Munich. The Bonovo action BMW Racing Team und BMW Motorrad
Motorsport have set the course for the coming season in the FIM
Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). The team will expand its
involvement in 2022 and will run two BMW M 1000 RR in the future. In
the saddle will be two well-known WorldSBK riders: Eugene Laverty
(IRL) and Loris Baz (FRA).
35-year-old BMW works rider Laverty has been racing in WorldSBK since
2011 and enters his third season with BMW Motorrad Motorsport in 2022.
Baz also comes with plenty of WorldSBK experience: The 28-year-old
Frenchman rode a BMW S 1000 RR in WorldSBK in 2018. Baz made his
Superbike World Championship debut in 2012 and started in the series
for three years, before switching to MotoGP from 2015 to 2017. He then
returned to WorldSBK. In the 2021 season, Baz has been riding in
MotoAmerica but has also impressed on a number of outings in WorldSBK.
His WorldSBK record to date: two wins and 20 podiums. Baz will now be
a BMW works rider in the 2022 season.
Jonas Folger (GER), who lined up in WorldSBK with the Bonovo MGM
Racing team in 2021, will be looking for a new challenge after what
has been a difficult season for him. The cooperation in the WorldSBK
has been terminated by mutual consent.
Quotes.
Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad: “The Bonovo
action BMW Racing Team is an important part of our WorldSBK project
and we are really looking forward to intensifying the cooperation.
Jürgen Röder’s and Michael Galinski’s team brings a lot of commitment
and passion for motor racing to the FIM Superbike World Championship.
The fact that this BMW team is now expanding and will line up with two
BMW M 1000 RR is an important step for the team and BMW Motorrad
Motorsport’s entire WorldSBK project. The team is well-positioned
coming into the new season, with two factory bikes and BMW works
riders Eugene Laverty and Loris Baz. We are looking forward to tasting
success together in the 2022 WorldSBK!”
Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “The
course is set for a successful second season together for BMW Motorrad
Motorsport and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team in the WorldSBK. The
team and we have gained a lot of experience in the first year of our
cooperation, and that now forms the basis as we continue to move
forward together. The two riders starting for the Bonovo action BMW
Racing Team also underline our ambition. We are very pleased that
Eugene Laverty remains a part of the BMW works rider family and lines
up with us in his third season. Although the 2021 season was not
always easy for him, he showed a lot of fight and was very committed
to our project. At the same time, we are pleased to have Loris Baz on
board. Having spent a season on the BMW S 1000 RR in 2018, he is now
part of the BMW works rider family. Loris has more than impressed on
his WorldSBK outings this season. We are confident that, with their
skill and experience, Eugene and Loris will help move the Bonovo
action BMW Racing Team forward. We would like to thank Jonas Folger.
It is a shame that his debut season in WorldSBK did not play out as we
were all hoping. However, he and the team never gave up and always
worked hard. We are very grateful to him for that tireless commitment.”
Jürgen Röder, Team Owner Bonovo action BMW Racing Team:
“I am overjoyed that we are heading into the next year as a
strong BMW Team and that two top riders like Eugene Laverty and Loris
Baz will be in the saddle of the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team bikes.
The goal is for the two BMW teams to cooperate even more closely. It
is great for us to have two strong riders on board. Particularly
Eugene, who has been on the BMW for a few years, is an extremely
analytical rider, and provides feedback that can be excellently
incorporated in the further development of the bike. He knows all the
structures at BMW, and who he needs to contact and when, and is
obviously a great addition to the team. I think 28-year-old Loris is a
great young rider. We have seen what he is capable of. He has done
well in MotoAmerica, has returned to World Superbike and has achieved
some very impressive results. It is a real godsend for me to have
someone like him in our team. I think we have a real chance of
consistently finishing in the top ten with both riders next season.
That is obviously a real asset for the whole BMW family. At this
point, I would like to thank Dr. Markus Schramm and Marc Bongers again
for integrating us so closely in the BMW structure. We will do
everything we can to live up to this privilege that has been bestowed
upon us. At the same time, I would like to thank Jonas Folger for his
commitment. He showed great character when came to me and said that he
would not be able to add anything to the team in 2022, and that he
would not be taking up my option of continuing together in WorldSBK. I
find that incredibly impressive. We still have a very good
relationship, and that will remain the case.”
Michael Galinski, Team Manager Bonovo action BMW Racing Team:
“We are pleased to be able to take this step together with
Jürgen Röder, and are very proud of our two riders. In Eugene Laverty
and Loris Baz we have two excellent riders. Loris has started in many
classes, such as MotoGP and Superbikes, on many different
manufacturers’ bikes, including BMW and Yamaha. He recently showed
what he is capable of at the race in Portugal: two third places as a
reserve rider is no mean feat. We are very pleased to have him on
board. Eugene has been slightly below par this year, as he was unable
to ride for a long time. He is a great development rider and will help
us to develop the bike together with BMW. All in all, we are now on
equal footing with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. They also have two
tall riders on the bike, in Michael van der Mark and Scott Redding.
Loris, as the third tall guy, will be able to contribute to the
development in this regard. Eugene is not quite as tall, but
nevertheless we are all moving in the same direction together. We are
looking forward to the coming season!”
Eugene Laverty: “I’m very happy to continue with BMW
Motorrad and join the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team for the 2022 World
Superbike season. It is fantastic to remain in the BMW WorldSBK
family. The past six months have been tough for me as a rider and so
I’m very grateful for the continued support and belief from everyone
involved in this project. I’m very motivated to repay that faith in my
abilities and I feel confident that following a solid winter testing
campaign we can arrive ready and competitive at round one.”
Loris Baz: “I am really happy to be back in WorldSBK
so I want to thank BMW and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team for
giving me this opportunity. I think that I have shown during these two
rounds in Spain and Portugal that I have the pace to fight at the
front in this championship. BMW is the brand that grew the most in the
second part of the season. I have closely watched how the bike was
improving. I have been racing with BMW before so I know a lot of
people there and also, I have been competing with MGM Racing for one
race back in 2012. I am really happy and really excited about this
opportunity and am looking forward to trying the bike and to starting
to work together with the team and BMW. Thanks again to all the people
involved in this project.”