Suzuki Motorcycles, Cars, and Coffee is back. On Saturday, Dec. 9, the Suzuki Motor USA headquarters in Brea, California, will provide donuts, coffee, and water, and there will be new models and Suzuki race machines on display. The event takes place from 7:30-10 a.m.
Flyer for Suzuki Motorcycles, Cars, and Coffee event on Dec. 9
To enter the Suzuki Motor USA campus from the 57 Freeway, go east on Imperial Highway, turn left on Valencia Street, then turn left on Nasa Street, and pull into the parking lot. The parking lot has enough room for more than 300 motorcycles and cars.
Ride down and spend Saturday morning with other enthusiasts!
The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is rightly being billed as one of the most exciting seasons ever with a line-up featuring a myriad of changes as well as the arrival of fresh faces. Sam Lowes (ELF MarcVDS Racing Team) will be aboard the Ducati Panigale V4 R for the forthcoming season and after just one day of action at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, he was more than positive with his first sensations.
“CONSIDERING THE CONDITIONS, IT WAS A VERY POSITIVE DAY” – Lowes takes to the track
Evaluating his first laps on track, Lowes said: “We only did 65 laps at Jerez on Tuesday and on Monday, we didn’t ride at all because of the conditions. I started with rain tyres and did about 30 or 35 laps with those, then changed to the slick tyre. The conditions weren’t so good, particularly at Turn 2, Turn 9, Turn 13, which were quite wet but the other parts of the track were dry and I was able to ride and get the first sensations.
“My first feeling with the Ducati was honestly amazing; I was quite nervous to go out in the morning with the first feeling in the rain, so for me it was a good feeling. To go out, understand the bike, the electronics… of course, it’s the first day so I’m not going to get a massive feeling but to understand the electronics, the power compared to the Moto2™, I was smiling even with the first few laps being in the rain. I was very excited and there was a lot of anticipation. Waiting around all day on Monday before going out made it longer.”
“I FELT VERY COMFORTABLE ON THE BIKE STRAIGHT AWAY” – rain doesn’t dampen Lowes’ feeling
With the conditions not being great, it was still productive and learning for the 33-year-old: “Considering the conditions, it was a very positive day; I felt very comfortable on the bike straight away which is something that I was quite surprised about. There are some things that I need to adapt with my riding style in comparison to Moto2™, and probably not the areas I actually thought. Where I thought I’d need to work on, I was already quite good. There are lots of things to think about and work on and obviously, you need time and laps; 30 dry laps is not so much, especially when it was quite patchy.”
I’M REALLY HAPPY, LUCKY AND PROUD…. I JUST SMILED ALL DAY” – a bright future for the new team and rider
It may have just been the first test but Lowes was elated to be part of the team and start this new challenge in his career, returning to the WorldSBK paddock for the first time since his 2013 WorldSSP title success: “The team were really good! It was really nice to get everyone together; the months did a great job to put it all together to get to ride this side of Christmas so thanks to the team and Ducati for helping with that. It’s a really nice group and we’ve done a good job to get that. My crew chief has fantastic knowledge of the bike which also helps. I’m really happy, lucky and proud to be in the team.
“Where I still need to work is to understand the tyres and electronics more and to adapt my style to the Superbike. The strengths were that in some corners and in some areas of the bike, I was doing very, very well, on the level that I need to be. I just smiled all day, enjoyed it, was nervous but it was nice to get out and get the first day out of the way. I look forward to January and it’s quite a long wait now but in the end, the first race is at the end of February. We have a lot of work to do in that side but very positive, looking forward to it and we can look into our first season and have high goals.”
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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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Team HRC ventured to the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for a one-day test and, although the rain meant they didn’t do any running, as teams from the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship gear up for 2024. It was supposed to be the team’s second chance to run the new CBR1000RR-R machine with riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge, although these plans have been put to the wayside. At the test, Team Manager Leon Camier spoke about the new bike, how there will be changes to the Team HRC staff for next year and his memories from his stint at the team as he prepares to depart.
“I HOPE IT’S ENOUGH TO BE COMPETITIVE” – Camier on new CBR1000RR-R
Honda announced a new CBR1000RR-R machine for 2024 at the EICMA show in November, with Lecuona and teammate Vierge riding it for the first time at Jerez a couple of weeks ago. Although the team were at Portimao for a one-day test, with wet conditions they decided not to go out, although the outgoing Camier was still able to provide his thoughts on the bike and outline the next stages of development.
Camier said: “The new bike’s a step in the direction we want. I hope it’s enough to be competitive, we will see. Obviously, it’s a new package so it needs time to develop so we can really understand the bike we’ve got. It’s not the final version before round one. There will be some small progress over the Christmas period and then the bike we will start with next year will be slightly different again. Hopefully, the technicians have enough information that they can go back and come with some more parts for next year.
When pressed on where the upgrades would be seen on the bike, Camier added: “This is all something we have to go through and discuss with the Japanese engineers exactly the direction they want to go. We know from the team’s side which things we would like to go in the direction of, but this is something that we need to work out with Japan and what we can do in the time frame we have and confirm the package we’ll start with next year.”
A NEW-LOOK TEAM HRC FOR 2024: Camier departs, new people brought in
There have been several changes to the team for 2024. After three seasons, Camier will depart Team HRC with Jose Escamez coming in as his replacement while Tom Jojic has joined the team as Lecuona’s Crew Chief. Explaining the reasoning behind these changes, Camier said: “Basically, we made some changes at the end of this year as one of my last jobs as Team Manager. We’ve tried to improve the technical side of the team, to bring in people with some more experience and a different background. We’ve added a few staff to try and help behind the scenes as well, with technical support for the crew chiefs. The goal is to try to improve in every area; not just the bike, we also need to try and improve the team on the technical side. This is something I’ve been working on in the last months. I think the team will be stronger next year. I think, in general, the team will be better. Hopefully the bike can make a good step and hopefully we can have some results.”
MEMORIES AS TEAM MANAGER: “The podiums have been a highlight”
As Camier’s latest stint in WorldSBK comes to an end – and he didn’t rule out returning in the future in some capacity – he reflected on his best memories at Honda. The Brit said: “There’s been lots of ups and downs! The podiums have been a highlight and it’s nice to see when the project is moving forwards, and everything is going in a good direction. You take a lot of satisfaction in the position I’m in, seeing this progress. It’s hard to say one memory. There’s been many ups and downs, but this is racing, it’s something I’ve known for many years as a rider. It’s been a privilege and an honour to be in this position and help try to grow the project.”
The Triumph Bonneville Bobber delivers a pure motorcycling experience with a unique look and confident attitude.
The Triumph Bobber is the kind of bike that stops you in your tracks when you see it. It has the personalized look of a custom bike with the coherence and harmony of a factory model. Not long after picking up our test bike, I found out the Bobber will help you make new friends wherever you ride it.
The Bobber enjoys sunny afternoon rides on favorite roads. Who doesn’t?
When I see a bike that looks as cool as the Bobber, I think, Nice, but how does it ride? I wonder if the builder, or in this case the manufacturer, sacrificed attention to ride quality, comfort, or performance for the sake of appearance. Fortunately, Triumph took measures to ensure that function was not the sacrificial lamb of form.
The Bobber’s unique appearance stands apart in the parking lot. If you don’t like people approaching you to admire your bike, this one isn’t for you.
Bare Necessities
The “bobber” style emerged in America in the 1940s. Motorcyclists stripped their rides down, threw out everything that wasn’t essential, and tuned motors for a more exciting zero-to-full-power experience. These bikes were the simple bare necessities of motorcycling, and they appealed to riders who wanted a pure motorcycling experience without anything bogging them down.
The fat front tire and bar-end mirrors are additional styling elements that give the Bobber a custom look straight out of the factory.
Triumph’s attempt at a bobber-styled factory bike also involved cutting down and tuning up. Although it’s not a lightweight motorcycle – claimed wet weight is 553 lbs – the stripped-down look comes in the form of well-hidden cables, a solo tractor seat, and of course, bobbed fenders. Adding to the look of an old-school bobber are the battery box wrapped in a stainless-steel strap and the twin throttle bodies that look like carburetors.
Extra space around the 1,200cc parallel-Twin paired with the throttle bodies disguised as carburetors add to this bike’s stripped-down old-school aesthetic.
The Triumph Bobber is powered by the liquid-cooled 1,200cc parallel-Twin with 4 valves per cylinder – the same engine found in Triumph’s popular Bonneville T120 model. However, the Bobber version of the engine gets a special tune and taller gearing. Adding to the experience is a set of slash-cut exhausts that direct sound to the rider for a powerful and pleasant rumble.
A 3.2-gallon fuel capacity and 61 mpg give the Bobber a range of nearly 200 miles.
When the Bobber was introduced in 2017, we were there for the press launch in Spain. Although our overall impression was positive, we noted some shortcomings. The small fuel tank had a limited range, and the single-disc front brake was mediocre. The Bobber Black remedied one issue by adding dual-disc front brakes, along with an up-spec 47mm KYB fork, a fat front wheel, and other extras. In 2021, the Bobber got an update that moved those Bobber Black components to the base model, as well as adding a larger fuel tank, LED lighting, cruise control, and new instrumentation.
On the front end, the bobbed fender pairs with fork boots and the round headlight for a dose of nostalgia.
Take Me Higher
My first day on the test bike would take me through the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia and North Carolina. The Bobber is easy to pick out in a parking lot, not because it’s super bright or super big (it isn’t either) but because it sits with a poise of cool confidence, ready to be admired. The solo tractor seat is a focal point of the Bobber, appearing to float above the hardtail-looking rear. Add in the blacked-out components, brushed steel slash-cut dual exhaust, chunky front tire, bar-end mirrors, and fork boots, and it’s hard to look away.
The ergonomics were comfortable for my frame, and riders can slide the seat back for a more long-and-low seating position. The hardtail-looking rear hides a monoshock below the floating seat.
The ergonomics of the Bobber provide a long and low riding position. The seat is adjustable fore and aft, which also changes the seat height from 27.6 inches in the forward position to 27.2 inches in the rear position. The seat is deceptively comfortable, appearing too thin to offer much support while actually providing plenty. The handlebar is a bit of a stretch for my arms, even with the seat positioned as far forward as it’ll go, but I became accustomed to the reach after a few miles, and it didn’t result in any discomfort or achiness after long hours.
The floating seat’s brushed-steel underside adds some contrast to the blacked-out components. The black arm underneath the seat allows for quick seat position adjustment.
Upon turning the key and starting the Bobber, the bike comes to life with a satisfying rumble befitting the Triumph name. The engine got an upgrade in 2021 with lower emissions and a lift in power at 5,500 rpm. In the Bobber tune, this engine is claimed to make 76.9 hp at 6,100 rpm and 78.2 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. There’s always grunt on tap in any gear.
Great for a cruise around town or a jaunt away from traffic, the Bobber has both looks and performance.
Upon picking the Bobber up in Atlanta, I had to wade through traffic for what felt like forever before I could get out of the city and see what it’s capable of. While my impatience grew as the pleasing rumble reached my ears and low-end torque pulled hard off the stoplight, the crazy Atlanta traffic gave me the chance to test out the brakes. As cars darted around like pinballs, I was relieved to find abundant stopping power at the ready. Dual 300mm discs up front with Brembo 2-piston calipers, paired with a 255mm rear disc and a Nissin single-piston caliper, were up to the task and shed speed quickly.
Twin Brembo front brakes provide plenty of stopping power, and ABS comes standard.
When I finally got out of the city, I headed for higher ground. The Bobber’s tall gearing and smooth delivery allowed for both relaxing and sporty riding – a great combo for someone who likes to do both. I could cruise down the two-lane country roads with my hair in the wind, or I could twist around curves through the mountains with plenty of gusto. The Bobber is easy to maneuver and handles tight turns with grace – the downside being that the pegs often meet the pavement when ridden aggressively.
A wide handlebar provides leverage for responsive handling – a pleasure for an afternoon ride on your favorite curvy road.
Where the original Bonneville Bobber had a fuel capacity of 2.4 gallons, resulting in a frustrating number of gas stops required, the current Bobber bumps capacity up to 3.2 gallons. During my time with the bike, my average fuel consumption was 61.1 mpg, netting nearly 200 miles from full to empty.
Sometimes extra gizmos and gadgets just get in the way. The Bobber’s simplicity invites the rider to enjoy the ride and the view.
The Bobber’s handling was an absolute pleasure – as long as the roads were smooth. When I got to a bumpy road, I discovered the first and perhaps only change I would make if I owned a Bonneville Bobber: the suspension. The monoshock with linkage at the rear didn’t soak up bumps well enough for me, and I found myself lifting up on the pegs when I saw inconsistencies in the road ahead to save my spine. My only other complaint about riding the Bobber is that speeds past 75 mph produce a strong gust of wind at my upper body and helmet, but I’ll take the excuse to stay off the highways rather than dilute the muscular attitude of the Bobber with an unsightly windshield.
The 47mm Showa fork and monoshock handled well on smooth pavement, but additional rear travel would be a welcome addition for bumpier roads.
K.I.S.S.
While the soul of the bobber style is stripping down to the basics, the Triumph Bonneville Bobber comes with some electronics that are simple and easy enough to use that they don’t take away from that pure motorcycling experience but rather enhance it. Two ride modes (Road and Rain) can be selected with a toggle on the right switchgear to change the throttle map. The Bobber also has cruise control, operated with a single button on the left switch. Switchable traction control and ABS are both standard.
The Bobber’s simplicity is one of its virtues. A single round speedometer with an inset LCD display provides enough functionality without distracting from the ride.
The dash is graced by a beautiful round analog speedometer with an inset LCD screen that shows fuel level, gear indicator, and ride mode. A round button on the left switch is used to cycle through extra information, including two tripmeters, odometer, rpm, average fuel consumption, fuel range to empty, and a clock.
The Bobber is equipped with full LED lighting, and the round headlight adds a classic touch.
The 2023 Triumph Bonneville Bobber comes in four color options with a starting MSRP of $13,795. Our test bike was in the Matte Storm Grey / Matt Ironstone color with an MSRP of $14,295. For 2023 only, Triumph is also offering a Bobber Chrome Edition with chrome treatment on the gas tank.
The Bobber handles well on smooth pavement, and its 1,200cc parallel-Twin in the High Torque tune is a treat out on the road.
Keeping true to the history of bobber-styled bikes, Triumph also offers a list of accessories for customization, including an ape-hanger handlebar, a diamond-stitched comfort seat, a forward-controls mounting kit, footboards, saddlebags, heated grips, a Fox rear suspension unit, and more.
Although far from a touring bike, the Bobber makes for a fun sight-seeing cruise, like my trip to Fontana Dam in North Carolina.
I tested the Triumph Bonneville Bobber over the span of a few weeks, and it continued to grow on me during that time. When the sunlight hit the Bobber upon opening my garage door before a ride, I knew I had a fun time ahead of me. I had people sticking a thumbs-up out of car windows as I rode by and plenty of compliments about the bike at gas stops. Whenever someone asked me if it rode as good as it looked, I was pleased to be able to say, “Yes, absolutely.”
Although running was limited at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for Toprak Razgatlioglu’s debut with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, the #54 was able to give his first thoughts on the test and the BMW M 1000 RR machine. After Monday’s action concluded – which turned out to be his second day on the bike rather than first as initially planned – the 2021 Champion reviewed his test, explained the main differences between the Yamaha and BMW machines and where he would like to improve ahead of a second test at Jerez this week as well as sending a menacing message to his rivals.
TEST IN REVIEW: “Positive… I hope for dry conditions at Jerez to try the other parts”
Monday turned out to be the Turkish star’s second day on the bike after getting a few laps in on Sunday. Reviewing his second day, where his running was still limited, Razgatlioglu said: “Today we are riding but not in fully dry conditions. In general, I’m feeling happy because it was a very positive test. I’m feeling like the bike is much better because, on Sunday, I rode the bike for the first time but only 11 laps. Today, we changed something, and the feeling is very good. I had a strange crash at Turn 5. I tried hard braking, the rear came up, went down and after it started sliding a lot. I crashed on the left side but not a big crash. After, I’m riding again to make sure I understand the bike. We did a very good lap time with these track conditions. I enjoyed it. I didn’t do many laps; 19 on Monday and 11 on Sunday. We are learning. This bike, after four years in blue, is completely different. I’m starting to adapt. I felt the front was much better than before and especially the engine braking is unbelievable. We used a different map. Finally I feel the engine brake! Very positive. We need more laps with this bike for the setup because we have many parts, but we don’t have the time to try them. I hope for dry conditions at Jerez to try the other parts.”
THE MAIN DIFFERENCES: “Engine brake is unbelievable… the bike is very fast on the straight!”
BMW are the third manufacturer Razgatlioglu has ridden for, having made his debut with Kawasaki and spent two seasons on the ZX-10RR for the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing outfit, before switching to the Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK squad from 2020 to 2023; claiming the 2021 title. After two days of limited running under his belt, the Turk explained the differences between his old Yamaha YZF-R1 machine and his new M 1000 RR bike
He said: “The biggest difference is the engine brake is unbelievable and also the other biggest difference is the bike is very fast on the straight. This is good because it’s the first time I’m feeling power. I’m very happy about this. I don’t know about the aero but maybe I’m feeling it on the last corner exit, going uphill. I’m feeling the bike isn’t wheelieing but maybe this is helping; I don’t really understand it. I’m just focused on entering the corner and acceleration. Maybe I need more laps to understand the wings. I think it’s helping through the exit of the last corner. With the Yamaha, I was always trying to have more lean because of the wheelie but with the BMW, I’m not fighting. On the corner exit, I’m feeling power and, after the hill, I’m feeling power still; the bike’s accelerating more. Under braking for Turn 1, I’m also happy now because I start to lean, I feel the engine brake a lot and now it’s a very positive test. I need more laps. I tried my best and explain the bike, explain some problems. We are immediately improving. I need more time.”
THE NEXT STEPS: Jerez awaits, what will Razgatlioglu work on?
After Portimao, the factory BMW squad head to Jerez for two more days of testing at the Spanish venue on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, where both rider and team will hope for better conditions to get more milage under their belts. Despite the limited running, the #54 was able to explain where he would like to find some potential improvements as he gets set for a 2024 campaign on the German manufacturer’s bike.
Expanding on where he will aim for gains, the 27-year-old said: “It’s not possible to comment on this today because everywhere was wet. We did good lap times, but fast lap times were impossible because of the weather. It was my first time riding and I didn’t understand the bike. Today, we used a different setup and I’m happier, but the track conditions weren’t good, and I didn’t push for a good lap time. We didn’t use the softer tyres. In general, I’m happy. If I’m riding the track on good conditions, I think I’ll do a good lap time because the front feeling when I enter the corner is much better. The traction’s working very well. I have more power. Maybe we need to improve turning. It looks like it’s okay but I’m not trying to push hard because everywhere is wet.”
WARNING SENT: already aiming high
After so few laps on the bike, you could forgive a rider for being a bit coy about the potential of the rider and bike package. However, Razgatlioglu was not as he fired a warning shot to his rivals: “We are not far away. I’ll say just this. We are coming.”
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After another successful season in 2023, aspiring young racers can now sign up for the renamed 2024 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup, which will once again support selected rounds of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship.
Register for the 2024 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup by clicking here.
After its inaugural campaign in 2021, the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Championship opened the door to World Championship racing for several young riders, including the 2023 winner Italian Emiliano Ercolani, plus victors Brazilian Enzo Valentim (2022) and Spaniard Iker Garcia Abella (2021).
After attracting ten overseas riders to compete in the championship during 2023, for 2024, the one-make series has a new name to reflect its growing nature and global appeal more accurately, the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup, as it continues to represent the perfect opportunity for young riders from around the world to showcase their ability on the world stage.
You can follow in these riders’ footsteps and pursue your dream of racing full-time by signing up to join the 2024 R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup grid and become a part of Yamaha’s award-winning bLU cRU program that forms the foundation of the Yamaha Racing pyramid, which is designed to cultivate the next generation of young riding talent in road and off-road racing.
It creates the perfect platform for young riders to benefit from professional coaching, technical support, and mentoring from some of the biggest names in racing, designed to encourage, develop, and nurture the stars of tomorrow while providing an uninterrupted career path from national to world championship level, with over 600 youngsters benefitting from the scheme in 2023.
Open to riders aged 14-20, the 2024 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup will run alongside six rounds of the WorldSBK campaign, giving youngsters the perfect platform to showcase their talent in front of the top teams and riders.
Provisional 2024 R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup Calendar
TBA: Preseason Test 22-24 Mar: Barcelona, Spain 19-21 Apr: Assen, The Netherlands 14-16 Jun: Misano, Italy 12-14 Jul: Donington, United Kingdom 06-08 Sep: Magny-Cours, France 27-29 Sep: Aragon, Spain
This talent doesn’t go unnoticed, with a number of former bLU cRU riders lining up on the grid during the 2023 WorldSSP300 Championship alongside several of the current crop of talented youngsters getting the opportunity to run as wild cards.
At each race weekend, the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup riders will be based at the dedicated bLU cRU village inside the WorldSBK 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, with season entry fees of just €30,500 (Euros).
The overall champion will earn a place on the 2025 FIM Supersport 300 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 percent discount on their 2025 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM World Cup registration, while the rider who finishes third will receive a 25 percent discount.
A number of riders will also be selected from the championship to attend the exclusive VR46 Yamaha Master Camp in Italy, where they will receive coaching from the same team responsible for advising the VR46 Academy Riders.
Following the success of this year’s series, interest is expected to be high, and with only 30 grid slots available for the 2024 season, early sign-up is essential to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.
The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve is hosting some testing for some MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship teams, including the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team as Toprak Razgatlioglu makes his much-anticipated debut on the M 1000 RR. Originally slated to just test on Monday, the #54’s BMW career actually started on Sunday and you can read his thoughts here. Speaking on Sunday in Portugal, Team Principal Shaun Muir reflected on the 2021 Champion’s arrival, late decisions to amend their test programme and more as he praised BMW’s test team for the work they’ve done.
HECTIC SUNDAY: “Great to see the #54 going down pitlane on the BMW”
Razgatlioglu’s first taste of the BMW came on Sunday which wasn’t initially planned. Explaining his thoughts on seeing ‘El Turco’ on the bike, and the late decision to test on Sunday, Muir said: “It’s a bit of a surprise, we didn’t expect to be on track on Sunday. We planned for Monday, but we had an opportunity to get some track time, so we took that. We did a few installation laps. We literally had three or four 20-minute sessions. We did exactly what we wanted to do: get him on the bike, making him feel at home. We weren’t looking for anything more than that initial feedback. He’s certainly going to have a lot of things he’ll want to change because it’s completely new to him. All in all, it was well worth the opportunity we took.”
“It’s nervous for everyone”, Muir added when talking about the team’s feeling. “We’ve been waiting for this time for quite a few months now. We would’ve hoped to have been on track earlier. We’re here in December and it’s not the best conditions. Of course, everyone’s excited. It’s great for the team. There was a little bit more pressure on Sunday morning, because we fully expected to be doing more promo and videos and photographs, but that didn’t happen. It was a mad four hours from when we decided we’d go for it. We had to mobilise quickly, get everything up to temperature, get the guys ready to roll and it was quite hectic! Because of the quick turnaround, it took away the nerves and we just got on with it. It was great to see him get on the bike and see the #54 going down pitlane on the BMW.”
“THE FEEDBACK WE GOT IS WHAT WE EXPECTED” – no surprises for BMW
A rider’s first thoughts on what their new bike can be crucial for both rider and team, but in this case, it seems like the Turkish star’s first thoughts were aligned with what Muir expected: “We saw what he was up against in 2023 here at this circuit, with his fight against Alvaro. The corners where he felt he was weak, he felt super strong. We know where we inherently are with this bike compared to the others on the grid. We know the strengths Toprak has, it’s engine braking, corner entry, hard braking. That’s an area where we need to step up and that’s going to be our focus. The feedback we got is what we expected.”
TWO VENUES, THREE DAYS: plenty to test including an engine upgrade
BMW are the last factory outfit to test looking to 2024, with other factories testing in November. Muir expanded on BMW’s test plan following their late start, saying: “We’ve got a day on Monday and then two days at Jerez, which we’ll probably turn out to be 1.5 by the time we get there and get mobilised. We have an engine upgrade. We’ve got other parts which are also here which we’ll look at over the course of the three days. The test team’s done a lot of evaluation work. That’s creating great positives. A big thumbs up to the test team and guys that have put some hard miles in. We’re hitting the track with parts that are ready to go so that’s a big plus for us. Mainly, for Monday, it’s about extending what we’ve done on Sunday. Ergonomically, getting the bike setup for Toprak. Going back to Mickey’s side, we’re just building on what he’s been doing from the backend of last year. We can’t forget he’s had those two big injuries and almost wiped his season out. This is kind of day one for the 2024 season for Michael. Both of them have identical material to test. We’ll get feedback from both. It’s a little bit of a move forward from when Bonovo tested straight after Jerez too, so we’ve already got the information from that to work from. In terms of the workload we’ve got, the guys are going to be busy. We’d like to think we’d get those 60-80 laps a day in if the weather looks after us. Over the course of the next three days, there’s no reason why we can’t come away and tick that big box and get the guys working for the January tests.”
TEST TEAM PRAISE: “Our time has to come… we’ve got the tools to do it and now’s the time”
BMW have shown their commitment to creating a winning package by introducing a test team, something Muir showered with praise when speaking in Portugal. He said: “BMW’s commitment has never been in question, and I think it’s about having to step up again. We’re having to step forward and higher like everyone else is doing in the Championship. No matter what we do, the opposition are doing the same. In terms of the test team, it’s been in the pipeline all year. BMW Motorrad made that commitment over a year ago and things don’t happen overnight. It’s taken a lot of time to get that established. They’ve had some very positive track time already. We know what they’ve been doing, and they’ve been putting some really hard work in and we’re starting to see the benefits of that. When we turn up at these tests here, we want to be focusing on what we’ll be running for next year. We want to be working on parts that have already been tested. We’re just doing the final evaluation on that. The guys that are running that have been in the BMW family for quite a number of years. I only see that as an extension of what we have here. There’s quite a few overlaps and input from people working with us this weekend here, and during a normal WorldSBK round, already involved with the testing team. I can only re-emphasise that all we’re trying to do is keep that pressure on, moving forward and staying with the opposition. We’ve got four fantastic riders. I’m super happy that I’ve got Toprak and Michael, that’s my focus. I just want to be talking after Phillip Island, Barcelona, the next tests and already making those steps because our time has to come. We’ve got the tools to do it and now’s the time.”
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The FIM Supersport 300 World Championship grid could look vastly different in 2024 compared to the 2023 one. This season’s Champion, Jeffrey Buis, is on the move to KTM from Kawasaki, meaning a vacancy was available temporarily creating a knock-on effect up and down the grid. Here, we recap the moves that have been announced so far. Last updated: Monday, 4th December.
CHAMPION ON THE MOVE: Kawasaki to KTM for Buis, race winner replaces him in WorldSSP300
RETURNING NAMES: Iglesias comes back, Calatayud secures full-time seat
Also announced was Inigo Iglesias’ return to WorldSSP300, after he raced and won in the IDM Supersport 300 championship this year. His Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki teammate was later announced as Czech star Petr Svoboda after his race-winning 2023 campaign. Team Flembbo – Pl Performances will continue with Kevin Sabatucci in 2024 while also signing Ruben Bijman from the Arco Motor University Team. ProDina Kawasaki Racing will line up with double Misano winner Bruno Ieraci and rookie Giacomo Zannini.
Announced riders so far
Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing: Jeffrey Buis
MTM Kawasaki: Loris Veneman and Mirko Gennai
Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki: Inigo Iglesias and Petr Svoboda
Team Flembbo – Pl Performances: Kevin Sabatucci and Ruben Bijman
Arco Motor University Team: Samuel Di Sora and Unai Calatayud
ProDina Kawasaki Racing: Bruno Ieraci and Giacomo Zannini
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