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”.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The first person to talk up the possibility of a move to BMW in the early months of 2023, Kenan Sofuoglu’s confidence in the project has far from waned in the months that followed. If anything, seeing all the pieces fall into place may have only emboldened the 5-time WorldSSP Champion that little bit more.

With just five days remaining until Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) takes to the track for his first test of 2024 – the first time that he’ll square up the M 1000 RR to the rest of the grid, including perennial rivals Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) – the manager and mentor to the Turkish star has been encouraged by what he’s seen so far. A long road lays ahead, but the anticipation is palpable.

“When I see in this place how excited everybody is, how they can’t wait to start the season, I think that’s what we need”, said Sofuoglu at the BMW launch event in Berlin, last Wednesday. “I believe that we needed this, especially from Toprak’s side. We had four great seasons with Yamaha, but Toprak needed a new challenge”.

Everyone involved in the project – BMW management and Razgatlioglu himself – has spoken highly of the 27-year-old’s first contact with the bike back in December. Unsurprisingly, for Sofuoglu: “Toprak is a young and fresh boy. Whatever bike he sits on, I believe he will adapt to it. The BMW is a very different bike, and many people have some ideas about BMW. We have a different idea about BMW”.

“We believe we will be even stronger on this bike. We believe we will give a hard time to Bautista with this bike, he’s been very strong these last two seasons. I think BMW is the one that can beat Ducati; maybe not immediately, but in the end, I believe we can be Champions with BMW”.

TARGETING THE TOP: podiums from Day 1, the Championship over two years

Sofuoglu – a multiple World Champion with two different manufacturers in the WorldSSP class – is well aware of some of the difficulties that Toprak may find in the early stages on the M 1000 RR, and how those speed bumps can affect a title challenge. Even when stating short-term targets, Sofuoglu is clear that the long-term goal is over two years.

“From the first day we did a two-year contract because of that. The first year can be difficult, we expect this. This doesn’t mean we will be off the podium; I believe Toprak will be always fighting for the podium, at least. It’s like with the Yamaha, we were on the podium every race.

“Winning is a little bit difficult. We know why. Bautista is very strong. When we were on the Yamaha, it was very difficult to beat Bautista for the win. But personally, I believe in Toprak more than everyone. For that reason, I believe Toprak will surprise everyone. He’ll start with a podium… It can also be a win”.

How will Toprak Razgatlioglu debut on the M 1000 RR? Follow all of pre-season and the first round of the 2024 season with WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Is third time the charm? After landing on BMW machinery back in late 2021 and following two seasons of mixed progress, Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) will certainly be hoping that saying rings true, as we approach the start of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship.

The 31-year-old moves to the Bonovo Action BMW squad this season after two years under the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team banner. Different faces, same machinery, with BMW providing factory support to all four riders contracted for the 2024 season. But that one small change could make a world of difference.

“The team is great”, Redding is quick to point out, minutes after the official launch of both BMW teams in Berlin. “Very welcoming, very family orientated. It feels old-school style, and that’s something that I really cherish, I enjoy having that around me. I’ll be more relaxed, more happy”.

TWO STEPS FORWARD: “We need to try and make up for the last years”

That positive first encounter is already helping Redding to put a frustrating 2023 season behind him. From an uneven first year on the M 1000 RR which nonetheless saw the English rider finish on the podium at three separate racetracks, to just two top-five finishes in all last year – an uncharacteristic drop in results which Redding himself wants to amend for.

“It’s pretty bad. There’s only been like two years in my career that I didn’t get a podium. It upset me a lot last year, to not achieve that goal, but it happens. We were working, we were developing the bike, we were doing the best we could. I think this year we need to try and double up on it, to make up for the last years. With a few of the rule changes and the development we’ve done here, there is potential”.

Redding is confident that those regulation tweaks, including new rider weight-limit rules and a reduction of the fuel tank size (from 24 litres to 21), could help to push results in the right direction. But he is equally clear on some of the improvements that also need to be applied on the M 1000 RR package.

“It’s just many little things, there’s not like one big thing. Okay, we miss rear edge grip, we know it’s clear, it’s something we’re always working on. If we can improve that, it’s already a good step. But then it’s finetuning: electronics, position, suspension… There’s a lot of things that we just need to get perfect, and then we can be more competitive”.

TARGETS: Redding and Galinski agree on top-5 potential

With these small adjustments and the extra involvement from BMW in the months preceding the 2024 season, Redding is optimistic regarding their targets for the new season: “I would like to be top five, top six in the championship, and I’d like to be on the podium more regularly. If I get a race win, I’ll be ecstatic, but we need a couple of podiums, that’s the goal”.

Team Principal Michael Galinski, also speaking at the event, agrees on this goal for the 12-time WorldSBK race winner: “I hope that with the more familiar team that we have, he can show his potential, what everybody knows he has. We want to go with him in the top five. I know the championship is very strong now, with some new riders. Top five is what we can do with him, and he’s dreaming of a lot of podiums”.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

As anticipation grows around BMW for the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, with the arrival of Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) consolidating one of the most talented rider line-ups in the series, the question remains on many onlookers’ minds: how much (and how) can BMW improve in 2024?

The manufacturer finished fourth out of five in the 2023 standings and without a podium to their name, and progress since the factory team’s arrival in 2019 has often been relatively short-lived; and yet, many members of the paddock have spoken highly about the ceiling of the M 1000 RR, double Champion Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) amongst them.

WorldSBK.com spoke with BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers and Technical Director Christian Gonschor at the recent BMW launch event in Berlin to get an idea of where the project is leading to next, and what Toprak Razgatlioglu’s arrival has already contributed to their direction for 2024.

BONGERS: “Toprak denied all these question marks”

Speaking first, Bongers lauded the rider line-up – “the strongest we’ve ever had” – before sharing his insight into where improvements will be coming from in the first stages of 2024.

“The bike has a couple of technical updates. We have reworked the aerodynamics of the bike from 2023 to 2024. Then, in terms of the chassis, we will hit the road with a revised swingarm. Engine-wise, we’ll have a small update, an evolution rather than an evolution, but every little bit helps and in this very competitive Championship, you need that. And actually, on the electronic side, this is a constant process of updating in every area, as well as adapting to riders and new riders.

Intriguingly, Razgatlioglu’s first steps on the bike back in December seemed to dismiss some of the most common criticisms that had been shared about the M 1000 RR, according to Bongers: “After all the question marks in the press, or world the outside of BMW, where people would say: ‘is that the right choice for Toprak? They have their own electronics, the bike doesn’t seem to turn very well, braking’… When Toprak came back with his first comments, he basically denied all these question marks. The bike stops, the bike turns, the bike brakes, the bike accelerates.

“That gave me a positive feeling, but again, we have tests in front of us with the competitors and it will be our first real reference to see where we’re at. We still have to work and as he said himself before, he needs some more time because we didn’t have very efficient test time in December”.

GONSCHOR: “The test team will help”

Speaking for the first time with WorldSBK.com since his appointment as BMW Motorrad Motorsport Technical Director in July of 2023, Christian Gonschor has been hard at work since then with the expansion of the project for this 2024 season. This being his first pre-season in the role, there has been no shortage of work for the BMW engineers and technicians.

“We will definitely work on every item”, confirms Gonschor. “We are always working on the engine, we are working on the chassis, on the electronic side and also slightly on the aerodynamics. To get where we want to be, you have to get the maximum out of every quarter of the bike, it’s a complex thing. You cannot say one thing is good and the other thing is bad, everything interacts.

“For example, let’s say the electronics, very important these days for every kind of racing. There we can individualise a lot each rider’s base. We can concentrate on electronics, but this an ongoing, day-by-day development. The engine, the chassis, the swingarm… It’s a long-term story. We’re always looking for more rear grip, it’s obvious we’re working on the rear end, like everybody. Electronic work is daily work you need to do. It’s good to have a lot of people in Munich working on this.

BMW will field four riders on race weekends, but one of the big stories coming into the new season is the creation of a two-rider test team to guide the development of the M 1000 RR, with Sylvain Guintoli – 2014 WorldSBK Champion and former Suzuki test rider in MotoGP™ – and Bradley Smith on permanent testing duties. For Gonschor, this could be a key to unlocking the full potential of the package.

“The agenda for the test team is quite simple. We want to concentrate on the development and verification of new solutions, and the race teams should concentrate on the race weekends. There are limited tests for the riders so they need to focus on their own individual solution. The test team can do the work from January to December for all four riders”.

As for his own first impressions on Toprak, Gonschor’s optimism matches that of Bongers: “Every rider brings new data, new skills, new questions. With his unique riding style, with the front end of the bike, we can learn a lot about corner entry, which we were already quite good at.

“I think everybody saw some pictures of the test and they looked quite similar to what he was doing in the past. So, you can imagine that a smile was on his face”.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

“My level of excitement? Of course, it’s a 10!”. It’s little surprise that Shaun Muir, Team Principal of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, is looking forward to the season ahead. The signing of Toprak Razgatlioglu, together with the increased development efforts coming from BMW, would point towards the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship being the most successful one so far for the team that took over the works BMW project in late 2018.

Yet, the increased attention and increased potential do not seem to have brought along with them any additional pressure to perform. If anything, the experiences of the past few seasons – the highs, the disappointments, the arrivals, and departures – may just fuel the motivation for the upcoming year.

“Surprisingly, the pressure isn’t higher than ever”, confirms Muir, speaking at the BMW launch event in Berlin. “We felt pressure for quite a long time, when we signed Scott [Redding] into the team, and previously with Tom [Sykes]. I think everybody realizes now that the project’s gained so much momentum, with four riders on equal machinery, a fantastic test support behind us, it’s our time to start delivering and there’s absolutely no excuses”.

EXPECTATIONS: “We feel that Toprak can be on the podium very quickly”

Higher support should, on paper, equate to a higher ceiling – but by how much? With a WorldSBK Champion and two-time runner-up now in the garage, the expectation is to find an immediate step.

“Toprak brings a certain amount of quality to the team that we’ve been lacking in the past”, his team principal admits. “If you were to ask the question to Toprak, he’d be expecting to be on the podium very quicky, and I think we echo that. As a group, as a team, the whole project from the test team right through to our ROKiT BMW team, we feel that Toprak can be on the podium very quickly.

“And I’ve said it in the past and I’ll say it again now: if you are close to the podium, you’re close to the win. Where will that leave us in Championship terms? I’m not sure. But I think the first three races in the Championship this year will define our season”.

FOURTH YEAR WITH VDM: “Mikey knows he has to deliver”

The other side of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team garage will feature the longest-running BMW rider out of the four-strong field. Michael van der Mark faces his fourth season as a factory BMW rider, and with the last two injury-riddled campaigns now firmly behind him, the focus is on getting him back to his best.

“When you look back at it, Mikey has missed probably 2.5 seasons with the injuries he’s sustained”, says Muir. “I think it’s a massive boost for him to remain in our team. We know he’s worked with Toprak in the past. The expectation from Mikey is that he wants to be following Toprak over the line, I think he seriously believes he can be right there.

“I think he fully deserves his place in the team. Of course, it’s contract year for him, so he really knows he has to deliver. Hopefully he has a good pre-season, he can put those injuries behind him. I see no reason why Michael can’t be right up there in the top six of the Championship”.

How high can BMW rise? Follow all the action from pre-season testing to find out, thanks to WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

When Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) landed in BMW in the winter of 2020, it didn’t take long for the Dutchman to leave his mark. A first win in eight years for the manufacturer arrived in September of 2021, and van der Mark finished the season 6^th overall in the standings, the best result for a BMW rider since 2013.

That encouraging start should have led to greater things in the following years. Alas, a pre-season injury in 2022, followed by two more lengthy spells on the sidelines spread across the following 18 months, derailed the momentum the pairing had and perhaps even played a part in the overall weakening of the project, with BMW’s most experienced rider unable to be fully involved in the development of the new M 1000 RR.

Returning to full fitness in the final third of 2023, and with some impressive pace in the final two rounds of the season, the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship could signal the return of Michael van der Mark at his best. Speaking at the BMW launch in Berlin, the 31-year-old has certainly not lost his confidence.

“I’m fully fit again, I’m ready to race”, confirms van der Mark. “I think we all have one goal in BMW, and that’s to win. So, I’m trying really hard, and BMW is pushing really hard. I have a lot of confidence in the project. Signing Toprak, changing a lot of things inside… I have a lot of confidence we’ll get there”.

The signing of Toprak Razgatlioglu – reuniting the Pata Yamaha duo from back in 2020 – has also helped to reinvigorate many people inside BMW, no less than the riders themselves. Van der Mark was able to witness first-hand what the Turkish rider could bring to the table in his first season with the R1, four years ago.

“Honestly, I think Toprak is the rider with the most talent in the whole field. His style is different from everyone else. He’s really strong on the brakes, so that’s something we can learn a lot from. And he’s a fast rider, you can always learn from a fast rider. I think everyone’s really motivated that he wanted to join this project”.

Does the extra attention, and the extra investment from BMW’s side – including the creation of a test team with former teammate Sylvain Guintoli and ex-MotoGP™ rider Bradley Smith – bring with it extra pressure? Not according to van der Mark.

“I don’t feel pressure. I love to see that they’re putting a lot of effort in, more and more. It gives me more confidence. The confidence from seeing them pushing that hard, I think it will make me faster as well”.

Follow all the action from pre-season and get ready for 2024 with WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

BMW’s most ambitious project in MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship history is now officially underway. The German manufacturer has become the first factory to formally launch its 2024 season, with all four riders present at its Berlin headquarters to unveil the updated look of both the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and the Bonovo Action BMW team. With star signing, 2021 WorldSBK Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu at the helm, a thrilling and intriguing new chapter opens ahead.

With Razgatlioglu, teammate Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), and fellow BMW riders Garrett Gerloff and Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) all in attendance, as well as both team principals and BMW Motorsport top brass, a busy day at BMW Motorrad Welt – which included a full factory tour and autograph signings – concluded with the anticipated uncovering of all four 2024 M 1000 RRs in their respective updated liveries.

TOPRAK SPEAKS: “I was smiling the first time I tested the bike on the straight”

Taking part in his first public day in BMW colours, after several rain-afflicted test days back in December, Razgatlioglu is already eager to get back on the M 1000 RR and continue to find the limits of the package, with tests scheduled at Jerez and Portimao in the upcoming two weeks.

“Next week’s test will be very important, because I’ll see all the riders there”, commented the 2021 WorldSBK Champion. “I only rode alone, I didn’t see other Superbike riders, I need some riders, some fighting, to see the lap times. We’ll see, but I’m very positive and very happy”.

The Turkish rider also spoke highly of his first contact with the package: “The first time I rode the bike, I was smiling on the straight. In general, the bike is really good, the engine brake is unbelievable. There are just some areas that need improving for my style”.

POSITIVE OUTLOOK: van der Mark, Redding and Gerloff share their thoughts

Toprak’s teammate in 2024, Michael van der Mark – reuniting the partnership that brought much success to the Pata Yamaha team in 2020 – is equally excited by the steps the project can make, particularly after two consecutive seasons derailed by several injuries: “I’m fit, I’m ready to race. We all have one goal in BMW, and that’s to win. In Phillip Island we’ll see where we are, but I have a lot of confidence in the project. Signing Toprak, changing a lot of things… It’ll push the bike a lot better.”

Over on the Bonovo Action BMW side of things, the outlook is just as, if not more positive, with both riders commenting positively on the potential of the project.

“The team is great, very welcoming, very family orientated”, admits newcomer Scott Redding. “I feel like it’s old-school style, and that’s something that I really cherish. I will be more relaxed, happier. I would like to be top 5, top 6 in the Championship, minimum. And to be on the podium more regularly, that’s what I’d be happy with. If I get a race win, I’ll be ecstatic, but we need a couple of podiums, that’s the goal”.

Garrett Gerloff, who finished the 2023 season with several impressive results and as the top BMW rider, also sees room for progress: “I have high hopes for this year. I really think that with the same team going into everything, the same awesome guys I’ve been working with, we can really make another step forward. With Toprak here, Michael and Scott, we have a really strong line-up, a lot of data to pool from to improve these M 1000 RRs.”

HIGH AMBITIONS: the targets of the team leaders

The sentiment is also shared by the management side of the BMW WorldSBK project, with both team principals setting high targets for their respective representatives.

“If you asked Toprak, he would be expecting to be on the podium very quickly, and I think we echo that”, said ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team Principal Shaun Muir at the event. “And I’ve said it in the past: if you’re close to the podium, you’re close to the win. Where that will leave us in Championship terms, I’m not sure, but I think the first three races of the Championship this year will define our season”. Regarding van der Mark, Muir is confident that the 2014 WorldSSP Champion can bounce back after two difficult years: “I see no reason why Michael can’t be right up there in the top six of the Championship”.

Bonovo Action BMW Team Principal Michael Galinski was equally positive about his riders chances, claiming that the goal for both his riders in to be in the “top 5” this season. “The spirit is high. I’m very happy we have Scott, I hope in a more family team that we have he can show his potential, what everybody knows he has. Garrett got some really good results. I hope he can start where he finished”.

Where is the limit for this new step in the BMW project? Get the first answers in a week’s time when testing resumes in Jerez, with highlights, all the reactions and more available with WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The first factory team launch of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship also saw the official presentation of Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) as a BMW rider, after four years in Yamaha blue. An intriguing move which has lifted the spirits in the BMW camp, refueled the Turkish rider’s ambition for the new season, and added a huge question mark on the year ahead.

A SUCCESFUL FIRST CONTACT: Toprak dives into the December tests

Taking part in his first public event as a BMW rider, it quickly becomes clear that what Razgatlioglu is truly looking forward to is exactly one week away. Testing resumes at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on the 24^th of January, and after a first contact with the M 1000 RR back in December in Portimao, Jerez and Valencia, the 27-year-old, now starting his seventh year in the class, is fully focused.

“I’m always ready”, confirmed Toprak after the livery for his 2024 bike was unveiled. “I did three days of testing, but none were fully dry sessions. Now I’m just waiting for next week, I miss my new bike”.

First impressions, even with the shortened sessions, were positive: “In Portimao, the first time I rode the bike, I was smiling on the straight, because the bike is very fast. We need to just improve some things, but we are not far. We need more laps; we need more kilometers”.

Getting slightly more into detail in terms of the positives and the negatives of the package, Toprak echoed some of the comments previously made by fellow BMW riders. “The electronics, exactly [when prompted on where to improve]. In general, the bike is very good. Especially, the engine brake is unbelievable, the bike is stopping. We just need to improve in some areas, for my style”.

THE QUESTION MARK: how far can the M 1000 RR go?

But perhaps the biggest missing piece to the puzzle is a reference. The December tests took place mostly in track days or with uneven weather. The expectation is for Jerez to paint a bigger picture. “Next week’s test will be very important, because I’ll see all the riders there”, admits Toprak. “I only rode alone, I didn’t see other Superbike riders, I need some riders, some fighting, to see the lap times”.

Razgatlioglu is cautious with his predictions for the season opener, scheduled for the end of February in Australia: “The first race is a little bit difficult. Phillip Island is always a hard race because you need to keep your rear tyre. We’ll see”.

Yet, looking into the future, that caution morphs into a more optimistic outlook, based on what he’s seen so far. “BMW are working every day. This is good. When I see BMW working, I work even more. And if we work like this, I think we can be World Champions. I don’t know if this year or next year, but I believe this, we are not far”.

Follow all the action from next week’s Jerez test, with Razgatlioglu on the BMW, Rea on the Yamaha and Bautista back on his Championship-winning Ducati, thanks to WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Rookies in name, World Champions in action. The ELF Marc VDS Racing Team have officially inaugurated a new chapter in their decorated history with their arrival in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship for 2024, alongside 2013 WorldSSP Champion Sam Lowes. The stunning Château de Modave in Southern Belgium hosted the inauguration of this new project alongside the established Moto2™ squad, putting on display for the first time the full scope of this new expansion.

FAMILIAR LIVERY, FAMILIAR FACES: The full details for 2024

The 33-year-old Lowes, a well-known face in the paddock after winning the WorldSSP Championship in 2013 (the third youngest rider in history to do so), will be making his full WorldSBK debut in 2024 after 10 seasons in the MotoGP™ paddock. He will have competitive machinery under him from the get-go, with a Ducati Panigale V4 R in the familiar Marc VDS livery. The team thus become the fourth independent team on the grid to use Ducati machinery.

Lowes will be surrounded by experienced faces in the WorldSBK paddock from the start, with Giovanni Crupi (Ducati mainstay and ex-crew chief to Scott Redding, along with others) as his crew chief for 2024. The rest of the crew has also been confirmed, with Stefano Guidi in charge of telemetry and a team of mechanics comprising Carmine Oliva, Marco Pascucci and Nicolas Guichard.

Moto2™ World Champions with Tito Rabat (2014), Franco Morbidelli (2017) and Alex Marquez (2020), as well as runners-up in 2013 (Scott Redding), 2014 (Mika Kallio) and as recently as last year with Tony Arbolino, and winners of a MotoGP™ race in 2016 with Jack Miller, few teams can boast the history of the Marc VDS Racing Team in the world of motorsport. How this will translate to the world of production-based racing is now the big challenge for 2024.

THE PROTAGONIST: “The goal is to fight at the front”

This new episode for both Marc VDS and Sam Lowes was announced all the way back in July, which has left the Englishmen plenty of time to prepare for the new chapter: “It’s a big new challenge for me to change category after a long time and I’m very happy and motivated to start. I’d like to say a huge thanks to Marc for asking me to be the first rider for his team in WorldSBK. The bike is beautiful and it’s an amazing feeling to ride a Ducati. The livery is fantastic and it’s so special to represent Marc and this team in WorldSBK.

“I’m really excited to continue working with my new crew chief Giovanni to progress my understanding of the bike. I just need to learn the bike, tyres, and format over a race weekend with the three races. The first goal in the tests will be to make the bike mine and feel comfortable. I just need laps and mileage on the bike to understand many things. But this will come and if we had to go racing today, I feel we could do a good job. The goal though is to fight at the front. I hope to be in the fight for podiums and wins and to learn a lot. Also being top Independent rider has to be a target.”

TEAM’S VIEW: “We know together we can make big things happen”

Team owner and founder Marc van der Straten is equally eager to see how far the new project can go in its debut season: “It was really beautiful and motivating to see our three machines with their talented riders on stage, and to know that they’re going to give their all to achieve the objectives set. In Moto2, with Tony Arbolino and Filip Salac, we’ll be continuing our quest for victories and podiums to try and win the World Championship. In the WorldSBK Championship, we face a big and exciting new challenge. Although we’re just starting out, we’re very well prepared and supported by the brilliant talent of Sam Lowes and the technical quality of Ducati. We know together we can make big things happen”.

Representing Ducati Corse, Technical Coordinator Marco Zambenedetti was also on hand to share his thoughts regarding the new project: “It’s a huge pleasure that the name of Ducati shines together with the Marc VDS Racing family. Their three world titles in Moto2, their excellent results over more than a decade and, above all, their commitment to excellence, make this team an ideal partner. In addition, we are delighted that Sam Lowes will be at the controls of our Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike. Ducati will do all it can to help him show his speed and talent and we are convinced that his experience will also make us grow. Finally, I would like to thank Marc van der Straten and the team for the trust placed in Ducati to accompany them in this new WorldSBK adventure. I am sure it will be an exciting season for everyone.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship will return in 2024 to the historic Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, with the Spanish track hosting the season finale for a second consecutive campaign. The 12^th round of the 2024 season, originally planned for the 11^th, 12^th and 13^th of October, has now been moved back by one week, with the 2024 Prometeon Spanish Round now scheduled for the 18^th, 19^th and 20^th of October.

The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and WorldSBK agreed to delay this year’s curtain closer by one week, responding to the dynamic demands of the local events calendar and at the request of the township of Jerez de la Frontera.

Jerez returned to the WorldSBK calendar last year as a late replacement for the Argentinean Round, hosting an incredibly memorable season finale which included Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) winning his second WorldSBK title, Jonathan Rea’s final race with the Kawasaki Racing Team, and one of the best battles in the history of the Championship in Race 2 between Bautista and Toprak Razgatlioglu.

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Source: WorldSBK.com