BMW kickstart 2021 testing programme with Jerez outing

[rennie]

The new BMW M 1000 RR hit the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for a three-day test over the course of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday as the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, with riders Tom Sykes and new recruit Michael van der Mark, were joined by MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship rookie Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing) as the trio tested the new machine in the south of Spain.

The test got underway on Sunday with two of the three BMW teams in action, with Eugene Laverty (RC Squadra Corse) not present at Jerez. This meant Sykes, van der Mark and Folger would be in action as they looked to continue the development of the M 1000 RR ahead of it entering WorldSBK competition in 2021. For the upcoming season, BMW will be represented by two riders in the factory team with Folger and Laverty on BMW machinery in satellite outfits.

Van der Mark will join the BMW factory outfit for 2021 after four years competing with the PATA Yamaha WorldSBK Team outfit and got one of his first outings on the new machine as he aims to help the German manufacturer move back up the order in 2021 as they introduce the new bike. The Dutchman finished the 2020 season with four podiums in the final nine races of the season, as well as six top-five finishes, and will be looking to continue that form into 2021.

Folger, like van der Mark, is switching from Yamaha to BMW machinery in 2021 after two wildcard appearances in 2020 where he consistently showed his ability as he fought to finish in the top ten at both the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the Circuito de Estoril, despite a technical issue in the Tissot Superpole session in Barcelona. 2021 will be his first full-time campaign in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship after a commanding season in the German superbike championship, as well as claiming wins in Moto2™, Moto3™ and the 125cc World Championship throughout his career.

Follow more action from WorldSBK in 2021 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!^[1]

References

1. ^{^} VideoPass! (secure.worldsbk.com)

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