It has been a long time since the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and riders Eugene Laverty and Tom Sykes were last on a racetrack together. The season opener of the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) at the start of March was followed by an enforced break lasting several months due to coronavirus. Now the team and riders have been able to return to the track with the BMW S 1000 RR. Last week, they tested at Lausitzring (GER).
Work at the team HQ in Guisborough (GBR) and at BMW Motorrad Motorsport in Munich (GER) was restricted during the break due to coronavirus protective measures. However, good use was made of the time, to analyse the findings and rider feedback from the season opener and to advance the development of the RR in many areas. Consequently the team had a whole host of new components and ideas with them for the test at Lausitzring. In good weather conditions, the team had plenty of opportunity to test them out in preparation for the next races.
The 2020 WorldSBK season will continue with the second race event of the year, at Jerez de la Frontera (ESP) on the 1st / 2nd August. Before that, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team will take part in further tests at Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit (ESP) on 8th and 9th July.
Eugene Laverty
“We had a fantastic test at the Lausitzring. It was great to be back riding my BMW S 1000 RR after nearly four months off due to the pandemic but I am still getting to know that bike. It’s only the fourth track that I rode it on so it has been so beneficial to come here and ride it at the Lausitzring. We really benefitted from the big amount of track time in sunny conditions. Now we are ready to race again and we will be back stronger than ever.”