The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team headed to the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for some testing, marking Toprak Razgatlioglu’s debut with the team. He was there with Michael van der Mark as the pair reunited after they spent the 2020 season together while at Yamaha and the Dutchman spoke about the atmosphere in the team following the Turk’s arrival, and other new personnel, while giving a brief review of his test.

Razgatlioglu and van der Mark were at the factory Yamaha outfit in 2020 before the #60 switched to BMW for 2021. The pair’s relationship was often jovial and light-hearted, even when not teammates, and will now be reunited at BMW for the 2024 season. They got to work together for the first time at the Portimao test before heading to Jerez for two more days with both hoping for better weather so they can get full testing in with rain disrupting plans in Portugal.

Van der Mark did a few laps across Sunday and Monday, with Razgatlioglu doing the bulk of BMW’s laps as he adjusted to the M 1000 RR albeit still not doing many laps, and the five-time race winner reflected on the test, which was his first of 2024, as well as working with new people including the #54.

The Dutchman said: “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.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com