Tag Archives: WorldSBK

BMW

Next cease Assen: BMW Motorrad Motorsport prepared for the WorldSBK races on the ‘Cathedral of Speed’.

Leave a comment

Assen. The third spherical of the 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship 2024 (WorldSBK) brings BMW Motorrad Motorsport to the ‘Cathedral of Speed’. From nineteenth to twenty first April, WorldSBK visits the well-known Assen TT Circuit, Netherlands. Following a profitable season begin with wins and podium finishes for BMW Motorrad manufacturing unit rider Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) and ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, the objective is to deliver the BMW M 1000 RR onto the rostrum at Assen as properly.

Assen is the house race for Razgatlioglu’s teammate, BMW Motorrad manufacturing unit rider Michael van der Mark (NED), who lately confirmed his return to the highest subject with top-four outcomes at Barcelona (ESP). The Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team may also think about the spherical within the Netherlands a house race, as its staff base in northern German Cuxhaven is simply two and a half hours away from Assen. The staff goals to proceed the place it left off in race two at Barcelona and to combat for the highest ten with each BMW Motorrad manufacturing unit riders Garrett Gerloff (USA) and Scott Redding (GBR).

 

Quotes forward of the Assen spherical.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “Assen is always something special. The circuit has a long history, and the enthusiasm of the fans there is always great. The first two race weekends of the season have gone excellently, and accordingly, we come to Assen with a lot of optimism. We have shown on tracks that don’t necessarily suit us well how competitive the BMW M 1000 RR is, not only with Toprak’s wins and podiums, but with good results for our entire WorldSBK squad. However, we do not rest on our laurels, but we all work hard to continue this path at Assen. The past races have once again confirmed how tight it is in WorldSBK, but our goal is to be contenders in the top field at Assen as well.”

Garrett Gerloff (#31 BMW M 1000 RR, Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team): “I’m looking forward to Assen. It’s a track that I really enjoy and a track that I feel that I flow very well with. I think also that with some of the changes we have made with the bike it will be a good track for the BMW M 1000 RR and something that I can flow on. I’m looking forward to getting to the track and to seeing my team again after a couple of weeks off and putting our heads down and try to do the best we can.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (#54 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I am very happy to come back to Assen again. We don’t know yet how the weather will be, but it is always a bit difficult there. It looks like it will be cold and with maybe some rain; we will see. It’s Mickey’s home race and maybe he can help me a little bit because it’s my first time there with BMW and Mickey is always strong there so maybe he can help me with some lines and some data. We are always working together and I am very happy for that. My target is to fight for the podium again, but I am there with the BMW M 1000 RR for the first time and maybe my feeling is very good and I will be fighting for the win. We will see at the race weekend. In general I am happy, and as it is Mickey’s home race, I hope that we finish the race on the podium together. I am ready, I keep training every day, and I was pushing especially in the past five days with training two or three times per day. I’m feeling really ready to fight, and everyone in the team works a lot. This is also a very good motivation for me. We have done a very good job so far and I think we can also do so at Assen. We will see at the race weekend.”

Scott Redding (#45 BMW M 1000 RR, Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team): “I’m really looking forward to Assen. It is a track that I really love! A lot of history there and I enjoy racing on circuits like this. This weekend I am hoping for more potentially after finding some good directions at the end of the Barcelona race weekend. I hope for good weather and I look forward to seeing all the fans at the Cathedral of Speed.”

Michael van der Mark (#60 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “It’s really nice to come to Assen, my home round, and I think that we come there at the right time. We had two very good rounds before arriving at Assen with a lot of confidence which is always nice so I’m looking forward to it. It will be a busy weekend for me with a lot of friends and family but it’s great. It’s only once a year so I will enjoy it and I think we’ve shown now that the base of the bike is really good and we can be really competitive. My goal for the weekend is to fight for the podiums and it would be fantastic to get on the podium at my home round.”

BMW

BMW Motorrad Motorsport welcomes OUTDO CORP as new Technical Partner within the WorldSBK undertaking.

Munich. BMW Motorrad Motorsport has a brand new Technical Partner by its aspect within the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) this season: the globally famend battery producer and energy options supplier, OUTDO CORP. This new sturdy partnership was formally introduced in the course of the WorldSBK race weekend in Barcelona (ESP). The collaboration between BMW Motorrad Motorsport and OUTDO CORP encompasses each WorldSBK groups, the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and the Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team.

OUTDO is an revolutionary firm specializing within the analysis and growth, manufacturing, gross sales, and after-sales service of rechargeable batteries. It owns globally famend manufacturers equivalent to OUTDO, OD, LEO, and so on. For 27 years, the varied sequence of battery merchandise produced by OUTDO have been in demand in over 100 international locations worldwide, receiving excessive recognition from international companions and customers available in the market.

“We are very pleased to welcome OUTDO into our BMW Motorrad Motorsport family,” mentioned BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers. “It’s great to have a Technical Partner like OUTDO by our side. As a globally renowned battery manufacturer, OUTDO brings extensive experience and leading technologies in the field of rechargeable batteries. The strong partnership with OUTDO is a significant asset to our entire WorldSBK project and helps us take the next step forward. We look forward to a successful collaboration!”

Chairman of OUTDO, Mr. Zhimin Ke, acknowledged that the company tradition and targets of OUTDO align properly with these of BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “OUTDO has always emphasized on continuous technological research and development and product innovation capabilities. OUTDO will provide excellent products and leading technical support to BMW Motorrad Motorsport, injecting new vitality into the WorldSBK championship through the strong new alliance.”

The new partnership kicked off with a profitable first official joint weekend: in Barcelona, OUTDO CORP and BMW Motorrad Motorsport celebrated collectively a pole place, two victories, and one other podium end for Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) and the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team.

For extra details about OUTDO CORP comply with this hyperlink:

https://www.huawei-battery.com

BMW

Conclusion of an unbelievable weekend: Another victory and podium for Toprak Razgatlioglu and the BMW M 1000 RR on WorldSBK Sunday at Barcelona.

Barcelona. The second race weekend of the 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) at Barcelona (ESP) became a hit story for BMW Motorrad Motorsport. Following the pole place and the celebrated first joint victory on Saturday, Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) and the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK had loads to cheer about on Sunday as effectively. Razgatlioglu claimed his subsequent victory within the extraordinarily thrilling Superpole Race within the morning and adopted it up with a third-place end on the rostrum within the second essential race. Teammate Michael van der Mark (NED) returned to the entrance group with a fourth-place end. The Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team secured one other prime ten end with Garrett Gerloff (USA).

The Superpole Race on Sunday morning stored everybody on the sting of their seats. Starting from pole place, Razgatlioglu initially dropped to fifth place. In the fourth of ten laps, he moved as much as fourth place, and within the following lap, he made a sensational manoeuvre to regain the lead. He then battled with Andrea Iannone (ITA / Ducati) and Alvaro Bautista (ESP / Ducati) with a number of lead modifications for the victory. In the final nook, Razgatlioglu as soon as once more executed a powerful manoeuvre and clinched his second victory of the weekend.

Razgatlioglu additionally began the second essential race on Sunday afternoon from pole place. After the beginning, he was briefly in fourth place, however it didn’t take lengthy for him to work his method into the rostrum positions. He stayed shut behind the main Ducati riders Bautista and Nicolò Bulega (ITA) for a very long time, however this time it wasn’t sufficient for a remaining dash again to the very prime. Thus, Razgatlioglu concluded his extraordinarily profitable Barcelona weekend with a third-place end on the rostrum. After the end, he embraced teammate van der Mark, who accomplished the robust crew end in fourth place. In the Superpole Race, van der Mark completed sixth.

The Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team returned to the highest ten on Sunday. Both riders, Gerloff and Scott Redding (GBR), engaged in an extended duel with a number of place modifications. In the top, Gerloff prevailed in tenth place, with Redding following simply 0.4 seconds behind in eleventh place.

The third spherical of the 2024 WorldSBK season can be held from nineteenth to twenty first April at Assen (NED).

Reactions after race two at Barcelona.

 

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “Before we came here, we hoped to claim another podium. That was the target after a good test last week but we also saw that the Ducatis were extremely strong. To come away four trophies, pole position, two wins and one podium, is absolutely magnificent. I am speechless, honestly. It is extremely good for the project and I am even looking further forward to the rest of the season which gives me more confidence. Not just Toprak, also Mickey did a fantastic job, with fourth in qualifying yesterday, sixth in this morning’s Superpole Race and a very strong fourth position in main race two. It’s well deserved. I just enjoy the moment right now. It is highly emotional, this weekend had only ups. We’ve had enough downs in the past years so it’s good to get through the valley of tears. On the Bonovo side, the weekend was more difficult but in the final race, Garrett and Scott were in the ball park so we can build from there and like I said, there are better races to come. Overall, this weekend leaves me overwhelmed and very pleased.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP Race: 1 / R02: 3): “I am really happy for this moment because this is a dream. Not only for me, for BMW and the team. We claimed two victories at Barcelona, and for me it has been an amazing weekend. Especially today’s last race was a very hard, the pace was really strong. Alvaro started normal and then pushed very hard. I just tried to follow him but I felt a lot of spinning and closed the gas because in a 20-lap race you need a good tyre with good grid for the last five laps. But in general, I am very happy because we were on the podium in all three races, including two wins. Especially the Superpole Race was incredible, when I passed Alvaro in the last corner. I think this is in my top three overtakes of my career. I am also very happy for BMW. We are coming step by step and I think we will be stronger on the other race tracks. Everyone is very happy and will now work even harder. We have a very good package. We are coming, we are not so far and this year I think we can get many wins and I hope that we will be World Champions. I hope!”

Michael van der Mark, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP Race: 6 / R02: 4): “Honestly I think for the whole team it has been a fantastic weekend. This was one of our worst tracks and to see Toprak getting two wins, another podium and the pole position, was great, and I had some really strong results this weekend, too. So I am really happy, really satisfied with the improvement on the bikes. Honestly, to finish P6 this morning was quite good, but to finish fourth in race two was a big relief for me. It’s nice to see that I get back on a really good level and I’m just really happy with the whole weekend. I think it gives the whole team a big boost, and also for me, for the next race at Assen which I am really looking forward to. At least now we arrive there knowing how good the package can be.”

Garrett Gerloff, Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team (SP Race: 17 / R02: 10): “So we are at the end of the weekend. I am not going to lie, I was hoping and expecting a better weekend than it was. We just struggled a bit with some things. I feel like I struggle with some riding stuff on my side and also I had some issues with some setting stuff on the bike side. It wasn’t easy, there weren’t clear answers and I am kind of leaving the weekend thinking that we don’t have a clear answer of what we were missing. We were just missing something that’s not small. We just try to regroup over the next weeks and come back to Assen and have a strong race there.”

Scott Redding, Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team (SP Race: 12 / R02: 11): “The weather today was unexpected. We had some rain this morning so we did not ride in the warm up. The Superpole Race was quite good for me. I felt pretty good so I managed to gain some confidence for race two. There, I was really motivated to finish in the top ten. That was my goal. I came off the start, I came together with Dominique Aegerter so I lost some positions. Then in turn three, Iker Lecouna just ran me off the track, so I lost again some positions and then we kind of settled; the group was trying to save the tyres. Then there was a big crash in turn one. I am happy that they both walked away okay from it. There was a gap I had to try to close and I used my tyre more. I felt good on the bike, that was the main thing. I felt that I could actually push the bike and start to race and have confidence. On the last few laps, the tyre dropped more. I finished 11th in the end; the top ten was there. So I was happy, because Barcelona is one of the worst tracks in the calendar for me and I came away with confidence which is the first time in three years that this has happened, so I look forward to the next round.”

BMW

P3 for Toprak Razgatlioglu: BMW Motorrad Motorsport kicks off the 2024 WorldSBK season with a podium.

Phillip Island. Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR), the brand new addition to the BMW Motorrad Motorsport WorldSBK manufacturing facility rider lineup, achieved his first podium end with the BMW M 1000 RR throughout his debut weekend on the bike. The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team rider secured third place within the Superpole Race on the Phillip Island (AUS) season opener. However, a technical difficulty within the second predominant race prevented one other success. His teammate Michael van der Mark (NED) and Garrett Gerloff (USA) from the Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team each secured high ten leads to each predominant races.

 

In the primary predominant race on Saturday afternoon, carried out as a flag-to-flag race with a compulsory pit cease, the BMW riders gave a robust efficiency. All 4 BMW M 1000 RRs completed throughout the high ten. Razgatlioglu began from fifth place and crossed the end line in fourth. Van der Mark superior from sixteenth on the grid to seventh, Gerloff climbed from 14th to ninth, and Scott Redding (GBR / Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team), beginning nineteenth, completed in tenth. However, each Razgatlioglu and Redding obtained time penalties for leaving the pit lane a fraction of a second too early after their pit stops, leading to every being demoted by one place.

The Superpole Race on Sunday morning introduced the primary podium of the season for the BMW M 1000 RR. Starting from fifth, Razgatlioglu instantly joined the battle for the lead. After ten laps, he completed the dash race within the celebrated third place. Gerloff completed thirteenth, van der Mark sixteenth, and Redding seventeenth.

The second predominant race late on Sunday afternoon needed to be postponed by over an hour as a consequence of a grimy monitor. Starting from third, Razgatlioglu as soon as once more fought within the main group, however an engine difficulty ended his race after a number of laps. Shortly after, the race was pink–flagged as a consequence of an accident in one other flip. After the re-start, eleven laps had been accomplished with out necessary pit stops. Gerloff secured one other strong outcome, ending eighth, van der Mark was ninth, and Redding crossed the road in seventeenth.

The second spherical of the 2024 WorldSBK season will happen from twenty second to twenty fourth March at Barcelona (ESP).

 

Reactions to the season opener at Phillip Island.

 

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “It has been a very eventful week. It started with non-existent tyres, then the tyres didn’t last, and on top of that, we had changing weather conditions with rain on Friday. But the fact is, we were always competitive, in every session, especially with Toprak. In the first race, a small mistake occurred that dropped us from fourth to fifth. Mickey gave a strong performance, moving up from 16th to seventh, and he lost only a little to Toprak. Garrett and Scott also made it into the top ten. In the Superpole Race, Toprak rode an excellent race and finished in third place. For the other three, it was unfortunately challenging when starting from so far back in such a competitive field. Toprak’s engine failure in the second main race was very, very frustrating. We now need to analyse what the cause was. Mickey and Garrett were able to secure good results once again with eighth and ninth places, just a few seconds behind the winner. Overall, we were clearly performing better than in past years. Now, we need to wait for the first European races to truly assess where we stand but we haven’t been this strong on Phillip Island in a long time. Therefore, the conclusion is: satisfied.”

 

Toprak Razgatlioglu, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 5 / R01: 5 / SP Race: 3 / R02: DNF): “In general, I would say that I am 50 percent happy and 50 percent not. The goal was to make it to the podium which we did in the Superpole Race, but in the second main race, I was really ready to fight for the win because we also had improved the bike and I felt really good but then we had the engine problem. This is racing and it has been the first race weekend of the season. At Barcelona, we need to come back very strong. We have learned a lot in the races, we gathered a lot of data and this is important for our work. Next up is Barcelona, a hard circuit like here. We will see how it goes there and then we go to Assen and more circuits where we normally should be stronger then here. Overall, the start was not bad, especially the Superpole Race. I think that we will get there step by step. We will be testing at Barcelona before the race weekend and I think that we will focus on race pace because that is very important there. We need to find a good setup for the main races.”

Michael van der Mark, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 16 / R01: 7 / SP Race: 16 / R02: 9): “I think overall the weekend wasn’t too bad. I just messed it up in Superpole. Yesterday I had a good race with some good passes and a good result in the end. In this morning’s sprint race we tried something different with the bike which felt good in warm up but when the temperature went up in the Superpole Race I just did not have the same feeling. It was tough, I could not recover any places so I had to start race two from 16th again. In that race, I had a good start, strong first couple of laps, I stayed out of trouble and was riding in eighth when the red flag came out. I re-started from P8 but we had seen that I had some issue with the tyre after five laps before the red flag came. Then we had an 11-lap sprint and I just did not know how to manage the tyre. If I had pushed like in the first part of the race I was not sure if I would be going to make it. So mixed feelings but got some good points at the end. And I think the best thing for us is to see how big the improvement is BMW has made. It’s fantastic to see Toprak on the podium this morning. I think that the start of the season gave the whole team a big confidence boost.”

 

Garrett Gerloff, Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team (SP: 14 / R01: 9 / SP Race: 13 / R02: 8): “It was a sinking ship on Tuesday and Friday, but luckily we didn’t completely drown. It wasn’t the best weekend, but it could have been a lot worse for sure. Overall, to have two top-ten in the main races is quite a decent way to start the season. It’s definitely a better way than we started last year where we were barely inside the top 15. I feel good on the bike. The competition is so strong, I can’t believe how fast everybody’s going. That’s definitely not making it easy. But we are figuring ourselves out, making progress. I’m looking forward to my home race coming up in a couple of weeks; testing first and then Barcelona, let’s go.”

 

Scott Redding, Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team (SP: 19 / R01: 11 / SP Race: 17 / R02: P17): “It was a difficult weekend. I think we went the wrong way setting up the bike, I couldn’t improve the lap time like the other guys and go fast. It was a strange week throughout the test here as well with the weather changing a lot, track grip changing a lot and I think we just got caught in the wrong way to go with the bike. We go to Barcelona. Hopefully we can improve, because the bike is showing potential. We’ll restart at Barcelona.”

BMW

2024 BMW Motorrad Motorsport WorldSBK Media Guide.

Phillip Island. The 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) kicks off this weekend (twenty third to twenty fifth February) in Phillip Island, Australia. The interactive 2024 BMW Motorrad Motorsport WorldSBK Media Guide gives complete data to set the stage for the season.

 

In this Media Guide, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers, Shaun Muir, Team Principal of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, and Michael Galinski, Team Manager of the Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team, share their insights on the upcoming season. Additionally, we introduce our 4 BMW WorldSBK manufacturing unit riders: Garrett Gerloff (USA), new addition Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR), Scott Redding (GBR), and Michael van der Mark (NED), together with our new BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Test Team.

The technical part gives complete data and technical knowledge on the newly revised BMW M 1000 RR for the 2024 WorldSBK. Furthermore, you possibly can discover particulars about BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s different international actions.

 

Extensive photograph materials to obtain at no cost.
Profile and studio photographs of Bongers, Muir, Galinski, Gerloff, Razgatlioglu, Redding and van der Mark, in addition to the BMW M 1000 RR and racetrack photographs might be downloaded freed from cost right here within the BMW Group PressClub.
 
 
For the media: Latest data on X .
In the brand new season, we’ll as soon as once more not solely be offering media representatives with common data by basic press releases, however may also be utilizing our social media channels to maintain you on top of things.
 
On race weekends, we’ll assist you in your work on occasion days by offering up-to-date statements and different essential data through our X channel, amongst different strategies. There may also be previews forward of the occasions and a abstract on the Sunday night, within the type of basic press releases.
 
BMW Motorrad Motorsport on Twitter: twitter.com/BMWMotorradMoSp 

BMW

Curtains up in Phillip Island: BMW Motorrad Motorsport kicks off the 2024 WorldSBK in Australia.

Phillip Island. The ready time is over. BMW Motorrad Motorsport and its two WorldSBK groups are set to start the 2024 season of the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) this coming weekend (twenty third to twenty fifth February). The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team options new addition Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) as the brand new teammate of Michael van der Mark (NED). Scott Redding (GBR) has switched throughout the BMW household to the Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team because the teammate of Garrett Gerloff (USA). Once once more, the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit southeast of Melbourne (AUS) hosts the season opener.

 

To conclude the season preparation, each groups and the 4 manufacturing unit riders had a take a look at day on Tuesday. This was utilised for fine-tuning the BMW M 1000 RR Superbikes for the primary race weekend of the yr. Additionally, evaluation was performed on how the brand new asphalt of the Phillip Island monitor impacts the setup.

The first free practices will happen on Friday. Superpole and race one will observe on Saturday, with the Superpole Race and race two scheduled for Sunday.

 

Quotes forward of the Phillip Island spherical.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “The final results of the test day are a bit difficult to assess. The last minutes of the test felt like a qualifying session, but we were consistently up front throughout. That was very encouraging. I believe that in race trim, Michael, Scott, and Garrett will be further up the grid than they are now in the test rankings. Additionally, Garrett faced setbacks due to a few technical issues. Making a prediction for the race is extremely difficult because we definitely have issues with the tyres. We simply can’t sustain them over the race distance. This is not unique to us; it’s a challenge for our competitors as well. There will be discussions with Pirelli in the next couple of days. I don’t anticipate completing the full race distance; there might even be a flag-to-flag race. Since the decision is pending, no predictions can be made. It could either be a highly strategic, tyre-preserving race, or there might be two consecutive sprint races. Overall, it’s gratifying that this is the third consecutive test where we are at the forefront. Our package is working, and I expect strong results without providing a precise prediction.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (#54 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I have to admit that I was really scared before I came here because this is not a track that suits my style. In addition, it was the first time for me to ride here with the BMW M 1000 RR. But I tried to do my best in every session. On this track, you need more grip to ride the bike. The old surface did not offer so much grip but on the new one, I was feeling too much grip and the bike was feeling really good. It was working really well and we made a very good lap time with the SC0 tyre. In general, the bike is working really well with the SC1 tyre and we found a very good set-up. I am happy, but that was just testing and in the last ten minutes, everyone pushed for good lap times, including me. We did a very good one, we finished in P1. This is good but I am focused on the race because I am working for the race and we will see. It looks like it could be a flag-to-flag race because the tyre is destroyed after ten laps, but we will see – in general, I am happy!”

Scott Redding (#45 BMW M 1000 RR, Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team): “I am happy that obviously we were able to get the tyres here and actually do some testing because the track surface is quite a lot different so it was good for us to see what is the limit of the tyres, which is quite complicated for everybody at the moment. I’m sure Pirelli and WorldSBK will do the best job they can to make it good for the race weekend. From my side, I enjoy the circuit now with this surface. I really love this track but last year with the track surface and the tyres it was not enjoyable, it was quite scary, but now you can relax and really enjoy the track, which is nice. We did not try too many things, we just worked on bike set-up for me to get confidence and feeling. That was the main goal, just to try and enjoy the bike which I am doing much more now. I am happy. I feel that we’ve got a good enough base that we can fine tune in the race weekend. Now we will go into the first round and see how it goes.”

Michael van der Mark (#60 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “It was nice to finally get out on track here. It is always great to ride this track. I am really enjoying it. The new surface gives a lot of grip and we feel also that the bike has improved a lot over the year. Our main focus was to work on the basis of the bike which is very good. Now Phillip Island is all about tyre life so we tried to find some solution to make the tyre last. It’s not’s easy but we are working on it. At the end of the day I tried to push for a time attack but I had a red flag on my lap. The final position in the standings is not where we want to be but we were on a good lap. I am looking forward to the race weekend, I think that we are quite strong and as I said, it is all about managing the tyres and that what is we have to do.”

Garrett Gerloff (#31 BMW M 1000 RR, Bonovo motion BMW Racing Team): “I was really looking forward to ride here around Phillip Island but it has been a tough final test day for us. We had some technical issues that cost us a lot of time and we could not use the test as we had planned. It’s frustrating when you have to sit in the garage while the others are doing their laps, but better we have these issues now and can solve them than if they come at the race weekend. Now we have a couple more days to work and prepare and then we are ready to kick off the season. We have seen that the BMW M 1000 RR can be fast here at Phillip Island, and that makes me confident that we can be back stronger on Friday when we open the weekend with FP1.”

BMW

Preparation for WorldSBK 2024: Toprak Razgatlioglu’s first take a look at with the BMW M 1000 RR.

Portimão. Preparations for the 2024 season of the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) are choosing up the tempo. Newcomer Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) accomplished his first days of testing as a BMW Motorrad WorldSBK manufacturing unit rider on Sunday and Monday. Together with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK group and his team-mate Michael van der Mark (NED), Razgatlioglu took to the monitor in Portimão in Portugal.

 

Razgatlioglu used the primary take a look at to familiarise himself with the BMW M 1000 RR and to get to know his new group. There will likely be two extra days of testing on Tuesday and Wednesday in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain.

Reaction after the Portimão take a look at.

 

Toprak Razgatlioglu: “In general, I am really happy because it has been a very positive test. My feeling for the BMW M 1000 RR is very good. Now I understand the bike and we did also very good lap times regarding the track conditions which were not the best so I did not push towards a fast lap time and we did not use the softer tyre. I am enjoying it even if I could not do so many laps. We are learning because this bike is completely different for me but I now start to adapt to it. Especially on Monday I had a much better feeling for the front than before. And the power and the engine brake are unbelievable and the bike is very fast on the straight. I am very positive, we just need to do more laps. Thank you to all the guys, they gave me are warm welcome and everybody tries to improve, which we immediately did. We will see, I need more time. If we have good track conditions, I think that I can ride a good lap time because especially the front feeling when I enter the corner is now much better. The traction is working very well and I have more power. In general, I am very happy and after the first laps I would say that we are not far. We are coming.”

 

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “For sure, it has been a test under difficult conditions. It turned out very clearly that we missed five weeks, we would have preferred to test in November in sunny weather. In addition, you are anxious to see how the first test will be. On Sunday, we made a very short-term call to use a few sessions of a track day with the guys just to get some dry time, because the weather forecast for Monday was bad, as it was proven then. Still we got about 30 laps in of Toprak on the BMW M 1000 RR and that is very valuable input. We did not test a lot but for sure it was important to get his first feedback, to get the ergonomics right, getting him to know the system. And from here we are going to head to Jerez where again the weather forecast does not look so good so we have to use every single dry time we might have. In general, I am positive after these first days. There have been a lot of positive comments, no dramas, we just went through a couple of points what we could offer him and what he feels and that was very good. He was not only very positive about the power of the BMW M 1000 RR but also about our electronics, turning and so on. Everything he said is a base to work from and built on. It confirmed that we have a good package and now we need to get the most out of it with him and the other guys as well. Mickey did some laps on Sunday but obviously with a lot of track day guys on the track it has been not so easy. But we wanted Mickey to go out just to have that reference. Then on Monday we said that it makes no sense for him to go out in tricky conditions as he knows the bike and the package.”

Shaun Muir, Team Principal ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “First of all, welcome to Toprak and to all the new mechanics who have joined the team for 2024. The test itself was a bit strange at the beginning. We took the opportunity to get some dry lap time on Sunday afternoon which was less than ideal but the weather was good. Monday morning, on the official test day for us, the weather was not ideal but we took the opportunity to go out in the afternoon. The track was still damp but it was a good start. The feedback from Toprak was super, it was precisely what we were hoping for. We know his riding style, we’ve watched him, we know what we need to do to adapt the bike to him and we’ve taken the first steps in doing that. I feel happy that the test has been of some use even if the conditions have not been ideal. We ticked some boxes and that was really important. For Jerez, we hope to get dry track conditions. Toprak still needs more laps to adapt to the bike before we can even start to compare lap times and to work on the fine tuning. For Michael, the test has been a bit strange. He did not have a lot to gain and a lot to lose. For him, it wasn’t ideal. We tested some parts on Sunday afternoon which was only a very small outing for him. He supported Toprak and will be back on the bike in Jerez.”

Michael van der Mark: “Unfortunately, I did not do so many laps during the test. That has been bad luck. But it was nice to be with the team and to have Toprak in the garage. There are some new mechanics and it was nice to spend a few days with the guys. Hopefully we have some better luck in Jerez. There are so many things to test, so hopefully we can finally go out with the bike. My first impression was that the whole atmosphere in the team is really good. I really enjoyed it even if I did not ride very much.”

News

Mark Your Calendars For The 2024 WorldSBK Race Season

The 2023 WorldSBK is coming to an end, and it’s becoming clear who will come out on top. Currently leading the pack is Alvaro Bautista for Ducati with 628 points. Toprak Razgatlioglu is in second place with 552 points, and Jonathan Rea for Kawasaki is in third place with 370 points.

Although these rankings could change in the final round, it’s likely that these three riders will make it to the podium for the 2023 season. However, there are some significant changes in store for them in the 2024 season. We previously discussed the implementation of a new minimum combined weight regulation starting next season, which was partly due to the advantage smaller riders like Alvaro Bautista had. Additionally, Toprak will be switching to BMW, and Jonathan Rea will be moving over to Yamaha.

2024 WorldSBK Race Season Calendar

The FIM WorldSBK has released the provisional calendar for the much-anticipated 2024 season. Similar to the 2023 season, there will be 12 rounds held at various iconic circuits around the world. Two new circuits, Balaton Park Circuit in Hungary and Cremona Circuit in Northern Italy, will be joining the WorldSBK for the first time.

The season will kick off at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Australia from February 23 to 25, with official testing taking place from February 19 to 20. The racing action will then move to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain from March 22 to 24, with testing scheduled for March 14 to 15. From April 19 to 21, the WorldSBK will return to the historic TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands, followed by a break in May for rest and preparation.

The racing resumes on June 14 to 16 at the Misano World Circuit in Italy, which has been a staple in the WorldSBK calendar for years. July will be a busy month with races taking place in the UK at Donnington Park from July 12 to 14, followed by Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic from July 19 to 21.

In August, the WorldSBK heads to the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal from August 9 to 11. Then, for the first time, fans will get to witness the action at the Balaton Park Circuit in Hungary from August 23 to 25. The racing continues at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in France from September 6 to 8, followed by the new Cremona Circuit in Italy from September 20 to 22. The final two rounds will be held at the MotorLand Aragon in Spain from September 27 to 29, and the Circuit de Jerez in Spain from October 11 to 13.

BMW

2023 WorldSBK season finale: BMW Motorrad Motorsport lacks racing luck in battle for top six

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.

BMW

BMW Motorrad Motorsport in the WorldSBK 2024: Four Strong Factory Riders in Two Strong BMW Teams

Munich. BMW Motorrad Motorsport is making progress with its plans for the FIM Superbike World Championship 2024 (WorldSBK). The allocation of the four BMW Motorrad factory riders across the two BMW teams will enhance and optimize the overall project.

The Bonovo action BMW Racing Team will benefit from the expertise of Scott Redding (GBR), who has been a BMW Motorrad factory rider since 2022. He will be joined by his factory rider teammate Garrett Gerloff (USA).

The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team will feature new signing Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) and Michael van der Mark (NED), BMW Motorrad factory rider since 2021, as teammates.

Both BMW teams will receive equal support in terms of material specification and technical assistance from the BMW Motorrad Motorsport development department to ensure fair opportunities for all four BMW Motorrad factory riders.

Dr. Markus Schramm, Director of BMW Motorrad, says, “We have four exceptional BMW Motorrad factory riders in our two strong BMW teams, and with this new allocation, we are well-prepared for the WorldSBK season 2024. Scott Redding is an outstanding racer, and we appreciate that he is committed to our BMW Motorrad World Superbike project by utilizing his skills in the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team. His experience, speed, and expertise will be key as we work towards our collective goals alongside Garrett Gerloff and the entire team. The addition of Toprak Razgatlioglu allows us to distribute our factory riders perfectly across our two competitive teams. Alongside Michael van der Mark in the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, we have an ideal lineup for the overall project.”

Dr. Schramm continues, “Both teams will work closely with our BMW Motorrad Motorsport engineers to use the riders’ feedback to make continuous improvements to the motorcycle. We also believe that having two teams with top riders will increase the internal competitiveness, which will ultimately enhance the overall performance. We are confident that this new lineup of riders and teams is another important step towards reaching the top of the WorldSBK with our project. Lastly, I would like to thank Loris Baz for his collaboration. He will be leaving the World Superbike project after the current season ends. After his two seasons with the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, we wish him all the best for the future.”