In preparation for the 2022 season of the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), BMW Motorrad Motorsport this week completed the first of three back-to-back pre-season tests. In Misano (ITA), the two BMW teams – the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team – both worked through an extensive test programme on Wednesday and Thursday. A further two tests will follow in Barcelona (ESP) on 25th and 26th March, and at MotorLand Aragón (ESP) on 4th and 5th April.
Many areas of the BMW M 1000 RR have been optimised and developed over the course of the winter break. As such, Scott Redding (GBR / BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and the two riders from the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, Eugene Laverty (IRL) and Loris Baz (FRA), tested many new components and set-up variants. The areas that have been developed by BMW Motorrad Motorsport include the engine, brakes, riding geometry and ergonomics as seats and fuel tank shapes. In addition, individual rideability options for the riders had been generated in the electronics area.
The three factory riders provided more input, on the basis of which BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the two teams will now work closely together to prepare for the coming tests. BMW newcomers Redding and Baz also used the test to familiarise themselves further with the BMW M 1000 RR. Overall, the three riders completed over 1,700 kilometres of testing without any issues.
Eugene Laverty, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team:
“Today was really good. I made some progress because yesterday I still didn’t feel quite comfortable on the bike. Today especially in braking improved a lot. The bike is now transferring correctly. I’m a smaller rider than the other guys. So we needed to make some changes. Now I feel much more comfortable and make some really consistent lap time. So I’m really happy with the step.”