The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship paddock, barring a few exceptions, has headed to the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for two days of crucial testing with the 2024 season getting underway in just under a month. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) tests for the first time alongside his rivals, with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon) also on track. It’s a chance to see how the #54 fares against rivals, while it’s also a chance to see how the rest of the grid stacks up before the Australian Round. For a full preview of the test, click HERE and you can follow it on live timing here.
10:36 – Razgatlioglu’s left the box on the M 1000 RR, as has teammate van der Mark. A lot of eyes will be on the factory BMW garage…
10:30 – WorldSBK riders join the action, with Philipp Oettl the first on track as he tests the Yamaha R1 with GMT94 Yamaha for the first time
10:25 – while the WorldSBK field joins the test at 10:30am Local Time (GMT+1), a few WorldSSP riders have hit the track with Federico Caricasulo – riding an MV Agusta in 2024 – leading the early stages
With the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team taking the wraps off their challenge for the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, it was a chance to see new recruit Nicolo Bulega as a factory Ducati rider for the first time at a team launch. At the incredible event in Madonna di Campiglio, the #11 spoke about his feelings about being a rookie in WorldSBK, his impressive speed at the Jerez test last year and where he’s looking to make gains throughout the upcoming test days before jetting off to Australia.
“IT’S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ME”: Bulega previews 2024
Bulega has already got his hands on the Panigale V4 R on several occasions, including at the post-round test at Jerez last year. He’ll be back on track this week at the same venue to continue his preparations for his maiden campaign, but the reigning WorldSSP Champion discussed the upcoming year at the launch. He spoke about his excitement for the year and what his plans are for testing as he looks to prepare in the best possible way for his first WorldSBK season.
Bulega said: “It feels amazing. It’s a good opportunity for me. I know it’ll be a very important year. I will try to enjoy this incredible bike and team and try to do my best. We go to Spain for the first test of the year. I think it’ll be very important to prepare me and the bike to have a good feeling for when we go to Phillip Island in a month.”
“I’VE NEVER TRIED A BIKE WITH SO MUCH HORSEPOWER!”: still lots to learn for Bulega
While 24-year-old Bulega has tried the Panigale V4 R, he is still learning to adapt as he looks to make a positive impression during his first WorldSBK campaign. Speaking in Italy, he spoke about how his lap time at the last Jerez test – which impressed teammate Alvaro Bautista – was set when he was “only at 80%”, while also expanding on what he hopes to gain from the upcoming tests before everyone heads Down Under for the start of the 2024 season.
The Italian said about the previous and future tests: “I was very happy. My lap time was good, and my feeling was good. But I was only at 80%. I was very happy to be fast and to be at 80%. I think I have a very good package and team so I will try to bring out all my speed and talent. I have to improve everywhere a little bit because it’s a new bike for me. I’ve never tried a bike with so much horsepower, so I need to adapt my riding style to understand it better. When you ride this very fast bike, you have to understand braking points, how to accelerate and pick up, and you have to adapt to this bike. I think I have to improve everywhere and try to be fast.”
With the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign around the corner and big regulation changes already announced, including weight limit changes and a reduced fuel tank capacity, all eyes are on how teams adapt to the new rules. Speaking at Ducati’s stunning launch in Madonna di Campiglio, Ducati Corse’s General Manager, Gigi Dall’Igna, explained how Ducati will work on the new rules during the upcoming tests at Jerez and Portimao before the paddock heads to Australia for the season-opening Australian Round.
“WE PROBABLY HAVE 5 OR 6 KILOS TO ADD…”: Dall’Igna on 2024 weight regulations
During the Jerez test at the end of the 2023 season, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) revealed how adding 7kg to the bike ‘wasn’t easy’, although the actual amount that will be added is yet to be determined. During the team launch, Dall’Igna estimated it could be around 5 or 6 kilograms and explained how testing for the factory Ducati team will be devoted to working on this new rule as well as fuel consumption, with a reduction in fuel tank capacity to 21 litres coming into effect for 2024.
Discussing the new regulations, Dall’Igna said: “It’s not easy. We have probably 5 or 6 kilos to add to the bike at the start of the season, depending on Alvaro’s weight. It’s not easy to put this ballast on the bike. We have to try during the tests to find what will be the best position in order to reduce the problem as much as problem. On fuel capacity, it’s another important difference compared to last year. We’ll have to manage fuel consumption better to not have trouble during the race and we’ll need to be really focused on these two aspects.”
NEW DUCATI LINE-UP: Dall’Igna’s thoughts on the Bautista-Bulega combination
For this season, the factory Ducati squad have a new line-up. Bautista remains with the team for a third season in his second spell, while he’s joined by 2023 WorldSSP Champion Nicolo Bulega for his rookie campaign. At the launch event, Dall’Igna discussed the new rider line-up as the Bologna-based manufacturer goes in search of a third Riders’ Championship and Manufacturers’ Championship in a row.
“I’m really happy about the two riders,” Dall’Igna stated when talking about the revised rider line-up for this year. “One has the experience of being Champion, so it’s a guarantee for us. The second is a young rider that grew up very well in World Supersport. He was really fast during the test he had during the final part of last season, and I think, for the future, it’ll be important to have him on our bike.”
Follow all the action throughout 2024 in style using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season is fast approaching, so take this opportunity to sign up for the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup and book your place in the paddock.
Open to competitors aged 14-20, the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup has provided a proven path into World Championship racing for talented young riders since its launch in 2021. A spectacular 2023 season saw Italy’s Emiliano Ercolani crowned champion in a nail-biting final round decider, and the 18-year-old is now set to make his Supersport300 FIM World Championship debut, with support from Yamaha Motor Europe and the Motoxracing team.
The Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup will once again support six rounds of the FIM Superbike World Championship, visiting some of the best circuits Europe has to offer and allowing the young riders to regularly rub shoulders with the sport’s top athletes and the many thousands of fans who visit the paddock.
The series enjoys a truly global feel with entrants from India, Turkey, Brazil, Japan, and Australia already registered for this year’s title campaign. And with only 30 grid slots available for the 2024 season, now is the perfect time to sign up to avoid missing out on this exciting opportunity.
Each weekend, the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup riders will be based at the bLU cRU village, located at a designated area inside the paddock. All entrants will receive coaching and technical support, while Yamaha R3 machinery and a complete riding package, including race leathers, gloves, boots, helmet, tyres and fuel, are provided at a low cost, with season entry fees of just €30,500 (euros).
The overall champion will earn a place on the 2025 Supersport300 FIM World Championship grid with full Yamaha Motor Europe support, providing they are over the minimum age for entry into the class. Second in the standings will be offered a 50% discount on their 2025 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup registration, while the rider who finishes third in the championship will receive a 25% discount.
Five riders will also be selected for the VR46 Yamaha Master Camp in Italy, where they will receive coaching from the same team responsible for advising the VR46 Academy Riders.
You can register for the 2024 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup by clicking here
The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season is fast approaching, and, with it, team launch season is here. The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team became the latest to take the wraps off their 2024 challenge and a glamorous event in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. Reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista was on hand to give his thoughts on the upcoming season, and he also provided a fitness update for the first time since his Sepang wildcard.
RECOVERING FROM INJURY: Bautista provides update after 2023 Jerez test crash
Bautista’s preparation for the 2024 campaign started immediately after the 2023 season concluded at Jerez, with the #1 losing running time after a crash at Turn 12. Despite suffering a slight injury, the Spaniard ventured to Malaysia for a MotoGP™ wildcard before he revealed the true extent of his injury after finishing outside the points in the Grand Prix. With months having passed since then, Bautista provided an update on his fitness.
Speaking at the Ducati launch at Madonna di Campiglio, the reigning Champion said: “I feel much better from my injury. I spent many weeks trying to recover as much as possible. I feel good now. The last test I have to do is riding my bike and to check that there’s no problem riding the bike. I’m happy with my physical condition right now. Let’s see how it goes in the test”
REGULATION CHANGES: where will Bautista be impacted?
There’s some big changes coming into WorldSBK for 2024, including a new weight rule and a reduction of fuel tank size. As one of the lightest riders on the grid, Bautista is expecting to feel the impact of the weight regulations more and the team were testing this back at Jerez last year. With running of the new rules under his belt, and a chance to have mulled over the data the team collected, Bautista expanded more on this at the team launch.
He said: “My biggest problem or the area we have to work on is the extra weight on the bike. With more weight on the bike, you feel it’s more difficult to ride it especially in the fast corners. With more inertia, the bike goes wide and it’s more difficult to close the corner. Also, for stopping under heavy braking, we struggle a lot. We will concentrate on this and try to be penalised as little as possible and try to be at the best possible performance.”
TESTING, TESTING…: back on track at Jerez this week
After a few months away, the WorldSBK field bursts back into action later this week with two days of testing at Jerez with the grid hoping for some Spanish sun for optimum testing conditions. Bautista will be on track for the first time since his injury. He revealed that he was ‘excited’ to get back on his Panigale V4 R with the #1 aiming to work on the new regulations as previously mentioned.
On returning to the track, the Spaniard said: “I’m so excited because I want to check how my condition is riding the bike, and also with the new regulations, we have a lot of work to do. We have to work a lot to find the best possible compromise with the extra weight on the bike and try to get a good level of performance before the first race in Australia. A lot of change for this season. To see all the riders with their new machines will be really nice to see. I’m focused on myself. I’m more worried about my work and feeling. That’s all. For sure, in the test, what we saw in the past is many riders going fast in cold conditions but, when the races arrive, they struggle. Tests are tests. I don’t like to see what the other riders are doing. I prefer to keep focused on myself, work as well as possible for racing. It’s always interesting to see the new changes on the grid.”
MORE HISTORY TO BE MADE: a chance for three in a row?
Bautista has already made lots of Ducati history, winning 59 races with the Italian brand, but he could make more in 2024. Should he overcome all the challenges of new regulations, new teammates and a grid reshuffle, the 39-year-old could win his third consecutive title. If he does achieve this feat, he’d become only the second rider ever to do it and the first for Ducati.
Although stating that it wasn’t a target for him, he did discuss the potential achievement as he said: “The motivation is something I give to myself. I want to keep enjoying the bike and my riding. I remember, I think this year, Ducati said, ‘nobody defended the title with Ducati and the #1’ and this year we did it. It’s not like a target to win three in a row. It’s to have a good feeling with the bike, keep working how we did in the last two years. Only one rider can win. We’ll try to be one of those fighting for that.”
As the start of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship creeps closer and closer, January will prove crucial in the preparations for this year’s grid. These preparations continue with two days of testing at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on Wednesday and Thursday this week, with the majority of the 23-strong WorldSBK grid heading to southern Spain for two crucial days with the start of the season around a month away.
‘TITANIC TRIO’ REUNITED: Razgatlioglu to test alongside rivals
One big novelty from this test is it’ll be the first time Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) tests with his rivals following his move to BMW. He has tested the M 1000 RR already, but running was limited, and he did not have any of his rivals alongside him. He’s joined by teammate Michael van der Mark, while the BMW test team of Sylvain Guintoli and Bradley Smith will also be at Jerez.
Not only will Razgatlioglu be on track with his adversaries, but we will also see the ‘Titanic Trio’ on track together in their new colours for the first time. Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon) will continue his adaptation to the Yamaha YZF-R1 while teammate Andrea Locatelli will get to work with his new crew chief, Tom O’Kane, for the first time; at the last test he was at, ‘Loka’ was with GRT Yamaha’s Damiano Evangelisti while he waited for O’Kane’s arrival. Elsewhere, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) will be on track as he checks his fitness following an injury he sustained during his last test while rookie teammate Nicolo Bulega will be continuing his adjustment to WorldSBK following his graduation from WorldSSP.
NEW HONDA, KAWASAKI WITH CHANGES? All five factory teams on track
Honda unveiled a new CBR1000RR-R machine at EICMA in November, with riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge trying it for the first time at Jerez in 2023. Like with Razgatlioglu at BMW, it’ll be the first time the revised machine is on track with the majority of its rivals as the Japanese manufacturer looks to make gains. Elsewhere, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and new KRT rider Axel Bassani will be at the test as the team evaluate “the latest options and offerings” that will be available to them throughout the test, with Lowes specifically referencing “used tyre performance”.
INDEPENDENTS JOIN THE PARTY: Iannone and Sam Lowes prepare for rookie season
One of the big names heading to WorldSBK for 2024 is Team GoEleven’s Andrea Iannone after four years away from competition. He showed impressive speed during his first outing at Jerez in the post-round test, and he will be hoping more time on the Panigale V4 R will continue his impressive start to life in WorldSBK. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) is also making his WorldSBK debut this year, along with his team, and the Jerez test will be the first time he joins his competitors on track after he made his first V4 R appearance in December. The test will be the first look at Philipp Oettl with his GMT94 Yamaha team, having switched from Team GoEleven to Yamaha machinery.
PLENTY OF RIDERS ON TRACK: more Independents prepare for 2024
In total, there will be six BMW riders at Jerez. Alongside the factory team and test team, Bonovo Action BMW will continue their programme with riders Garrett Gerloff and Scott Redding as the former aims to start 2024 as he ended 2023, in strong form, while Redding adapts to his new team albeit with the same bike. Tito Rabat returns for a full campaign with the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team and, with it, comes a factory machine leased by KRT as the Japanese manufacturer aims to make a step forward. Michael Ruben Rinaldi’s new home, Team Motocorsa Racing, will take to the track at Jerez on Thursday only as they have a one-day test for the #21. Elsewhere, Dominique Aegerter and Remy Gardner prepare for their second season with the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team, as does Danilo Petrucci at BARNI Spark Racing Team.
ALSO TESTING: 12 WorldSSP riders hit Jerez
As well as the majority of the WorldSBK grid, several WorldSSP riders will be on track. Yari Montella (BARNI Spark Racing Team), Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Gabriel Giannini (Prodina Kawasaki Racing), Hikari Okubo (Vince64 Racing Team by Puccetti), Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing), MV Agusta Reparto Corse duo Marcel Schroetter and Bahattin Sofuoglu, Stefano Manzi and Glenn van Straalen from Ten Kate Racing Yamaha and Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team’s Niccolo Antonelli and Pitor Biesiekirski will be at the test.
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The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid will have major changes compared to 2023 and one of these comes in the form of Toprak Razgatlioglu’s move to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team alongside Michael van der Mark. With Scott Redding moving to the Bonovo Action BMW) alongside Garrett Gerloff, the four-rider BMW line-up is star-studded and Razgatlioglu’s BMW colleagues have revealed what they think he will bring to the team and the project.
“LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING THE GARAGE WITH HIM” – van der Mark and Razgatlioglu reunited
After spending the 2020 season together at the factory Yamaha team and building a special bond, van der Mark and Razgatlioglu parted ways when the #60 moved to BMW for 2021. With Razgatlioglu making the switch, the pair will be reunited inside the factory BMW box and will hope they can lead the German manufacturer to success. With van der Mark fully aware of his teammate’s strengths, he explained how he think BMW as a whole will benefit from the #54’s arrival.
Van der Mark said: “Honestly, I think Toprak is the rider with the most talent in the whole field. His style is different to everyone else. He’s really strong on the brakes so there’s something we can learn a lot from. He’s a fast rider, and there’s always something we can learn from a fast rider. Everyone’s really motivated that he wanted to join this project, in the end he came and I’m looking forward to sharing the garage with him.”
“MAYBE HE CAN BRING SOME THINGS THAT CAN WORK FOR US” – Redding stands to benefit from Razgatlioglu’s arrival?
Redding spent two seasons in the BMW factory team and scored podiums in 2022, while 2023 proved to be more challenging as he missed out on a rostrum. He remains within the BMW family for the new season but in the Bonovo Action BMW team, as he joins up with Gerloff to form the Independent BMW outfit’s strong line-up. The Brit has battled Razgatlioglu on several occasions, so his view comes from what he saw when fighting the 2021 Champion, but he was also full of praise for his new stablemate.
On what ‘El Turco’ can bring to the team, Redding explained: “Having Toprak come here is always a good thing. He’s a top-level rider, fighting for wins. You know he has the ability. When I came from another manufacturer, I knew I had the ability, it was difficult, but the bike is now in a much different place. We can learn from Toprak, especially from his special braking style. I’m always interested in how it’s done, because it’s a skilful thing. Maybe he can bring some things that can maybe work for us here. He’s been a great guy, we’ve had a great atmosphere, and I think we’re onto a good one this year.”
“WE’RE LUCKY TO HAVE HIM ONBOARD THE BMW PROGRAMME” – Gerloff’s view on Razgatlioglu’s move
American star Gerloff spent a few seasons alongside Razgatlioglu while they were both with Yamaha, albeit in different teams. Nevertheless, having worked closely with the Turk during his time in WorldSBK, Gerloff explained what he can bring to the manufacturer as he goes in search of a first BMW rostrum after ending his maiden season with the German manufacturer on a high; he claimed a stunning pole at Magny-Cours and narrowly missed out on a podium during the second half of 2023.
“He can bring a lot,” Gerloff said about Razgatlioglu. “He’s definitely one of the most impressive guys I’ve seen on a motorcycle and the talent level he has is huge. I think he can bring a lot of direction. He’s a guy people listen to. I think, for the engineers, if we’re all on the same page as riders, I think it can really steer the ship of the project a little bit more. The bike’s in a good spot, it doesn’t need a lot, but the things I need help with, like engine braking, I know he’s talking about similar stuff so I expect those things to get solved pretty quickly. I genuinely think he’s a damn good rider and we’re lucky to have him onboard the BMW programme.”
With the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign fast approaching, teams are starting to unveil their projects for the season. The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati squad are the latest to do so after a stunning event in Madonna di Campiglio, in the stunning mountains. Reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista was joined by new teammate Nicolo Bulega at the launch, while key figures from both Ducati Corse and the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team spoke as they previewed the 2024 season.
“THE QUESTION MIGHT BE ‘HOW CAN YOU DO EVEN BETTER THIS SEASON’?” – lofty goals for Ducati
First up to speak was Ducati Corse CEO Claudio Domenicali, who previewed the upcoming WorldSBK campaign and outlined his goals for the year after Ducati’s year of success in 2023 when the Italian brand won both the MotoGP™ and WorldSBK Riders’ Championships. He said: “Ducati has a great history towards beauty and design; design’s always been a very important element but it’s even more important today. Beauty fills our hearts. We were Champions last year in MotoGP™ and WorldSBK. This is something unprecedented as no company has won MotoGP™ and WorldSBK two years in a row, so I think this is a goal that needs to be consolidated. The question might be ‘how can you do even better this season?’.”
“I’LL TRY TO BE EVEN BETTER THAN LAST SEASON”: can Bautista make it three in a row?
After winning the title in 2022 and 2023, Bautista will look to become only the third rider to win three consecutive Championships in WorldSBK should he take this year’s crown, with Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) the other. He will face stiff competition from his rivals as they look to stop his run of success, and he discussed this at the launch, as well as his new teammate and the challenges he will present to the Spaniard.
Bautista, who will use the #1 plate with three stars inside to mark his three World Championships, including his 125cc title, said: “This season will be a great challenge with so many changes compared to last year; last year we only changed the number! I switched from #19 to #1 but this year will be full of serious changes. My teammate this year is very young and strong, and he pushes a lot. When you have a young teammate, you know that person is hungry for victories. He wants to do his best. I’m extremely happy because he’s here with me. The regulations have changed compared to last year. Some changes are good for us, they will help us, but some other details are not so good for me. Some are about minimum weight, but we are trying to reach the same levels as last year. Every year is different from the previous one, and we will try to be as competitive as possible. When changes arrive, you have two ways to face them. You can feel defeated or disadvantaged or you can accept the challenge, take it on and do your best. I have picked the second option. I want to do my best. I’m happy about Nicolo’s arrival and this makes me feel more motivated. I will try to do my best and I’ll try to be even better than last season.”
“I’LL TRY TO STEAL SOME SECRETS FROM ALVARO…”: Bulega aiming to impress as a rookie
After storming to the 2023 WorldSSP title, Bulega secured a seat in the factory Ducati team alongside Bautista for 2024. At his first official team launch as a WorldSBK factory rider, the #11 spoke about having the reigning Champion as a teammate, experiencing the launch from inside the event and more. The Italian said: “Being here with these beautiful bikes is just amazing. Being here with incredible teammates is wonderful. This is a beautiful experience, seeing it from inside and outside. Last year, when I was called to join this presentation, I was extremely happy. I’m enjoying it and I’ll do my best. Having Alvaro with me in the team will be tough because he’s such a good racer. I’ll be suffering because Alvaro will be fast all the time, throughout the season. It’ll be my first year as an official rider, so I will have to learn so many things. Having Alvaro as a teammate will be paramount, will be crucial, for me. I’ll try to copy and paste, steal some secrets from him, to be faster. It’s an amazing motorcycle. In my opinion, this new livery is amazing. Last year, it was already beautiful, but this is even better.”
CECONNI’S THOUGHTS: what does the Team Principal expect from 2024?
The event was rounded out by Aruba.it Racing – Ducati’s Team Principal, Stefano Cecconi, giving his thoughts on the upcoming season. Speaking about rookie Bulega, he stated: “Nicolo was not a bet or a challenge because we relied on him for the WorldSSP project. We were aware we’d found a magical combination because he’s very young, but he has a lot of experience. We needed someone like him, and he proved to be great during the first year. During the second year, when we reached our goal.”
Cecconi then went on to discuss Bautista’s goal for the year, as he joked: “I’d like to see if Alvaro’s going to win the biggest challenge. Asking him to win the third Championship wasn’t very original, so I asked him to gain weight! After his injuries in the Jerez test, I asked him to gain weight and he told me he’d try.”
The reigning Champions have become the latest team to unveil their colours for the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign. The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati squad will look to make it three Riders’ Championships in a row with Alvaro Bautista, while Nicolo Bulega is promoted from their WorldSSP outfit for his maiden WorldSBK campaign. With the covers removed from the Panigale V4 R, a similar livery to 2023 was unveiled, featuring the iconic ‘Ducati red’ as its base colour. Check out the full incredible pictures of the 2024 bike in the gallery at the top of this article!
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2023 was, statistically speaking, Garrett Gerloff’s (Bonovo Action BMW) worst season in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, finishing outside of the top 11 for the first time in his career and without a podium to his name – and yet, those numbers and the feeling at the end of the year couldn’t have been more diametrically opposed.
Because as much as statistics can tell one story, they can tell another: that of a rider who ended the year as the standout BMW rider, with multiple top-5 finishes in the final third of the season and with a pole position to his name (the first for an American rider in 12 years). In a relatively unremarkable year for BMW, Gerloff, the most inexperienced rider of their 2023 quartet in terms of BMW machinery, was in fact quietly impressive.
Flashforward to 2024, and after a long break back home in Texas – “I needed it after all the racing last year” – Gerloff is eager to carry that momentum into the new season.
“I was really happy with all the progress we made, especially the last half of the year”, said Gerloff at the BMW launch event in Berlin. “To finally get close to the podium and to get a pole position was amazing. I have high hopes for this year. I really think that with the same team, with the same awesome guys that I’ve been working with, we can make another step forward. With Toprak being here, and the other guys, Michael and Scott, we have a really strong rider line-up, and a lot of data to pool from to improve these M 1000 RRs a lot”.
THE NEXT STEP FORWARD: “Toprak is obviously a guy that people listen to”
After a year spent gradually getting to grips with the M 1000 RR throughout last year – following five years on a Yamaha R1, split between Motoamerica and WorldSBK – Gerloff is now in a more comfortable position to speak about the strengths of the package and where resources can be pooled into going in forward.
“We’re not struggling for power, that’s one thing this bike does really well. The front end also feels really good to me. I feel like just a little bit of electronic stuff. Engine braking could be a bit more consistent and a bit smoother. Maybe a bit on the TC [traction control] side, but not a lot. That’s what I’m saying. We’re not missing a lot, but if you’re missing two tenths a lap, that’s two seconds at the end of the race; it’s all about those last ‘nths’ of a degree. We’re a lot closer than we were at the beginning of last year”.
It’s one area where Gerloff believes the arrival of Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) can have a positive influence on the entire project: “I think he can bring a lot of direction. He’s obviously a guy that people listen to. For the engineers, if we can all be on the same page as riders, I feel like it can steer the ship of the project”.
Should everything line up properly, Gerloff’s target is clear: the one glaring omission from his 2023 results: “I want a damn podium, bad! I got close last year but no cigar. A podium would be super nice. That pole position also tasted super good, so a few more of those wouldn’t be bad, but it’s going to be tough, not gonna lie”.
GALINSKI’S GOAL: “We hope for a big battle with Scott”
Bonovo Action BMW Team Principal Michael Galinski, after the satisfactory end to the season, is also setting a high bar for Gerloff in the new year: “Garrett is really good. He came from up from being down and he got really good results. I hope he can start in the same way he finished last year. We hope for a big battle with Scott and we expect him to be in the top five”.
How high can Gerloff climb in 2024? Follow the full season thanks to WorldSBK VideoPass!
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