Jerez de la Frontera. In preparation for the 2022 season of
the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), BMW Motorrad
Motorsport carried out its first winter test. The two BMW teams –
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and Bonovo action BMW Racing Team – took
to the track in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, this week.
In the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, Michael van der Mark (NED)
continued his work on the BMW M 1000 RR as he looks to take another
step forward next season after one win and a further two podiums in
2021. Scott Redding (GBR) used the test days to familiarise himself
with his future bike and team. The Brit had gained his first
experience on his new bike during a private test in Estoril (POR) last
week. The focus there was on getting to know the bike and recording
the ergometry. The findings from the test were implemented quickly and
the modified parts and new components were already available by the
time he arrived at the Jerez de la Frontera test.
With the two riders, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team tested engine
specifications for 2022, as well as chassis modifications. The direct
competitive comparison allows the team to determine the work direction
in preparation for the next test in the new year.
The Bonovo action BMW Racing Team is also at Jerez de la Frontera
with its two new riders. After Eugene Laverty (IRL) and Loris Baz
(FRA) visited the team headquarters in Germany in November, they began
the test work together at the racetrack. Laverty, who was heavily
involved in the development of the BMW M 1000 RR, will be racing with
the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team in his third season as a BMW works
driver. Baz is already familiar with the BMW S 1000 RR, on which he
rode in the WorldSBK in 2018, and uses the test to learn more about
the M RR.
Quotes after the Jerez de la Frontera test.
Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director:
“There have been a lot of new things at this test. In general, it has
been important to test with all four riders, including the two new
additions Baz and Redding, before Christmas. It was good to have all
four riders on the same bike on the same race track. We brought a lot
of new test items that we either confirmed or evaluated with all four
of the in order to get the right direction. With two new riders you of
course first to get used to the way they give their feedback and how
to transfer their comments but we managed that very well. We then also
compared this feedback with that given by van der Mark and Laverty who
already knew the bike very well. We have ticked all boxes in our test
programme but maybe might do some further laps tomorrow. We gathered a
huge amount of information and this is now to be analysed. Overall, we
found very good directions and in general, I am very satisfied. We
take a lot of positives back home. Now we will have a well-deserved
Christmas break but then we will continue to intensively prepare for
the season. We are very optimistic looking forward.”
Shaun Muir, Team Principal BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team:
“It has been a successful test for both sides of the pit box.
We have a new rider with Scott. He had a lot of things to work through
but most importantly for him was to find that comfortable setting
feeling with the bike. I am really pleased about his work ethic in the
pit box. He has put a lot of laps in and he acclimatised very well. On
Michael’s side, we worked on similar development parts to what Scott
has and he has been working through that very well as well. Comparing
both riders’ feedback it is very similar and I am very pleased about
that. I think it is proving that the set-up direction we are going
with the BMW M 1000 RR is aligned between both riders which is very
important. Equally important is that we got new team-members within
the group and I am really pleased to see how all these guys are
working together. There has been a lot of overlapping, a lot of
chassis changes, a lot of engine changes and everybody has been
working as a group, so I applaud all the team and all the guys working
very closely together. Overall I think we can leave the test here at
Jerez with our heads held up high, we have done a good job and we can
go into the Christmas break with a lot of confidence and get ready for
our next test in the new year.”
Michael van der Mark, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It
was good to have a test even if it was so late in the year. We had a
lot of new components and items to try on the bike. At this test we
barely played around with the set-up of the bike, we mainly tried new
parts to figure out what brings improvement and what does not. We need
to get some ideas and start producing the new things. It has been a
really good test and I am really happy with a lot of new things. It
was great to gather good information and now I am looking forward to a
short Christmas break.”
Michael Galinski, Team Manager Bonovo action BMW Racing Team:
“It has been the first test for the new season and the first
time for us to be at the race track with the big team. I want to take
this opportunity to say a big thank you to Jürgen Röder, who made it
possible for us to now compete as a two-rider team. He will attend
many races next year and we are looking forward to that. We have a lot
of new people with us, also the riders are partly new for us. Of
course we have known both for many years. Loris has already raced for
our team and I have also known Eugene for quite some time. Both did a
great job at the test. But not only that, it was also important for me
to gel with the new members as a team and to get used to each other.
That worked very well. With new people, for example from England and
France, our team has become more international after being a more or
less German squad in the past. Like at every other team, English is
now our team language. The collaboration in the combination with SMR
and Bonovo action also works very well. There are always a lot of
things to try and when time allows we share this between us. The test
has been very positive in all aspects, we are also happy with the lap
times. But we still have some things to find and work to do.”
Eugene Laverty, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “I
already met the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team in November when we went
to Germany and spent a weekend together with the guys. They invited us
all there and it was so nice to meet each other away from the track
because sometimes you only meet the guys in a work environment. So to
go there, have some beers and relax away from the track and made me
feel at home straight away. The first test days with the team have
been very positive. I felt comfortable on the bike immediately after
the first couple of exits on day one. I feel good in braking which is
an area I am always working on. I am happy with the progress we are
making. There is still work to do to improve our turning in the long
corners compared to the other BMW riders but I am happy that we are
right there in the mix. There is a really good atmosphere in the box,
I get on very well with Loris. He is a fast guy and that’s important,
to have a fast team-mate to push you. We work together well and all
the guys are experienced as well. It’s great crew and I think we have
a good year ahead of us.”
Loris Baz, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “I am happy
to be back with BMW and about the opportunity to be back in WorldSBK.
I was really looking forward to that test to have a first impression.
A December test is never the most crucial one of the season but it’s
really important for getting to know the team, to meet the people and
for the feeling you are going into the winter with. The test was a lot
of work, we did a lot of laps. Also, I was back on the bike after
nearly three months and it is never easy when you jump on a bike that
is completely different. The test was about understanding how the bike
works and also to try to give the best input based on the differences
of all the bikes I know. I have riden a lot of bikes in WorldSBK so I
was trying to adapt to the bike and at the same time give the right
input on what we can improve on that bike. The M RR has a lot of
strong points, we just need to put them together to get a bike that
works well from a riding side. When you start working with a new bike,
you have to switch from one riding style to another but we did a good
job, completing over 150 laps. Yes, I am happy. We tried some new
parts for next year and mainly a lot of things on the electronics, and
with every run we went faster and I felt a bit more confident on the
bike. I am satisfied with the job so far.”