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.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

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.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

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.”

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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”.

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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”.

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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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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