gerloff had a crash but managed to rejoin the race and finished 14th. Van der Mark retired after a fall, and Redding had to pit early due to a tyre issue.
The Superbike action on Sunday began with an eventful Superpole race. Redding, Gerloff, and Van der Mark were in promising positions, but the race was red-flagged due to a technical issue. After a break, the race restarted, and Redding quickly moved up to sixth place, but encountered mechanical problems and had to retire. Van der Mark finished eighth, improving his start position for the second race. Baz crossed the finish line in 14th place, and Gerloff retired after an accident with a competitor.
In race two, Redding finished in eighth place after a surge from tenth place. Gerloff finished in ninth place after dropping back at the start. Van der Mark concluded the final race of the season in twelfth place, and Baz finished in 18th.
The Bonovo action BMW Racing Team will participate in a two-day test on the Andalusian track to prepare for the 2024 season. Gerloff and Redding will be in action, with Redding joining the team for the upcoming season.
BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director, Marc Bongers, expressed disappointment with the results and thanked Loris Baz for his two years with the team. Gerloff shared his frustration with the weekend’s performance but also highlighted the team’s progress throughout the season. Redding was relieved to have a good race in the final race of the season and expressed gratitude to the team. Van der Mark was happy with his performance in the Superpole race and emphasized the importance of scoring points. Baz acknowledged the challenges faced during the season but thanked the team for their efforts and looked forward to the future.