Munich. Miguel Oliveira (POR) is ready to return aboard the #88 BMW M 1000 RR of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. After missing the race weekends at Most (CZE) and at MotorLand Aragón (ESP) due to shoulder injuries sustained in Hungary at the beginning of May, Oliveira is aiming to make his comeback this weekend at Misano (ITA), where round seven of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) will take place.

After claiming four podium finishes aboard the BMW M 1000 RR during his debut WorldSBK season, Oliveira suffered a setback at round four of the championship at Hungary’s Balaton Park Circuit. An incident for which he was blameless in the Superpole Race resulted in a fractured shoulder blade among other injuries. Over the following weeks, he underwent an intensive rehabilitation programme in his native Portugal. He was already present at MotorLand Aragón last weekend to support the team at the circuit, and he is now ready to return to racing action at Misano. As is customary in WorldSBK, the final decision will be made following the medical assessment at the venue.

His teammate Danilo Petrucci (ITA), meanwhile, will remain on the sidelines. Petrucci sustained a fractured coccyx at Most. Although his recovery is also progressing very well, it has been jointly decided that he should continue to rest for another weekend. Petrucci will be present at Misano however to support the team. As a result, Michael van der Mark (NED) will switch sides within the garage and reunite with the crew that supported him as a race rider for five years. The BMW test rider and FIM EWC factory rider had stepped in for Oliveira at Most and Aragón and will now replace Petrucci at Misano.

“We are very pleased that Miguel’s recovery has progressed so well that we can now plan for his comeback at Misano,” said Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport. “After some difficult weeks, this is a step back towards normality for us. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to Miguel’s recovery following his injury. With Danilo, we have agreed to wait a little longer. He is already feeling significantly better, but we do not want to rush anything. He will still be with us at Misano and support the team as much as possible. Mickey will continue to race for us as a substitute rider. He has already done an excellent job at Most and Aragón, and I am sure that his victory with the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team at last weekend’s 8 Hours of Spa Motos will give him even more momentum.”

“I’m looking forward to rejoining the team and getting back on my BMW M 1000 RR,” said Oliveira. “Returning at Misano has been the target throughout my recovery, and I’m pleased to be in a position to make that happen. Earlier this week, I also rode a production bike during a track day to assess my condition and gain some valuable time on track. I want to thank everyone who has supported me during this recovery process, my family, the medical team, the team itself and all the fans who have been sending messages of encouragement. Naturally, I know the challenge that awaits. The level of competition is extremely high, and I’m still working my way back to full fitness. My priority this weekend is to rebuild my rhythm, regain confidence on the bike and continue progressing session by session. The rest will come with time and hard work.”

Round seven of the 2026 WorldSBK season at Misano will take place from 12th to 14th June.

+++ Seven top 20 players will compete at the BMW Open by Bitpanda (11-19 April, MTTC Iphitos) +++ All-electric “World Car of the Year” BMW iX3 for the winner of the ATP 500 tournament +++ Social commitment FUTURE ACES enters its second season +++ BMW is involved as title partner in its home city for the 39th time +++

Munich. Kick-off to the BMW Open by Bitpanda 2026 at BMW Welt: This year's Winner‘s Car of the ATP 500 tournament was presented at a press conference today (Friday). The winner can look forward to the new all-electric BMW iX3 50 xDrive (WLTP energy consumption combined: 17,9 - 15,1 kWh/100 km; WLTP CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO2-class: A), the first model of the Neue Klasse. The road to the title promises great excitement and top-class sport, as the strongest field in the history of the tournament is coming to Munich. Led by defending champion Alexander Zverev (GER), who is aiming for his fourth BMW Open victory and would thus become the sole record winner, as well as Ben Shelton (USA) and Alexander Bublik (KAZ), a total of seven players from the top 20 of the world rankings will be competing in the singles competition.

Since last year, the BMW Open by Bitpanda has attached particular importance to them scoring as many aces as possible. Together with its tournament partners, BMW launched the FUTURE ACES initiative at the tournament's premiere as an ATP 500 event and donated a coaching lesson for young people in need for every ace scored during the tournament. Over the past twelve months, six young people who would otherwise have no access to tennis have been able to train regularly and be integrated into club life at MTTC Iphitos. They will all continue to be supported by the aces of this year's tournament, and a new group will be able to start the programme.

Statements.

Tim Beltermann, Head of BMW Germany: “The BMW iX3 is the first Neue Klasse model, with which BMW has entered a new era of driving pleasure. The all-electric Sports Activity Vehicle has established a new design language and set standards for driving dynamics, and is therefore the perfect Winner’s Car for this great tournament. I wish us all first-class tennis and, in connection with that, many aces for FUTURE ACES. Through tennis, young people gain skills and perspectives that help them on their way to a self-determined life.”

Patrik Kühnen, Tournament Director: “World-class tennis from the very first rally and across all competitions – we couldn't wish for more in terms of sport and are proud to present the fans and spectators with what is probably the most attractive field of participants in this traditional tournament history.”

Dr. Fabian Tross, Chairman MTTC Iphitos: “We have managed the balancing act of organising a major ATP 500 tournament while at the same time retaining the familiar atmosphere that has always characterised the BMW Open by Bitpanda. This has been very well received by the audience, with the venue already full on the qualifying weekend and a great atmosphere. This is anything but commonplace on the ATP Tour.”

Christian Okon, CEO MMP Event, Tournament Organiser: “This year's field emphasises that Munich is already a top address on the ATP Tour in its second year as an ATP 500 tournament. Coupled with the special atmosphere and the unique set-up, we have all the ingredients for a fantastic week of tournament action.”

Winner‘s Car 2026: BMW iX3 50 xDrive.

The BMW iX3 is the first model in the New Class, with which BMW has launched a new era of driving pleasure. An instant success, it has established a new design language and set standards for driving dynamics and performance. A range of up to 805 kilometres, battery charging at up to 400 kW and an energy consumption of just 17.9–15.1 kWh/100 km (WLTP) demonstrate the outstanding abilities of the new BMW iX3. The new BMW Panoramic iDrive brings innovation to the interior. The high-performance control unit Heart of Joy and BMW Dynamic Performance Control take driving pleasure to an entirely new level.

Plenty of compelling reasons for the expert jury at the World Car Awards to declare the BMW iX3 the 2026 “World Car of the Year” – and thus the standout new vehicle on the international automotive markets – following extensive test drives. On top of that, the model won the 2026 “World Electric Vehicle” title. The BMW iX3 is therefore an absolute winner in its own right, making it the ideal special prize for the champion of the BMW Open by Bitpanda 2026.

FUTURE ACES: Programme giving children and young people access to tennis.

The long-term FUTURE ACES programme gives disadvantaged children and young people access to tennis and helps to broaden their future prospects. FUTURE ACES was initiated by the BMW Group and implemented together with partners of the BMW Open by Bitpanda – above all with MTTC Iphitos and the organiser MMP.

Every ace hit during the BMW Open corresponds to a coaching lesson at MTTC Iphitos. Children and young people are given the opportunity to learn tennis and develop their skills in a supportive environment. Mentors from the partners and other measures accompany the participants with the aim of strengthening their skills and opening up long-term prospects. The programme promotes the development of the participants‘ potential and supports them on their path to a self-determined life as FUTURE ACES.

At the BMW Open by Bitpanda 2025, 361 coaching hours were earned. This enabled 16 young people to try out tennis at a Whitsun camp lasting several days. Six youngsters decided to stick with the programme and were integrated into regular training and club life in the long term. The programme will continue in 2026: The aces and the associated donation will be used to continue supporting the six youngsters, and a new FUTURE ACES cohort will also start after the BMW Open 2026.

Star players BMW Open by Bitpanda 2026.

The singles field at this year's BMW Open by Bitpanda has it all. Including Alexander Zverev (GER), Ben Shelton (USA) and Alexander Bublik (KAZ), a total of seven players from the top 20 of the world rankings are taking part. Flavio Cobolli, Luciano Darderi (both ITA), Jiri Lehecka (CZE) and Francisco Cerúndolo (ARG) complete this group. In addition to Zverev, Yannick Hanfmann, Jan-Lennard Struff and Justin Engel will also fly the German flag via a wild card. For the first time, tennis fans in Munich will have the chance to see shooting star Joao Fonseca from Brazil and top Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas in action.

Fans can also look forward to Grand Slam champions and illustrious names in the doubles competition. First and foremost, the number one seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz from Germany. In addition to former BMW Open winners such as Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler (both AUT) and world-class doubles players, prominent singles specialists are also on the entry list this year. Zverev will be competing with doubles legend Marcelo Melo (BRA), with whom he shares a friendship. Francisco Cerúndolo, Darderi and Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) will also be competing in the doubles.

Allianz Para Trophy.

Once again, the Allianz Para Trophy will be played at MTTC Iphitos from 16 to 18 April alongside the BMW Open by Bitpanda. The UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour tournament has long since established itself as a sporting highlight. The Allianz Para Trophy has been upgraded to a 500-category tournament and is featuring the premiere of the “Quad Division” this year, in which players with disabilities in at least three limbs compete. As in the “Open Division”, the field of players in Munich consists of eight athletes. The “Quad Division” has an outstanding line-up, as the top three players in the current world rankings will be competing. First and foremost is the world number one, Niels Vink from the Netherlands, who has already won the “Career Golden Slam” – all Grand Slam titles and the Paralympic gold medal. Fans can also look forward to world-class sport in the “Open Division”. For example, Gustavo Fernández from Argentina, who has won Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in his career to date, will be competing.

About BMW Welt.

With its iconic, award-winning architecture, BMW Welt is one of Bavaria’s most visited attractions and symbolizes the BMW Group’s innovative strength. Since its opening in 2007, it has welcomed over 2 million visitors annually. Together with the BMW Museum and BMW Group Classic, it forms an important part of the brand experience in Munich.

BMW Welt unites all BMW Group brands – BMW, BMW M, MINI, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, and BMW Motorrad – under one roof. Visitors will find exhibitions and brand presentations and can pick up new vehicles in a unique setting. Since its opening, more than 280,000 vehicles have been delivered.

The event program includes a year-round program of cultural, artistic, sporting, and entertainment events. BMW Welt’s spaces are also available for external events. The offerings are complemented by guided tours, product consultations, and the educational program at THE CAMPUS for children and families. Several restaurants, including the fine-dining restaurant THE CLOUD by Käfer, provide culinary options.

Portimão. It was the perfect stage for Miguel Oliveira’s first successes in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) and with the #88 BMW M 1000 RR of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. At his home round at Portimão (POR), the Portuguese rider celebrated his first podium finishes in this world championship – in just his second race weekend as a WorldSBK rider. Cheered on by more than 82,000 fans, local hero Oliveira finished third in all three races.

With fourth place in Saturday morning’s Superpole qualifying, Oliveira secured a strong starting position for his home races. With a lap time of 1:39.068 minutes, he even stayed below the previous circuit record set by World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) last year on the BMW M 1000 RR. In Race 1 on Saturday afternoon, the Portuguese rider followed this up with his first WorldSBK podium in third place, creating a true festival atmosphere in the grandstands. Oliveira repeated this result in the short Superpole race on Sunday morning. Accompanied by the crowd’s enthusiastic cheers, he went on to secure third place again in Race 2. This was also a special birthday gift for team principal Shaun Muir, who celebrated his 60th birthday on race Sunday.

His Italian teammate Danilo Petrucci, also new to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team this season on the #9 BMW M 1000 RR, qualified ninth and secured a position on the front rows of the grid. ‘Petrux’ improved over the course of the weekend and finished seventh in the final race on Sunday afternoon. On Saturday, he crossed the line in tenth place, and in the Superpole race he finished twelfth.

The third WorldSBK race weekend of the 2026 season will take place from 17th to 19th April at Assen, the Netherlands.

Reactions after the Portimão round.

Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “It was the perfect start to our European season. We are all still overwhelmed by the atmosphere here. It was truly a special weekend. Miguel’s home race, seeing him on the podium in all three races, and more than 82,000 spectators – we have never experienced anything like that before. For Miguel and the Portuguese fans it was a magic weekend, and for us as well. We worked very hard over the winter to get our new riders to the front as quickly as possible. We said: first top ten results, then top five. Now we are already on the podiums. And this is just the beginning – we will continue working to reach the very top. Miguel deserves absolute credit for the performance he showed this weekend. And the same goes for Danilo. We must not forget that this was only our second race weekend together. In qualifying things did not quite come together for him, and overtaking is very difficult here. However, Danilo’s pace was also very strong. He did a very good job this weekend, and I believe we can also bring him onto the podium quickly. We are incredibly happy with our rider lineup and are now looking ahead to Assen. A big thank you to the team in Munich, Berlin, and England. Everyone did an outstanding job over the winter. We all hoped to be back on the podium soon, but that it happened so quickly is something special. And it is perfect to wish Shaun a happy birthday. I would also like to give him a very special thank you. Shaun is a key pillar of our success, and we are incredibly happy to have him on board at BMW.”

Christian Gonschor, Technical Director BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “It was a wonderful weekend. We are happy to be in Europe, and to already return from the second race weekend with a triple podium shows the potential of our bike. Thank you to the entire team in Munich, Berlin, and England, to all suppliers and partners. The performance of our BMW M 1000 RR and the fact that we have taken another step forward with the package were already clearly visible in qualifying. Last year, with the lap times of our two riders, we would have been in first and second place, and Miguel even beat Toprak’s record. This means that we have taken another step forward and made the package even stronger. However, we could see that our competitors have also improved, and the field has become even more competitive. The fact that we were able to give Miguel the opportunity to stand on the podium three times in front of his home crowd makes us all very happy. Now our shared goal is to soon see both riders on the podium. The path to that is set, and three podiums speak for themselves. The potential is there, and now it’s time to keep working and having fun.”

Shaun Muir, Team Principal ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It has been absolutely a very special birthday gift for me. It‘s been a great weekend. Full credit to Miguel and his team. They‘ve worked so hard and tirelessly. A home round for Miguel, with the phenomenal number of more than 82,000 spectators over the course of the weekend – I‘m totally over the moon for the way they performed. At the other side of the garage, it‘s so close. Danilo is making steps. He is just maybe a little bit off where he wants to be, but we had a much better second race. He made some improvements and I think we can all pat ourselves on the back and look forward to the next round at Assen.”

Miguel Oliveira, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “I’m happy to be on the podium in front of my home crowd. It was special for sure to get all the crowds cheering my name and supporting BMW. That was a really, really cool moment. I am happy because it is a good start. We know that we have work ahead of us but we are motivated to work and this is a small reward for the team to show that we are heading in a good direction, that the package is working with me and we should just focus on taking out the maximum we can from ourselves, from my riding and from this bike. The weekend has been super solid, already since Saturday morning. It’s true that today I struggled much more because I used the front tyre too much. The conditions were slightly different. In race two, I had Alex Lowes behind me but I just forgot about him and did my own race. I tried not to do any mistakes and be as consistent as possible. It was just enough to come home in third. I know it's only the second round and I feel there is some happiness but at the same time we want to achieve more. There is not any kind of pressure but we know where we want to go and we have many opportunities and many races to come. So I‘m looking forward to keep learning and keep getting the best out of the bike and myself. Now we go to Assen, a new track for BMW and me together, so hopefully we can get up to speed quickly already on Friday and and get a good job done.”

Danilo Petrucci, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “The weekend was more difficult than I expected. Sincerely I was hoping for more but I still have to find my way to ride the bike. Still we change the bike mostly every session because every time we discover some new things but at the moment we still have to understand how to correctly use the bike. Finally today we understood something more and I've been faster than yesterday, so this is important. I'm so happy to work in this team. They are putting in a lot of effort, and this makes me proud. But at the moment, I can say thanks to them just with the words. I would like to say thanks to them with the results. But every time I finish the race, I cannot wait to have another one. The spirit is good and I can’t wait to go to Assen. It is one of my favourites tracks. Last year, I was on the podium there, fighting with Toprak. Maybe we can replicate that result this year. In general I’m really happy about Miguel’s three podiums because they give a boost of energy to all the team. It also means that the bike is capable to do that and keeps me motivated for the next round. I just want to say that I’m giving all I have for being on the podium again.”

Facts and figures.

Superpole.

Air temperature: 20°, track temperature: 37°, humidity: 60%, conditions: dry.

*  New all time lap record

Race 1.

Air temperature: 21°, track temperature: 38°, humidity: 49%, conditions: dry, laps: 20.

Fastest race lap: Nicolò Bulega, lap 3, 1:39.962

Superpole Race.

Air temperature: 19°, track temperature: 29°, humidity: 39%, conditions: dry, laps: 10.

Fastest race lap: Nicolò Bulega, lap 4, 1:39.107 (new record)

Race 2.

Air temperature: 22°, track temperature: 40°, humidity: 31%, conditions: dry, laps: 20.

Fastest race lap: Iker Lecuona, lap 3, 1:39.792

Current riders’ classification (R02/12, after 6 of 36 races).

Current manufacturers’ classification (R02/12, after 6 of 36 races).

Phillip Island. The debut was a success: At the season opener of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) in Phillip Island, Australia, Miguel Oliveira (POR) and Danilo Petrucci (ITA) contested their first race weekend on their BMW M 1000 RRs of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. Both impressed with strong race pace and secured valuable early championship points with solid finishes near the front of the field. After a positive Saturday, they stepped it up further on Sunday when Petrucci and Oliveira concluded the race weekend with sixth and seventh places respectively in the second main race.

Petrucci secured a solid starting position for the races at the iconic Australian circuit by qualifying sixth in Saturday’s Superpole session. He finished tenth in both the first main race and the Superpole Race. In Sunday’s second main race, he advanced to sixth place in wet conditions aboard his #9 BMW M 1000 RR.

Oliveira thrilled the more than 47,000 fans at the track in all three races with fantastic comeback rides with his #88 BMW M 1000 RR. After crashing in Superpole, he had to start from 21st place each time. In the first race, he gained 13 positions to finish eighth. In the short Superpole Race, he fought his way up to an important ninth place before dropping back on the final lap due to problems with the quickshifter. In Sunday’s second race, Oliveira charged forward by 14 positions to finish seventh, directly behind Petrucci.

The WorldSBK now returns to Europe. The second round of the season will take place from 27th to 29th March at Portimão (POR). Prior to that, the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team will conduct another test at the same venue.

Reactions after the Phillip Island season opener.

Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “After the week here in Phillip Island, we are super happy. It was a short and rainy winter, and within this week in Australia we were able to learn an incredible amount. We improved day by day, and both riders pushed each other. We also saw how quickly everything is coming together in terms of team spirit. We are very satisfied. Danilo and Miguel are both very fast riders, but also incredibly great characters who fit perfectly into our team. Something big is really coming together for us right now. A big thank you also goes to everyone back home in Berlin, Munich, and Great Britain who supported us throughout the entire winter. It’s not just the people at the track – it’s a very large team that developed the bikes over the winter. The weekend here was demanding and challenging, with sometimes difficult conditions, but with our top ten results and finishing sixth and seventh in the final race, we can be more than satisfied. Now we’re already looking forward to the first European round at Portimão, a home race for Miguel. We’re on the right track and want to build on what we’ve achieved there.”

Christian Gonschor, Technical Director BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “Phillip Island is worth the trip every year, with many, many highlights but of course also a few lowlights that ultimately cost us valuable points. The key message we take away is that we improved in every single session, from the start of testing on Monday through to qualifying, which was impressively demonstrated by Danilo’s P6 qualifying lap on the most difficult track for us in the calendar. Miguel’s crash in qualifying deprived him of a better opportunity for strong race results, but across the three races he probably set a new record for the most overtakes in a single race weekend. Both riders delivered outstanding fighting performances here at Phillip Island, both in the dry main race on Saturday and in the rain on Sunday. Sixth place for Danilo and seventh for Miguel in the second main race was a great result for BMW Motorrad Motorsport. We scored more points here at Phillip Island than in the past two years. That provides a very solid foundation for the remainder of the long season. Now we are looking forward to the European circuits, which suit our BMW M 1000 RR even better and therefore offer even greater potential for the riders.”

Miguel Oliveira, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “The weekend was a progression, for sure. It was just a shame that the qualifying dictated most of the outcome of the weekend. We made three really good comebacks, especially this morning in the Superpole Race with getting into P9 but then a small problem in the quick shifter prevented a better starting position for me for race two. But this afternoon we got another chance to go for points and I did that. Making the comeback from last in these fully wet conditions was probably the hardest thing I had to do because the visibility was so poor and the conditions were tricky. But we managed to to stay on the bike which was already an accomplishment in itself due to the conditions and then finishing in P7, really close to Danilo, we have to be to be happy about it. At least we scored some points in both races. It‘s for sure not the place that we want to be but given the circumstances we took the most out of it. We definitely go to Portimao with our heads held up high because we did a good job getting better with the bike and we still have two extra days there before the race. I‘m sure we‘ll show much more competitiveness there.”

Danilo Petrucci, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “Finally, we had our first race weekend. We knew it would be tough because of not much testing this winter, so we mainly started to work on the bike last Monday during the test here. I set my target to be into the top ten and we always achieved that. We are aiming for more but I can be happy. Especially because race two today was really difficult in regards of visibility and the lack of grip but we managed to stay up to finish in sixth place to score a bit of points. I must say that I feel really confident about the future because I‘m working really well with my team and my crew, so this makes me happy. I can‘t wait to ride the bike again at Portimao.”

Facts and figures.

Superpole.

Air temperature: 21°, track temperature: 42°, humidity: 66%, conditions: dry.

Race 1.

Air temperature: 21°, track temperature: 42°, humidity: 70%, conditions: dry, laps: 22.

Fastest race lap: Nicolò Bulega, lap 2, 1:29.168

Superpole Race.

Air temperature: 26°, track temperature: 27°, humidity: 48%, conditions: dry, laps: 10.

Fastest race lap: Nicolò Bulega, lap 7, 1:28.688

Race 2.

Air temperature: 21°, track temperature: 21°, humidity: 82%, conditions: wet, laps: 22.

Fastest race lap: Nicolò Bulega, lap 6, 1:40.406

Current riders’ classification (R01/12, after 3 of 36 races).

Current manufacturers’ classification (R01/12, after 3 of 36 races).

Munich. Next weekend (20th to 22nd February), BMW Motorrad Motorsport will kick off an exciting 2026 season with the opening races of the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). With its factory programmes in WorldSBK and the FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC), as well as a strong customer racing programme, BMW Motorrad Motorsport is once again active around the globe this year. In this BMW Motorrad Motorsport Guide, we introduce you to the wider BMW Motorrad Motorsport family. Learn more about our factory and customer racing commitments, as well as the technical details of the BMW M 1000 RR.

In WorldSBK, the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team will compete with a strong new rider duo: Danilo Petrucci (ITA) and Miguel Oliveira (POR). The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team is targeting the title in the FIM EWC. The three regular riders this season are Markus Reiterberger (GER), Steven Odendaal (RSA), and Michael van der Mark (NED), who moves from WorldSBK to the FIM EWC as a BMW works rider. Hannes Soomer (EST) will once again serve as the fourth rider. This year, we are further strengthening our globally successful BMW racing family in customer competition with BMW Motorrad Motorsport Official Teams in the USA, Great Britain, and Japan.

With this BMW Motorrad Motorsport Guide, we aim to get you in the mood for the new season. The PDF includes information on teams and riders from factory and customer racing, details on the various racing versions of the BMW M 1000 RR, as well as statements ahead of the season start.

Studio photos of our two factory teams from WorldSBK and FIM EWC, our BMW Motorrad Motorsport Official Teams, and our key personnel can be found in the “Photos” section here in the BMW Group PressClub.

A competição monomarca passará a integrar a categoria destinada aos automóveis de turismo, utilizando o BMW M2 Racing, o modelo desenvolvido pela BMW M Motorsport especificamente para troféus monomarca.

O BMW M2 Racing debita 313 cv de potência, permitindo atingir uma velocidade máxima de 270 km/h. Ao nível do chassis, conta com suspensões com amortecedores baseados na tecnologia desenvolvida pela BMW M Motorsport na plataforma GT3, enquanto os travões foram concebidos pela M Sport.

A integração da BMW M2 Cup Ibéria representa uma oportunidade para novos pilotos que desejam dar os primeiros passos no panorama ibérico dos circuitos, sendo a plataforma ideal para ascender ao universo GT4.

Nas palavras de Diogo Ferrão, diretor executivo da Race Ready, promotora do Supercars Endurance “Trata-se de uma evolução natural. A incorporação da BMW M2 Cup Ibéria nas grelhas do Supercars Endurance é uma forma de dinamizar ainda mais o campeonato, abrindo as portas a novos participantes e reforçando o programa dos nossos eventos. O BMW M2 Racing é um automóvel que combina desempenho e acessibilidade, o que o torna numa excelente opção para jovens pilotos que procuram crescer no automobilismo e ascender ao GT4, assim como para os “Gentleman Drivers” que valorizam a competitividade e o prazer de condução. Este acordo com a BMW Ibérica reforça a filosofia do Supercars Endurance, que consiste em reunir diferentes perfis de pilotos e máquinas num ambiente de competição exigente. Os prémios que serão atribuídos aos vencedores do troféu ajudarão os pilotos a prosseguir a sua evolução na carreira.”

José Ramón Montoya, responsável da BMW M Motorsport na BMW Ibérica, afirmou:

“Esta parceria representa a firme convicção que temos na BMW M Motorsport de que apenas a combinação de um bom piloto e da melhor tecnologia conduz ao sucesso. A nossa filosofia, desde as origens há mais de 50 anos, baseia-se na ideia de que o sucesso na competição não depende apenas do desenvolvimento de um bom automóvel como o novo M2 Racing. É também necessário o desenvolvimento de uma equipa humana: pilotos profissionais e equipas de competição. Por isso, apostamos no lançamento da BMW M2 Cup Ibéria como uma excelente plataforma para que jovens pilotos e “Gentleman Drivers” entrem e evoluam no motorsport, levando o BMW M2 Racing a muitas vitórias.»

A BMW M2 Cup Ibéria contará com 10 corridas em 5 fins de semana, coincidindo com o calendário do Iberian Supercars 2026, que decorrerá entre maio e dezembro. A gestão de inscrições e a publicação dos resultados de cada corrida já estão disponíveis no site oficial do campeonato: https://www.gt4south.com/

As corridas serão transmitidas em direto na DAZN Espanha e DAZN Portugal, bem como via streaming no canal de YouTube da Race Ready e em outros canais internacionais especializados.

Com esta integração, o Supercars Endurance reafirma a sua vocação como plataforma de referência do desporto motorizado ibérico, reforçando a ligação entre Portugal e Espanha e consolidando um modelo de sucesso baseado na diversidade, no espetáculo e na competitividade.

Para mais informações, por favor contactar:

BMW Group Portugal

João Trincheiras, Corporate Communications Director

joao.trincheiras@bmw.pt

Sobre o BMW Group

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Munich. A large global racing family is ready for the 2026 season:  BMW Motorrad Motorsport enters the new year with a comprehensive programme, strong teams, and top riders. The factory teams are the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) and the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team in the FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC). In customer racing, numerous teams will again compete worldwide in various championships in 2026, including three BMW Motorrad Motorsport Official Teams: OrangeCat Racing from the USA, 8TEN Racing from the UK, and AutoRace Ube Racing from Japan.

Factory Racing: WorldSBK and FIM EWC.

After winning two world championship titles, BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, led by Team Principal Shaun Muir, are opening a new chapter in 2026. Two experienced and successful riders form the new lineup. Danilo Petrucci (ITA), 35, has proved in recent years that he is among the top competitors in the WorldSBK paddock. As a rider for a private team, he has secured victories and podiums, holding third in the standings before missing races due to injury in the final stages. Petrucci will race the #9 BMW M 1000 RR. Miguel Oliveira (POR), 31, competed in MotoGP from 2019, achieving multiple Grand Prix wins and podiums. Oliveira will make his WorldSBK debut on the BMW M 1000 RR with bike number 88. The WorldSBK season begins on 21st/22nd February at Phillip Island (AUS).

In the FIM EWC, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, led by Team Manager Werner Daemen, came very close to the world championship last season. Less than 30 minutes separated the team from the title at the season finale, the Bol d’Or in France. A technical failure ultimately pushed them back to third place in the championship, earning them the title of “World Champions of Hearts.” The lineup of the #37 BMW M 1000 RR changes only in one spot for 2026: Michael van der Mark (NED) joins the team. He was a BMW Motorrad factory rider in WorldSBK from 2021 and now moves to the FIM EWC. Van der Mark already raced with the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team at Suzuka (JPN) in 2025. Also continuing are BMW veteran Markus Reiterberger (GER), part of the project since its 2019/20 debut, Steven Odendaal (RSA), and Hannes Soomer (EST) as the fourth rider. The riders’ programmes also include additional activities: Van der Mark is a test rider for the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Test Team, Reiterberger and Soomer will compete in the new EuroMoto (formerly IDM Superbike), and Odendaal will defend his title in the Spanish Superbike Championship.

Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) will also continue to compete on a BMW M 1000 RR in the FIM EWC; together with Soomer and Naomichi Uramoto (JPN) he forms a strong trio for the AutoRace Ube Racing Team. The FIM EWC season begins with the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) on 18th/19th April.

Customer racing: Official Teams in focus markets.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport is also successful worldwide in customer racing. Numerous private teams have been winning races and championships around the globe for years. In focus markets, customer teams compete as BMW Motorrad Motorsport Official Teams, working closely with BMW Motorrad Motorsport in communication, marketing, and events.

Japan: AutoRace Ube Racing Team.
In Japan, this is the AutoRace Ube Racing Team, which has already made a mark in the Japanese Superbike Championship and FIM EWC. The team’s regular rider is Naomichi Uramoto (JPN). For FIM EWC events in 2026, AutoRace Ube Racing will receive prominent reinforcement. Guintoli, Superbike and Endurance World Champion as well as BMW Motorrad factory rider in FIM EWC and the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Test Team, brings a wealth of skill and experience. Soomer also contributes his talent and experience on the #76 BMW M 1000 RR.

USA: OrangeCat Racing.
In North America’s MotoAmerica, OrangeCat Racing won the Superstock title last season. Now, the US team, as BMW Motorrad Motorsport Official Team in the focus market USA, moves up to the MotoAmerica Superbike class. The team’s two BMW M 1000 RRs will be ridden by Jayson Uribe and Sean Dylan Kelly (both USA).

UK: 8TEN Racing.
In international Road Racing, the 8TEN Racing Team from the UK focus market is the team to beat. The two riders are also the team owners and the top favorites at major events: Davey Todd and Peter Hickman (both GBR), both of whom have already achieved numerous victories, including at the Isle of Man TT and the Macau Grand Prix. As per last year, Todd and Hickman will compete not only in Road Racing but also in the British Superbike Championship (BSB).

Quotes.

Sven Blusch (Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport): “After the two world championship titles in 2024 and 2025, our full focus is now on continuing this momentum. On the WorldSBK side, we are perfectly positioned. With Danilo Petrucci and Miguel Oliveira, we have brought on board two experienced top riders, whom we’ve already had the chance to get to know a little over the winter. We head to Australia with a very good feeling. Although we had a lot of rain during testing and would have liked a few more laps, we are already looking forward to Phillip Island. In the FIM EWC, after last year’s dramatic season finale, we are even more determined to win the title. With the addition of Michael van der Mark to the team, alongside Steven Odendaal and Markus Reiterberger on bike #37, we are very well positioned for the mission of winning the championship. Over the winter, we prepared intensively, both operationally and technically. In customer racing, our goal for 2026 is to further internationalise. Among the further BMW supported teams in the FIM EWC is also the AutoRace Ube Racing Team, our Official Team from Japan, which has very strong riders in Sylvain Guintoli, Hannes Soomer, and Naomichi Uramoto. With the OrangeCat Racing Team, we have a new Official Team for the USA, which will field two bikes in the MotoAmerica Superbike class, featuring two young, talented riders: Sean Dylan Kelly and Jayson Uribe. Here, our goal as BMW is to defend the title. In the BSB and Road Racing, our Official Team from the UK, 8TEN Racing with Peter Hickman and Davey Todd, will compete. This is also an incredibly strong rider combination. We hope for good results in the BSB and keep our fingers crossed for the Isle of Man TT and other road races, where the two are among the absolute favorites. Overall, it is important for us to strengthen international motorsport in customer racing. With this lineup, we are heading into the 2026 season highly motivated – it embodies our ambition, our drive, and our determination to go full throttle from the very first race.”

Christian Gonschor (Technical Director BMW Motorrad Motorsport): “2026 will be an exciting year of motorsport for BMW Motorrad Motorsport, with clear goals and focus. The mix of new riders and technicians, along with our already strong race teams, partners, and sponsors, makes us eager for more. Everyone is looking forward to the season opener in all relevant classes. The limited dry-weather testing opportunities for our Superbike World Championship team only fuel the ambition of the riders and the team even more. When time is limited, passion and self-confidence help. Danilo and Miguel feel the unwavering commitment of everyone in the team and inspire with their determination, great personalities, and incredible experience. Representing BMW Motorrad Motorsport on the podium regularly with both riders is the clear goal for 2026. Standing still is falling behind, so the wheel will keep turning in both the test team and our Munich headquarters. The riders can look forward to continuous development. In the Endurance World Championship, the benchmark is clear: to finally bring the 2025 world title, narrowly missed at the end, back to Munich. A bike further optimised for the championship and tyres, together with the strengthened rider lineup including Michael van der Mark, offers outstanding opportunities for successful 24-hour races and excellent results in the eight-hour races at Spa and Suzuka. The desire to make history as the first European manufacturer in the EWC 2026 is the ultimate motivation for everyone in the team. We’re ready to go.”

Uwe Geyer (Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport Customer Racing): “In customer racing, we are well-positioned this year, both for the Superbike class and for the Superstock programme worldwide. We have successfully adopted developments from WorldSBK, such as a new swingarm and improvements in electronics. Our Superstock package is up-to-date and competitive. The first teams are already receiving their new motorcycles. In addition, we have introduced Official Teams with whom we maintain closer collaboration in order to further drive internationalisation. These include, for example, the BSB, Japan, and MotoAmerica. The number of our top teams, for example in France, Spain, and Germany in the EuroMoto, has remained the same. Therefore, my personal goal is to further increase the number of overall wins through cooperation with our partner teams. That is the target for this year.”

Shaun Muir (Team Principal ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “We are really looking forward to the 2026 season. We have a new set of goals, a new set of targets with our two new riders Danilo and Miguel. It's really exciting to start the new chapter of the World Superbike programme with BMW Motorrad and our sponsors. I think the expectation is really high also, finishing as World Champions for the last two years, and we’re really determined to give the riders the best tools we possibly can to reach the podium as soon as possible. I think that when we get into Europe from round two, three onwards, we’ll really start to see the true potential of the rider/bike combinations so we’re looking forward to that. Most important is that we give Danilo and Miguel the full support and show how determined we are to continue the good work that we’ve done in the past. We believe that the BMW M 1000 RR is going to grow as a package in the coming months and the proof of that will be the performances that both the riders give us on track. So I’m looking forward to the season - we can take the fight to the competition.”

Werner Daemen (Team Manager BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team): “We expect that we go in the same way that we ended 2025 – except of course the last 25 minutes, because the rest of 2025 was really good. I think we have a very good bike and very strong riders with Markus, Steven, now Michael van der Mark and Hannes as fourth rider. I think we have one goal which is for going for the championship. At the moment, all suits well. We are well prepared from the technical side and testing starts from February on. I expect that we’re running in front and, okay, you need some luck. I also think when we have the luck on our side, we can go again for the world title. This year, we also do the EuroMoto, the new IDM class, where Markus and Hannes can prepare themselves for the World Championship. Steven Odendaal will do the ESBK on the stock BMW – so I think we will be very well prepared for the season.”

Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I’m excited for sure. I don’t know really what to expect. I know it‘s going to be a difficult, competitive environment through the whole grid. So my goal is to be up to that challenge and be as ready as I can to fight for top positions and make my adaptation as fast as possible, especially to have fun and to make the team enjoy the races.”

Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I’m so happy and proud to join the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. It’s the team that has won the last championships and I’m so proud to be part of it. I can’t wait to race with this bike. We did a few tests, and in rainy conditions the situation is really good. We need to spend some time more in the dry because we didn’t have so much time in such conditions yet. For sure there is a lot of expectation but mainly I want to enjoy. I don’t have any particular result in mind. I just want to be as fast as I can and improve the results of my previous season.”

Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team): “I am honestly looking forward to it. I had a nice experience with them last year at Suzuka and I really enjoyed working with Steven and Markus and we’re a nice team. It’s great to know the team already and I think it’s pretty clear that we have one goal and that’s to win the Endurance World Championship. They were so close last year but unfortunately it’s part of endurance racing. I’m looking forward to trying and helping them to get a world title. I will also be in the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Test Team. We’re doing a lot of testing work before getting the parts over to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and also to the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team. It’s a different kind of job, but also really enjoyable. Sometimes it’s a lot of work, and I am really enjoying it as well. It’s great to stay with the BMW Motorsport family and I might be busy during the year.”

Markus Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team): “I’m really looking forward to the season with BMW and the familiar, well-known environment from the past years. Our goal is clear: we want to win the world championship. Last year we were very, very close. We were missing 25 minutes to the title. Unfortunately, we didn’t quite make it in the end, but that automatically makes it our task to go and get it now and I believe the chances are good. We’ve improved a little more in many areas. I think it’s realistic that we can achieve it, but we all have to give our best, work well and stay focused, and of course also have the necessary luck – or simply avoid bad luck. Because endurance racing is always a combination of everything. So the goals are clearly defined. In EuroMoto, we also want to bring the championship title back to BMW. I’ve already managed that four times, and I’m happy that I can go after it once again. Here, I first have to readjust a bit, because in recent years I’ve been active as a test rider at BMW mainly on the Superbike. I was familiar with the Stock bike in the past, and now I need to dial myself back in a little. However, we still have several tests coming up in preparation. The competition in EuroMoto is very strong, which makes me happy, because that’s exactly what German motorsport needs: strong riders, teams, and motorcycles. We’re well set up, and I’m hoping for a great season.”

Steven Odendaal (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team): “I’m really excited for this 2026 season. I think from last year we can extract a lot of information about how to improve, not just on the bike but also myself personally. And I think that this year we can really bring it together for a strong and consistent performance to bring us the title at the end of the year. That’s the main objective and obviously also I would like to defend my Spanish Superbike title this year. I am looking forward to keeping my eye in with that and enjoying racing again.”

Tsune Igami (Team Manager AutoRace Ube Racing Team): “We are very happy to be the BMW Motorrad Motorsport Official Team in Japan. It is great that we are part of the BMW family, and we can’t wait to start the season.”

Sylvain Guintoli (AutoRace Ube Racing Team): “This is another super motivating challenge for me. Last year the performance from the AutoRace Ube team straight away with the BMW was incredible, not only in the All Japan Championship, where Naomichi managed to win two races, but also to be ultra-competitive in the Suzuka 8 Hours as well as at the Bol d’Or for their first 24 -hour race at very short notice. They did an amazing job last year, so for me to step in now feels like it makes a lot of sense and like extra motivation to try and bring some experience into the team, to try to make it sort of successful straight away and help with the adaptation. I’m mega excited.”

Naomichi Uramoto (AutoRace Ube Racing Team): “I’m very excited to race the full season of FIM EWC with a great team and great teammates as a part of the big BMW family. I’m really motivated for the season.”

Hannes Soomer (AutoRace Ube Racing Team): “For me it’s the next step in my endurance career to be a full time rider. It’s the first time in my life on a superbike. Like the two guys next to me, I’m also really excited. I rode the bike and joined the team for one test last year before Suzuka. I felt good in the team and on the bike from the first day. I’m really excited to see what we can do. I think we have a really nice set of three riders, everybody is ready to work, everybody is fast and I’m looking forward to Le Mans.”

Jeff Connors (Team Principal OrangeCat Racing): “We’re expecting to, as long as we learn after every single event, get better after every single event, and by the end of the season, being able to compete for podiums. I think that’s possible with BMW’s support to accelerate our learning curve with the superbike. We’re new to this, we know that, and it’s going to take us some time to get up there and compete for wins, but really preparing ourselves for 2027.”

Sean Dylan Kelly (OrangeCat Racing): “First of all, I’m extremely excited to be back on the BMW. It’s a bike that I already won a race on, in the Moto America Superbike class, and that means it’s quite clear for me that the goal is to win. I’m a professional racer and I work very hard to achieve wins every weekend and I think the championship is the hunt for me. It’s also realistic that it’s a new team stepping up into Superbike, new people, new crew chief, a newer, more developed bike, so there’s a lot of things to learn but I think the package is there to be competitive and that’s all I’m focused on so I’m really excited to get started. I want to say thank you to the OrangeCat Racing team and also to BMW for making this happen.”

Jayson Uribe (OrangeCat Racing): “For me, this upcoming year on the BMW M 1000 RR is to win the championship. Whether that’s with myself or with Sean, our goal is to make sure that OrangeCat Racing and BMW come together with the win. I would like to continue to progress and learn as a rider. I think jumping on the superbike is a big step and I’m excited to continue to get better and better with every lap. I have big expectations. I want to win races, but I also want to make sure I provide the best results for the team. I understand that sometimes that means seeing the bigger picture, and that’s what we're here to do.”

Darren Jones (Team Manager 8TEN Racing): “With the winter behind us and more support from BMW Motorrad Motorsport themselves I’m looking forward to the season. Especially after last year with everything being put together so late. It was always going to be a struggle and we were always on the back foot, but now I think with the support we’ve got and the sponsors that are helping us out even more than before, I’m pretty confident we can put on a good show for everyone.”

Davey Todd (8TEN Racing): “I’m really looking forward to 2026. It’s going to be another fun year with our 8TEN Racing team. We’ve been working on everything and had a little bit more time this year to prepare, which is what we’re doing right now. Spending some time preparing is exactly what we didn’t have at the beginning of 2025 and we still finished with some very good results at the end of the year. So we know we can come into 2026 and improve in all areas, particularly on circuits, particularly at BSB. We think we can make some steps there and then go into the roads, the North West, the TT, the Southern 100 for myself and the Macau Grand Prix. I’m really looking forward to all the road races as always. I want to win more races like we did last year. Becoming king of the roads again for the third time for me in 2025: I want to keep that going. Most importantly, taking TT wins, which I know for sure my teammate’s going to be amongst the toughest competition there. We’re really looking forward to it. Like we did at Macau last year, we’re hoping for a lot of one-twos this season.”

Peter Hickman (8TEN Racing): “We’re actually really looking forward to the 2026 season. Obviously last year was almost a rushed year for us one way or another and of course I had a big injury as well. So for 2026 we are much, much more prepared as a team. Both me and Davey as well have got much more of a handle on what‘s actually going on and the team’s working really, really well. We’re happy with the bikes, we’re happy with everything for the season. We have a full British Superbike season to look forward to, as well as the North West 200, the Isle of Man TT, and maybe even one or two other races as well. Obviously we did Macau in the last year where we finished one and two. Overall, last year was more of a building year, as it ended up having to be, and then this year we can really kind of hit the ground running, much, much more prepared and really looking forward to it.”

Jerez de la Frontera. The new chapter of BMW Motorrad Motorsport in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) is gaining momentum: this week, the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team completed its first laps of the year with its two new riders, Miguel Oliveira (POR) and Danilo Petrucci (ITA). Two test days were scheduled as part of the 2026 season preparations at the Andalusian circuit in Jerez de la Frontera (ESP). However, adverse weather conditions led to delays and reduced track time. The season preparations will continue next week in Portimão (POR).

Petrucci will compete in the 2026 WorldSBK season aboard the #9 BMW M 1000 RR, while Oliveira’s BMW Superbike will carry the number 88. Both riders had their first opportunity to get to know the team and the bikes in Jerez de la Frontera last November. Now, at the same venue, the intensive work began to prepare as thoroughly as possible for the season opener at Phillip Island in Australia (20th to 22nd February).

Reactions after the test in Jerez de la Frontera.

Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “2026 officially kicked off in Jerez under challenging weather conditions. After defending the title last year, the clock has now been reset to zero and the full focus is on the start of the season. The onboarding of Miguel and Danilo is in full swing, and we are doing our best to prepare optimally during the two pre-season tests. Phillip Island is already just one month away, and we will give everything to deliver a strong start to the season there.”

Christian Gonschor, Technical Director BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “The test in Jerez de la Frontera was somewhat different from what we had planned due to the rainy conditions, but it was very productive as a result. Both Miguel and Danilo adapted to the bike very quickly and showed excellent performance on the BMW M 1000 RR in wet conditions. They felt comfortable – that was the most important thing. Both within the team and on the bike. They had confidence in the motorcycle, including the electronics. This allowed us to improve step by step over the course of the first day to move both riders up to the top positions in the timesheets. Due to the rapidly improving conditions, we were able to add three productive dry hours today after a successful wet session yesterday. This puts us in an optimal position for the upcoming Portimão test. Different tyres were used across the field, which somewhat distorted the results. Our riders are gradually building more confidence and understanding of their machinery on race tyres, the new components are working flawlessly, and the new team members have already become an integral part of our racing family. We are all eagerly looking forward to the start of the season together and thank the test team and Mickey for their great work.”

Danilo Petrucci, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It was two long days even if we did not have the chance to ride a lot. I really enjoyed to be on the bike, especially in wet conditions. It’s really one of the best bikes I’ve ever ridden in the rain. For sure, it’s a long process because this bike is really different from what I was used. But the potential is really, really high. But you have to know the bike. On day one, I was really happy, on the second day the track was not in perfect conditions. We saw many crashes from the wet patches. But is was still useful because the conditions were very different compared to the November test so we understood that me and the bike need something different. Hopefully next week in Portimão we will have better conditions and we will gather some more experience.”

Miguel Oliveira, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It has been the first test of the year after the winter break and there have been much expectations for these two days obviously, getting to know the bike and the team better. I think we achieved that, we ticked another box which was to solve some issues and as well to get to know each other better and that’s the way to go. We need more time, we know that, but at the same time, there is a lot of expectation. But right now we just need to be patient and achieve the best outcome possible for myself in that short period of time.”

Munich. BMW Motorrad Motorsport continued its success story in both factory and customer racing in 2025, collecting titles, wins and podium finishes around the globe. In the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), factory rider Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) impressively defended his riders’ title and once again was crowned World Champion aboard the BMW M 1000 RR of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. In addition, private teams and riders secured no fewer than 12 further titles in the most important international and national championships worldwide. The BMW M 1000 RR also proved to be a class of its own once again in international road racing this year.

A look at WorldSBK, the FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) and numerous other championships across Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia shows that BMW racers were even more successful in 2025 than in the previous year. Overall, they stood on the podium 411 times, achieving 169 wins and 242 additional podium finishes. This means that the factory riders and BMW customer racers once again surpassed the already outstanding figures from the previous year (371 / 142 / 229).

“Behind us lies a season that surpassed our successes from 2024 once again – in factory racing as well as in customer racing,” says Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport. “Toprak’s successful title defense in WorldSBK will remain unforgettable, with no fewer than 21 wins in 36 races. In the FIM Endurance World Championship, we were also on course for the title in a dramatic finale until just minutes before the finish, before a technical issue prevented this potentially historic success for the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team. But next year we will have another chance to become world champions in endurance racing as well. In customer racing, private riders and teams in a wide range of series around the world consistently achieved top results and numerous titles. BMW riders also celebrated further sensational victories in road racing. All these successes fill us with great pride – they prove that the BMW M 1000 RR is a true winning motorcycle and that our global BMW Motorrad Motorsport family is stronger than ever.”

“The BMW M 1000 RR is one of the best bikes in international racing – and this season once again showed that our customers can rely on it in championships around the globe,” says Uwe Geyer, Head of BMW Motorrad Customer Racing. “We are proud to be able to provide private teams and riders with such a strong package. The race version of the BMW M 1000 RR forms an excellent foundation, and with our global support network we help our customers convert this potential into titles and victories in their championships. Our racing components originate from our factory racing efforts, and all our customers worldwide benefit from the close cooperation between our factory teams, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Test Team and our development department.”

The 2025 BMW Champions at a glance.

• FIM Superbike World Championship – Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR / ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
• MotoAmerica Superbike – Cameron Beaubier (USA/ Tytlers Cycle Racing)
• MotoAmerica Superstock – Andrew Lee (USA/ Orange Cat Racing)
• BSB National Superstock 1000 – Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR / ROKiT BMW Motorrad)
• French Superbike Championship – Kenny Foray (FRA / Tecmas Racing Team)
• Spanish Superbike Championship – Steven Odendaal (RSA / New2 Project)
• IDM Pro Superstock Cup – Ricardo Brink (NED / Masteroil-Alpha-Van-Zon-BMW)
• French European Bikes Championship – Julien Brun (FRA / La Roche Noir Moto)
• Italian National Trophy 1000 – Francesco Ciacci (ITA / Team Crazy Old Men)
• Alpe Adria Motorcycle Championship Superstock – Mate Szamado (HUN / HRE Team)
• SuperBike Brasil Master – Felipe Comerlatto (BRA / Mormaii Racing)
• SuperBike Brasil Rookie – Cleber Calopsita (BRA / APEX Racing)
• SuperBike Brasil Light – Edu Moura (BRA / JD 43 HPA Racing)

Isle of Man, Macau and more: BMW racers dominate the world’s most important road races.

Once again in the 2025 season, there was no way past the BMW riders in international road racing. The action began with the North West 200, where the BMW M 1000 RR claimed victories in all five races. Davey Todd (GBR) secured three wins, while Michael Dunlop (GBR) won the other two races. In addition, Todd, Peter Hickman and Ian Hutchinson (both GBR) collected further podium finishes. At the legendary Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, Todd and Dunlop achieved a one-two finish in the Superbike TT, and both riders also stepped onto the podium in the two Superstock races. The Senior TT, in which BMW racers were among the main favorites, was cancelled due to weather conditions. The motorsport world then turns its attention every November to the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix to close out the season. Here, the BMW road racers delivered an outstanding one-two-three result, with Todd taking victory ahead of Hickman and Erno Kostamo (FIN).

Jerez de la Frontera. Mission title defense accomplished: Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) is once again the World Champion in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) for 2025! With third place in the second main race of the dramatic season finale in Jerez de la Frontera (ESP), ‘El Turco’ secured the crown. This marks his second consecutive World Championship title as a BMW Motorrad Motorsport factory rider with the BMW M 1000 RR of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team – and the third WorldSBK title of his career (2021, 2024, 2025).

After his outstanding championship win in 2024, Razgatlioglu entered the 2025 season as the clear favourite. However, following a winter testing phase during which the BMW M 1000 RR had to be adapted at short notice due to regulation changes, the season started off more challenging than expected. Despite scoring a hat-trick at the second round in Portimão (POR), there were also setbacks, and Razgatlioglu found himself in the role of the chaser behind Ducati rider Nicolò Bulega (ITA).

But by mid-season in June, ‘El Turco’, BMW Motorrad Motorsport, and the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team turned the tide. In Misano (ITA), Donington Park (GBR), the new Balaton Park Circuit (HUN), and Magny-Cours (FRA), he won every race – achieving four consecutive hat-tricks and taking the championship lead. He then celebrated his first-ever victory at MotorLand Aragón (ESP), equaling his own record from 2024 of 13 consecutive wins. After further victories and podium finishes, he ultimately secured the 2025 title with 616 points – 13 points ahead of Bulega.

Teammate Michael van der Mark (NED) wrapped up his final weekend as a WorldSBK rider with more strong Top 10 finishes. After five years with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (2021–2025), he will remain part of the BMW Motorrad Motorsport family. Already on Tuesday in Jerez de la Frontera, he will be back on the BMW M 1000 RR, working with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Test Team to prepare for the 2026 WorldSBK season.

Reactions after the season finale.

Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW Motorrad: “Congratulations to Toprak and the entire team! This season, everyone has shown what true champions are made of. The first races weren’t easy, but for everyone – especially for Toprak – the attitude was clear: stand up, straighten your crown, and keep going. And what a way they kept going! The winning streak that began in Misano was simply breathtaking. Even on the nerve-racking final Sunday here in Jerez, after the unfortunate retirement in the Superpole Race through no fault of his own, everyone stayed completely focused and prepared everything perfectly so that Toprak could seal the deal in race two. The reward is Toprak’s well-deserved second World Championship title on our BMW M 1000 RR. We are incredibly proud of him and of everyone in the team, in Munich and Berlin, whose hard work made this achievement possible.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “I am very happy and smiling. To get the title was very important for me. This was my last year with BMW and in the Superbike Paddock. It is a great gift to BMW before I leave for MotoGP. In the end we are World Champions. At the beginning of the season, we were not so strong but we improved with every race. Thanks to the entire team and BMW for all this hard work. It is not me being the World Champion, it is us. Looking back onto this final weekend: Everything went very well yesterday especially and today I came to the track more relaxed. I just needed to finish the Superpole Race within the top seven but we crashed in turn five. I know this is racing and everybody wants to pass. It is that he (Nicolò Bulega) just hit me and I crashed. After that I just stayed calm and focused on race two because I needed to do a good job there. I just focused on achieving the best possible position. I started the race not pushing too hard but I worked my way to the front step by step and in the end, we were on the podium. To be World Champion again is a great feeling and I want to thank everyone who was part of this journey.”

Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “I am very happy – and speechless. It is such a great day. I think that after the Superpole Race, we all aged by ten years. The job the team did was amazing. The bike was pretty damaged and to work under that pressure to get it ready for race two was incredible. Everybody stayed calm, and I think this was in the end the key for us to win the title. The second title in a row – we are happy for Toprak, for the team, for BMW Motorrad. Toprak wrote history for BMW. It was wild ride together and we are sad that it’s over but we will cheer for him next year. And we are also so thankful for everything that Mickey has done for us. We had difficult years, also with injuries but he was always loyal to us. And he has played an important part in winning these two title in both years. We are really looking forward to continue working with him. What we are going to do, we will announce soon. But for now – we are going to have a big party tonight, and from tomorrow on we fully focus on the 2026 WorldSBK season with Danilo Petrucci and Miguel Oliveira.”

Christian Gonschor, Technical Director BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “I can‘t describe how I feel because it was an incredible day. A few hours with a lot of emotions, ups and downs, everything happened. But at the end for sure to see Toprak back on the podium, celebrating the second world championship for us, for BMW, makes me very proud and the whole project, the whole team, everybody involved. So it’s a fantastic day to complete a fantastic. At the end the key for any success in sport is always focus and teamwork. We listened to the riders, we looked into our package and tried to be focused to learn from the situation when we were not fast enough to beat our competitors. And with the focus of the riders, of the crew and all our technicians in Munich, we managed to turn the page. Thank you to Toprak, who is an incredible person on and off the track, thank you to Mickey, who did so much for us since he joined in 2021, and thank you to the entire team! A very personal thank-you also goes to my wife Katherina and my kids, who are always a source of support for me.”

Shaun Muir, Team Principal ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “My feelings are really tough to put into words. We woke up feeling super, super positive, but as we always know anything can happen in racing and it actually did in the sprint race. I’ve just got to put my hands together and praise the good work the guys did. The entire team stayed focused. In the end Toprak is a three-times World Champion, and two times with BMW. I am absolutely over the moon, proud as you can be, of everyone involved and the lot of hard work everybody did.

Michael van der Mark, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It has been a nice weekend. I have for sure some mixed feelings about my races, especially race two I didn’t enjoy as much as I wish I did. But you know it’s racing and I think after today we have a lot of things to be happy about with the team. It has been a strange season. The start of the season was a bit weird with the last minute changes in regulations and stuff like that. Especially my side, I struggled quite a lot with the bike honestly. Also at one point, mentally it was difficult and I just could not find any progress. That has been tough. But we always kept working, the team always kept working and I think towards the end of the year I did the Suzuka 8 Hours, got my confidence back and then when I came back I had the speed again and I felt more confident with the bike. I think Toprak showed again how special he is and he so deserves the title. He and the entire team deserve the title. Time went fast, and I enjoyed my time in WorldSBK. I have six wins here and podiums. Now I have exactly one day off and on Tuesday I will start with the test team to improve the package for next year for Danilo and Miguel.”

Facts and figures.

Superpole.

Air temperature: 23°, track temperature: 21°, humidity: 59%, conditions: dry.

* New all-time lap record

Race 1.

Air temperature: 29°, track temperature: 30°, humidity: 41%, conditions: dry, laps: 20.

Fastest race lap: Nicolò Bulega, lap 2, 1:38.737

Superpole Race.

Air temperature: 23°, track temperature: 21°, humidity: 60%, conditions: dry, laps: 10.

Fastest race lap: Nicolò Bulega, lap 2, 1:37.659 (new record)

Race 2.

Air temperature: 27°, track temperature: 30°, humidity: 49%, conditions: dry, laps: 20.

Fastest race lap: Nicolò Bulega, lap 3, 1:38.693

Final riders’ classification (R12/12, after 36 of 36 races).

Final manufacturers’ classification (R12/12, after 36 of 36 races).

Estoril. Two more victories on the road to the riders’ world championship title and important points for the manufacturers’ battle – Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR), BMW Motorrad Motorsport, and the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team once again shone at Estoril. The penultimate round of the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) took place at the Portuguese circuit near Lisbon. Riding his #1 BMW M 1000 RR, Razgatlioglu won both the first main race and the Superpole race, and added a second-place podium finish in race two. He also set new lap records over the weekend. As the leader of the riders’ standings, “El Turco” now heads to the season finale at Jerez de la Frontera (ESP) with a 39-point lead over his closest rival Nicolò Bulega (ITA / Ducati).

Teammate Michael van der Mark (NED) also showed strong form at Estoril. In Saturday’s first race, he was caught up in a multi-rider incident at the first corner through no fault of his own. He was able to take part in the restart but faced technical issues and finished 15th. In the Superpole race, he secured an important ninth place to improve his grid position for race two, where he finished tenth – once again inside the top ten.

In the manufacturers’ standings, BMW remains hot on the heels of leaders Ducati, trailing by just three points ahead of the final round. A total of 62 points will still be up for grabs in the last three races of the season at Jerez de la Frontera.

Reactions after the Estoril round.

Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “It was another important step towards the title and an almost perfect weekend for us. With two victories and a second place, we can now travel to Jerez with a very solid points advantage. Toprak’s performance was once again outstanding. At the same time, Nicolò Bulega’s performance also deserves recognition. What those two showed in the races, pulling away from the rest of the field, was on another level. We are also very happy with Mickey’s performance; he did a great job with his top-ten results. I think he too is ready for his, for now, last race weekend in WorldSBK. We will now do everything we can – in Berlin, Munich, England, and at the track – to be as well prepared as possible, and we’re looking forward to the season finale.”

Christian Gonschor, Technical Director BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “It was another fantastic weekend with two wins, pole position, lap records, and a second place. With this tremendous weekend, Toprak extended his lead in the riders’ championship – a maximum success that the entire team can be proud of. Toprak showed his professionalism in every race, and in the second main race he knew that second place was also crucial for the championship, for the big goal. He didn’t take any unnecessary risks to go for the win. Looking ahead to Jerez, we are excited for an intense finale, and we want to express our gratitude to the organisers and the FIM, whose control and regulatory mechanisms ensure fair competition that thrills fans at the track and on TV with two magnificent riders at the front.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “I was really happy to win the first race. At the beginning, all was under control but then Nicolò had a bit more grip than me. At the end of the race I was spinning a lot but he was too. In the Superpole race, the start was a bit difficult, I was fighting with Nicolò on the first two laps. But then I just focused on my pace, pushing for a good lap time and trying to not make any mistake. So in the end I won again. Race two was more difficult for me. I was back in fifth, had to overtake but just focused on my job to catch Nicolò. When I was back in second place I was pushing so hard on every lap that the rear tyre dropped, so I was struggling a lot. I had to start to manage my race and I just thought: ‘Okay, this time it is impossible to win, P2 is enough because I need the good points for the championship.’ Now I am looking forward to Jerez. We have some margin in the championship, and everything else we will see there. Nicolò is very strong at Jerez but I will try to do my best again.”

Michael van der Mark, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “At the last couple of rounds we had a great feeling with the bike and then we came here and for some reason we struggled quite a lot with the bike in the beginning. We couldn’t get the right feeling and not the right speed on Friday. For Saturday morning, we improved our pace and our package a lot. I was confident for Superpole but unfortunately I lost a lot of time by missing a gear. Especially here you lose a lot of places on the grid and P12 was not fantastic. In race one, I had a good start, but unfortunately someone crashed in turn one and took me out. The guys in the pit box made sure that the spare bike was ready and I was able to do the re-start. After a few good laps I unfortunately had a technical issue. I managed to finish the race and score one point, but it was a very disappointing Saturday. In Sunday’s Superpole race we decided to go with the race tyre as we felt that the qualifying tyre was a big risk. I finished P9 which was not too bad. It was good to move up on the grid, especially for turn one. My start in race two was not great but I had a good pace. I was catching up with the guys in front of me, but I just seemed to struggle a bit with the bike when I got really close to them. I was fighting hard and finished tenth collecting more points. Now I’m looking forward to Jerez, especially in regards of the championship. It looks like Toprak will win it there, so that’s the thing everyone is looking out for.”

Facts and figures.

Superpole.

Air temperature: 24°, track temperature: 28°, humidity: 54%, conditions: dry.

* New all-time lap record

Race 1.

Air temperature: 24°, track temperature: 37°, humidity: 40%, conditions: dry, laps: 18.

Fastest race lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu, lap 4, 1:35.696 (new record)

Superpole Race.

Air temperature: 23°, track temperature: 29°, humidity: 57%, conditions: dry, laps: 10.

Fastest race lap: Nicolò Bulega, lap 5, 1:34.973 (new record)

Race 2.

Air temperature: 25°, track temperature: 38°, humidity: 51%, conditions: dry, laps: 21.

Fastest race lap: Nicolò Bulega, lap 8, 1:34.973

Current riders’ classification (R11/12, after 33 of 36 races).

Current manufacturers’ classification (R11/12, after 33 of 36 races).

Munich. The factory duo for BMW Motorrad Motorsport in the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) is complete. After signing Italian rider Danilo Petrucci, his teammate for the 2026 season has now also been confirmed: it is Miguel Oliveira from Portugal. The 30-year-old will switch from MotoGP, where he has competed for seven years, to BMW Motorrad Motorsport in WorldSBK, and will race with the BMW M 1000 RR of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team.

Oliveira began his international career on the world championship stage as a teenager in 2011 in the 125cc class. When this was replaced by the Moto3 World Championship in 2012, he competed in that category for several years. From 2016 to 2018, he was a permanent fixture in the Moto2 World Championship before stepping up to the premier class, MotoGP, in 2019. To date, he has celebrated five wins and four further podium finishes in MotoGP. Now, Oliveira is opening a new chapter in his career: as a BMW Motorrad Motorsport factory rider in WorldSBK 2026.

At the same time, talks are being held with Michael van der Mark (NED) about continuing the collaboration in other projects. He has been a factory rider with BMW Motorrad Motorsport since 2021 and has competed with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team since then.

“Bem-vindo à família, Miguel,” says Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport. “We are very happy to welcome Miguel Oliveira as a new factory rider for our ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. Miguel has impressively proven throughout his career that he belongs to the most talented and versatile riders of his generation. With victories in all three Grand Prix classes, including five in MotoGP, he brings valuable experience and a high level of professionalism to our project. Together with Danilo Petrucci, his new teammate, he forms a strong and competitive rider duo. The two already know each other well. This constellation gives us the opportunity to take the next steps in our development and to further reinforce BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s ambitions in WorldSBK. The entire team is very much looking forward to working with him. But for now, our focus is on the remaining races of this season, with big goals: we want to win the world championship title again with Toprak Razgatlioglu and build on Michael van der Mark’s strong performance at Magny-Cours in order to also play a decisive role in the battle for the manufacturers’ title. Michael’s time in our WorldSBK project will come to an end after this season. I would like to sincerely thank him for his commitment, his successes and his achievements during his five years in our WorldSBK team. We are currently working on opportunities for further collaboration with him within the BMW Motorrad Motorsport family and would be delighted to move into a new future together with him.”

Oliveira says: “To join the BMW family in the World Superbike Championship is an exciting step in my career, one in which I see tremendous potential. I am becoming part of a project that is not only ambitious and competitive, but has also made a significant impact on both the championship and the motorcycle industry. Being involved with a new team, working alongside strong partners, and embracing a new championship format gives me great motivation to deliver my very best. I want to sincerely thank Mr. Sven Blusch, Technical Director Chris Gonschor and Team Principal Shaun Muir for their trust and enthusiasm. I can’t wait to begin this new chapter together.”

+++ BMW is title partner of Germany’s biggest marathon event for the 14^th time +++ Roughly 80,000 athletes from around the world line up at the peaceful sporting festival +++ The new all-electric BMW iX3 is the lead vehicle +++ The first Neue Klasse model goes into series production this year +++

Berlin. This weekend, about 80,000 people from roughly 160 countries – from amateur runners to the very best in the world, and from handbikers to inline skaters – will be getting active on the streets of the German capital, as they make the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON one of the biggest marathon events in the world. It is a festival of running that stands for joy, openness, and friendly intercultural encounters – values that are deeply embedded in the BMW Group's identity. Furthermore, another absolute highlight awaits the roughly one million fans lining the street, as another endurance specialist will also line up at the start on Sunday. The new, all-electric BMW iX3 – the first model in the Neue Klasse – is this year’s lead vehicle.

“It is only fitting that we’ve chosen the 2025 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON to this premiere. There could be no more suitable event for the first ‘race deployment’ of the new BMW iX3, where endurance is everything,” said Christian Ach, Head of BMW Deutschland. “The first model of the Neue Klasse was presented just a few weeks ago at IAA Mobility in Munich, and now it is on the streets of Berlin alongside world-class athletes – great company for an all-electric vehicle with a range of up to 805 kilometres, which can be charged with enough power for up to 372 kilometres of range in just ten minutes.”

The first model in the Neue Klasse is far more than a new BMW model. It represents the redefinition of the BMW and heralds the start of a new era of Sheer Driving Pleasure. The BMW iX3 50 xDrive (electric power consumption, combined: 17.9 – 15.1 kWh/100 km; CO₂ class: A; range: 679 – 805 km [421 – 500 miles]; provisional figures as per WLTP) showcases for the first time the major technological the leap forward in many areas: electromobility, display and operating concept, digitalisation, networking, design, and sustainability. All future BMW models will benefit from the innovations in the Neue Klasse – regardless of their drive technology.

The clear, reduced design language of the Neue Klasse is typical BMW and so progressive that it gives the impression it has skipped a complete vehicle generation.

The sixth generation of eDrive technology sets new standards for efficiency and long-distance capability. Another factor behind these values is the new electronics and software architecture. Four ‘superbrain’ high-performance computers make the first Neue Klasse model more intelligent and more ready for the future than ever. The ‘Heart of Joy’ drivetrain and driving dynamics management technology enables unmatched handling dynamism and precision, while the latest systems for automated driving optimise symbiotic human-vehicle interaction.

The new BMW Panoramic iDrive takes operation and brand-typical driver focus to a new level. With its neatly judged balance between digital functions and physical elements, the revolutionary display and control/operation concept facilitates intuitive operation according to BMW’s fabled “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road” principle.

A total of 65 on-course and organisational vehicles will be in use at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. As well as the new BMW iX3, the all-electric BMW iX, BMW i5, BMW i5 Touring, BMW i4, BMW iX2 and BMW iX1 models will also be helping to ensure that everything runs smoothly. The BMW Group will also provide the organisers with ten BMW motorcycles and four BMW e-scooters. The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON is a home event for the two-wheelers, as iconic BMW motorcycles have been manufactured at the BMW Group Plant Berlin since 1969. Over 2,400 employees in Berlin-Spandau manufacture up to 900 motorcycles and premium e-scooters each day for customers all over the world.

Três personalidades, três MINI à medida de cada estilo

Com percursos distintos mas uma autenticidade que os une, os novos embaixadores MINI reforçam a ligação da marca a um público jovem, urbano e sempre atento às tendências:

• Salvador Martinha, humorista e criador de conteúdos, escolheu o novo MINI Countryman, um SUV que combina versatilidade e prazer de condução para quem vive a cidade… e além dela.

• José Mata, ator já conhecido pelo seu talento e carisma, optou pelo novo MINI Aceman – o primeiro crossover totalmente elétrico da MINI, que alia a irreverência à consciência ambiental.

 • Soraia Tavares, cantora e atriz, dá voz e estilo ao MINI Cooper 3 Portas elétrico, o compacto urbano por excelência, agora com uma alma elétrica e com uma experiência ainda mais digitalizada.

A nova geração MINI

O anúncio dos novos embaixadores MINI acontece no momento em que a marca tem disponível uma gama alargada de modelos em Portugal – o MINI Cooper, o MINI Aceman e o MINI Countryman. Todos os veículos mantêm o inconfundível ADN MINI, agora mais conectados, seguros e alinhados com a mobilidade do futuro. Dos modelos 100% elétricos aos motores a combustão altamente eficientes, a nova gama MINI oferece soluções para todos os estilos de vida, sempre com o prazer de condução no centro da experiência.

Para Gonçalo Empis, Head of MINI Portugal, “os novos embaixadores refletem na perfeição a visão da MINI enquanto marca de mobilidade urbana, jovem e atenta às novas tecnologias – seja através dos nossos modelos 100% elétricos ou dos motores a combustão eficientes. O Salvador, o José e a Soraia são mais do que a cara da marca: representam o estilo e atitude que definem a nova geração MINI.”

Com esta parceria, a MINI reforça o compromisso em aproximar-se de figuras que personificam os valores da marca: autenticidade, atitude positiva, energia e compromisso com um futuro mais sustentável.

Siga os embaixadores MINI 2025

Ao longo do ano, Salvador Martinha, José Mata e Soraia Tavares irão partilhar momentos ao volante dos seus MINI, mostrando como estes modelos fazem parte do seu dia a dia - seja na cidade, na estrada ou fora dela. Esta partilha será amplamente divulgada nas redes sociais da MINI e dos embaixadores da marca. 

Munich. Tennis is a key pillar of the BMW brand’s international sporting commitment. BMW has supported tennis for almost 40 years and will remain a strong partner in the future. This is underscored by its successful collaboration with the world No. 1, Spanish tennis pro Carlos Alcaraz, which has now been extended long-term.

“Tennis plays a fundamental role in our sponsorship portfolio,” says Uwe Dreher, Vice President Marketing BMW Europe. “We are delighted to continue our journey with Carlos Alcaraz. His passion for sport and his pursuit of excellence are consistent with the values of our brand. Together, we will create unforgettable moments that celebrate the sport of tennis and strengthen the bond with our customers.”

In early September, Carlos Alcaraz won the US Open, in the process regaining his world No. 1 ranking, which he first claimed in 2022 as the youngest player in history. The six-time Grand Slam champion, at age 22 already one of the defining personalities of the ATP Tour, says: “I am delighted to continue being part of the BMW family, whose values – honesty, excellence, innovation and joy – have always resonated deeply with my own. I am grateful to BMW for the support I received even before my first Grand Slam win and hope that we can enjoy many more successes together.”

The involvement of BMW in tennis dates back to 1987, when the company first partnered the BMW Open in its home city of Munich (GER). This year, the 38th year of this collaboration, the storied tournament had its premiere as an ATP 500 event. BMW also partners the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells (USA) and Rome (ITA) as well as the ATP 500 indoor event in Vienna (AUT).

+++ American Akshay Bhatia sinks a hole-in-one on the 17th hole during the third round of the BMW Championship +++ All-electric BMW iX M70 becomes the third Hole-in-One Car taken in tournament history +++ BMW donates a four-year scholarship to the Evans Scholars Foundation in Bhatia's name +++

Owings Mills. By the halfway point of the third round of the BMW Championship, fans at the Caves Valley Golf Club had already witnessed the shot of the tournament and celebrated enthusiastically when Akshay Bhatia holed out on the 17th hole from a distance of 195 meters (213 yards) using a 5-iron. For the ace, the 23-year-old American was rewarded with this year’s Hole-in-One Prize, the new all-electric BMW iX M70. The BMW Group’s flagship technology model impresses with up to 25% increased power output, significantly improved efficiency, and a maximum range of 701 kilometers in the WLTP cycle.

The ace on the 17th was Bhatia’s second eagle of the day, having already holed out with his second shot on the 7th hole. While the two-time PGA TOUR winner was thrilled about the BMW iX, the eagles were also crucial for his scorecard: Bhatia is ranked 29th in the FedExCup standings and is fighting for a spot in next week’s season finale, which is reserved for the top 30 players.

However, the Hole-in-One holds even greater significance for a caddie, as BMW donates a full scholarship to the Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF) for the first ace at the BMW Championship, enabling a young person to pursue higher education. “We are proud of our long-standing partnership with the Western Golf Association and the tremendous impact the BMW Championship has had on the lives of so many young scholars. Education is the key to a self-determined life,” said Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, People and Places. “Since the inaugural BMW Championship in 2007, the tournament has raised more than $60 million and helped award more than 4,000 full tuition and housing college scholarships for caddies. I am delighted that today’s ace adds another scholarship to this legacy.”

Bhatia commented: “The BMW is, of course, a fantastic bonus. Beyond that, the two eagles I made today are really good for what I need to do for tomorrow. But most importantly, it warms my heart that I can give an opportunity to a kid who will have a full scholarship next year. That’s a blessing, and the impact of the Evans Scholars Foundation and the BMW Championship cannot be overstated.”

This marks the seventh time in tournament history that BMW has donated an Evans Scholarship for the first ace at the BMW Championship. The Hole-in-One Prize, however, has only been awarded twice before. Jason Day (AUS) in 2017 and Hunter Mahan (USA) in 2013 were the lucky winners. Both players made their valuable aces on the 17th hole at Conway Farms Golf Club (Chicago). In 2013, Mahan received an all-electric BMW i3, while Day donated the value of his Hole-in-One Car – a BMW M760i – to the Evans Scholars Foundation.

Munich. The BMW Motorrad Motorsport family in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) will welcome a new addition in 2026. Italian rider Danilo Petrucci will join the BMW Motorrad Motorsport factory rider line-up in WorldSBK. The 34-year-old fan favourite will compete next year aboard the BMW M 1000 RR for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. He will succeed World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR), who is set to move to MotoGP for the upcoming season.

Petrucci, well known by his nickname “Petrux,” is one of the most experienced international riders. He raced full-time in MotoGP from 2012 to 2021, with additional appearances in the following two years. He also spent a season in MotoAmerica and competed in the Dakar Rally, where he impressively won a stage. Petrucci joined WorldSBK in 2023. In his 93 WorldSBK races to date with the private Barni Spark Racing Team, “Petrux” has claimed no fewer than 20 podium finishes, including three victories. In the current season, he has already stood on the podium seven times and currently sits third in the championship standings behind leader Razgatlioglu and Nicolò Bulega (ITA). He also leads the Independent Riders’ standings by a wide margin.

“We are very pleased to welcome Danilo Petrucci to our BMW Motorrad Motorsport family in 2026,” said Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport. “We are confident that we can continue our success story in WorldSBK with Danilo. His move to BMW Motorrad Motorsport is more than just a new contract – it is a recognition of his hard work throughout his career. Danilo has more than earned his place as a factory rider, and we are convinced that his passion and skill will help lead our team into the future. His impressive career across various motorsport disciplines is a testament to his talent and ability to perform under the most demanding conditions. Danilo has not only excelled on the track but has also won the hearts of fans with his unique character and authenticity. He’s a true fighter who never gives up, and his positive attitude inspires not only his team but everyone who follows him. We look forward to the challenges and successes ahead, and we are proud to soon have Petrux as a member of our BMW Motorrad Motorsport family.”

Petrucci said: “I’m really happy to join BMW Motorrad Motorsport for the next season in World Superbikes and proud that I will ride the bike that currently bears the number one. It was my target to ride a factory bike because I really want to fight for the World Championship title. So I think that this is the step that I needed to get in the position to achieve that goal. I can’t wait to join the team and I want to thank everyone at BMW and all those people at home who support me. I also want to thank the Barni Spark Racing Team for these three years in World Superbikes and that they enabled me to get into a factory team, which has been my target.”

+++ Final entry list published +++ ‘Bryan Bros’ (USA) and U.S. Amateur Champion José Luis Ballester (ESP) to make their debut at the BMW International Open +++ National amateur spots for Tim Wiedemeyer (GC St. Leon-Rot) and Wolfgang Glawe (GC Hubbelrath) +++ Media Service: Key facts & figures at a glance +++

Munich. The player field for the 36th BMW International Open (2-6 July 2025, GC München Eichenried) is complete. Among the 156 participants, new additions include the American brothers Wesley and George Bryan, as well as Spain’s José Luis Ballester, each of whom received a wild card from tournament organiser BMW. The ‘Bryan Bros’ have built a large fan base as content creators but will approach their debut on the DP World Tour with a clear sporting focus and ambitious goals. Wesley Bryan proved his potential in 2017 when he won the RBC Heritage on the PGA TOUR.

Ballester is the reigning U.S. Amateur Champion, a victory that placed him in an illustrious group. Golf legends such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson (both USA), Viktor Hovland (NOR), and Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG) also launched impressive careers with that title. This year, the 21-year-old has already competed at the Masters and the U.S. Open and is now looking forward to his first appearance on the DP World Tour.

Anticipation for the BMW International Open is also high for Tim Wiedemeyer (GC St. Leon-Rot) and Wolfgang Glawe (GC Hubbelrath), who secured the two spots reserved for German amateurs. For Munich-born Wiedemeyer, Germany’s only DP World Tour event also marks a return to his hometown.

Facts and records from the history of the tournament.

Most wins (2).

Paul Azinger (1990 and 1992), Thomas Bjørn (2000 and 2002),

Pablo Larrazábal (2011 and 2015), Henrik Stenson (2006 and 2016)

Youngest winner.

Martin Kaymer (23 years and 177 days, 2008)

Oldest winner.

Ernie Els (43 years and 248 days, 2013)

Lowest 18 hole score.

Thorbjørn Olesen (61 shots, -11, 2018)

Lowest 72 hole score.

John Daly (261 shots, -27, 2001)

Lowest final round by a winner.

Peter Fowler (63 shots, 9 under par, 1993)

Wire-to-wire winners.

David Feherty (1989), Sandy Lyle (1991), Ernie Els (2013), Li Haotong (2022)

Largest winning margin (5 shots).

Mark McNulty (1994), Frank Nobilo (1995), David Horsey (2010), Fabrizio Zanotti (2014), Pablo Larrazábal (2015)

Play-offs.

1990: Paul Azinger beat David Feherty

1992: Paul Azinger beat Glen Day, Anders Forsbrand, Mark James and Bernhard Langer

1997: Robert Karlsson beat Carl Watts

2006: Henrik Stenson beat Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington

2011: Pablo Larrazábal beat Sergio Garcia

2012: Danny Willett beat Marcus Fraser

2014: Fabrizio Zanotti beat Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Grégory Havret and Henrik Stenson

2019: Andrea Pavan beat Matt Wallace

2022: Li Haotong beat Thomas Pieters

Holes-in-one (27) & Hole-in-One Cars won (8).

Jay Townsend (12^th hole, round 4, 1991), BMW 325i Cabrio

Steen Tinning (8^th hole, round 4, 1992)

Domingo Hospital (8^th hole, round 2, 1994)

Florian Bruhns (AM) (8^th hole, round 1, 1995)

Gary Evans (3^rd hole, round 3, 1995)

Alex Cejka (8^th hole, round 1, 1997

Domingo Hospital (2^nd hole, round 3, 1997)

Thomas Bjørn (2^nd hole, round 2, 1999)

John Daly (12^th hole, round 1, 2001)

Raphaël Jacquelin (17^th hole, round 2, 2001), BMW Z8

Andrew Coltart (2^nd hole, round 2, 2003)

Colin Montgomerie (8^th hole, round 3, 2009)

Jean-François Lucquin (17^th hole, round 4, 2010), BMW 535i

Alexander Knappe (2^nd hole, round 2, 2011)

Andrew Marshall (16^th hole, round 2, 2012), BMW 640i Gran Coupé

James Heath (16^th hole, round 4, 2014), BMW i8

Richie Ramsay (16^th hole, round 1, 2016), BMW M760Li xDrive

Sergio Garcia (11^th hole, round 2, 2016)

Andres Romero (2^nd hole, round 1, 2017)

Paul Peterson (2^nd hole, round 1, 2017)

Aaron Rai (16^th hole, round 2, 2018), BMW i8 Roadster

Gaganjeet Bhullar (17^th hole, round 2, 2019), BMW M8 Competition Coupé

Vincent Normann (16^th hole, round 3, 2021)

Takumi Kanaya (12^th hole, round 1, 2023)

Joost Luiten (8^th hole, round 2, 2023)

Connor Syme (2^nd hole, round 3, 2023)

Matthis Besard (12^th hole, round 1, 2024)

Albatrosses (4).

José Maria Olazábal (11^th hole, round 2, 2001)

Rafa Echenique (18^th hole, round 4, 2009)

Vincent Normann (16^th hole, round 3, 2021)

Max Kieffer (11^th hole, round 1, 2022)

Low cut.

139 shots (-5), 1992 and 1997

High cut.

148 shots (+4), 1990 and 2018

Venues.

Golfclub München Eichenried (1989-1993, 1997-2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, since 2019)

St. Eurach Land- und Golfclub (1994-1996)

Golf Club Gut Lärchenhof (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018)

All winners.

2024: Ewen Ferguson (SCO)

2023: Thriston Lawrence (RSA)

2022: Li Haotong (CHN)

2021: Viktor Hovland (NOR)

2020: no tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic

2019: Andrea Pavan (ITA)

2018: Matt Wallace (ENG)

2017: Andrés Romero (ARG)

2016: Henrik Stenson (SWE)

2015: Pablo Larrazábal (ESP)

2014: Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)

2013: Ernie Els (RSA)

2012: Danny Willett (ENG)

2011: Pablo Larrazábal (ESP)

2010: David Horsey (ENG)

2009: Nick Dougherty (ENG)

2008: Martin Kaymer (GER)

2007: Niclas Fasth (SWE)

2006: Henrik Stenson (SWE)

2005: David Howell (ENG)

2004: Miguel Angel Jiménez (ESP)

2003: Lee Westwood (ENG)

2002: Thomas Bjørn (DEN)

2001: John Daly (USA)

2000: Thomas Bjørn (DEN)

1999: Colin Montgomerie (SCO)

1998: Russell Claydon (ENG)

1997: Robert Karlsson (SWE)

1996: Marc Farry (FRA)

1995: Frank Nobilo (NZL)

1994: Mark McNulty (ZIM)

1993: Peter Fowler (AUS)

1992: Paul Azinger (USA)

1991: Sandy Lyle (SCO)

1990: Paul Azinger (USA)

1989: David Feherty (NIR)

Munich. Following the successful utilization of renewable raw materials in racing cars, the BMW Group will now harness natural fiber composites also for its series-production models. The BMW Group reached series maturity of ##natural fiber## composites following several years of development and in-depth research. The composites from renewable raw materials even meet the stringent demands of roof structures in total vehicle homologation.

The flax-based lightweight components have been developed in collaboration with Bcomp, a Swiss clean-tech company, for several years now. The partnership with Bcomp supports the BMW Group’s goal of further reducing CO₂e emissions in future vehicle models. The Munich-based carmaker holds a stake in Bcomp through BMW i Ventures, the company’s venture capital arm.

Lightweight construction has long been a crucial development field for the BMW Group. The use of natural fibers with a reduced CO₂e footprint in composite materials has become increasingly important. Materials tests have demonstrated the fibers’ great suitability, especially for visible exterior and interior components.

One example: Exchanging carbon fiber composites for natural fiber composites in the roof of the next-generation BMW Group portfolio leads to a CO₂e-reduction of around 40% in production plus additional end-of-life considerations.

The innovative reinforcement parts made of natural fiber composites were initially used by BMW M Motorsport in the 2019 season of Formula E. Since then, the components have also been successfully used in the #BMW M4## DTM and ##M4 GT4##, replacing carbon fiber plastic (CFRP) parts. Since 2022, Bcomp has been an official BMW M Motorsport partner for the BMW M4 GT4.

The new lightweight materials will soon experience the ultimate performance test as they are fitted in the BMW M4 GT4 for the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring. Franciscus van Meel, CEO of ##BMW M GmbH##, stated: “Natural fiber composites are a vital element of innovative lightweight solutions in motorsport, allowing for a reduction in CO₂e emissions in the manufacturing process. Natural fiber is an innovation that perfectly exemplifies BMW M’s claim ‘Born on the racetrack. Made for the streets.’. This is why we are delighted to confirm the series maturity of these materials, a breakthrough we achieved with our official ##BMW M Motorsport## partner Bcomp. We are now looking forward to the use of these materials in future BMW M product ranges.”

Most. The fifth event of the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) took BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team to Most in the Czech Republic. There, reigning world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) on the BMW M 1000 RR proved to be – at least almost – unbeatable. ‘El Turco’ was the fastest in all practice sessions, secured pole position, won race one and the Superpole race, clocked the fastest lap in all three races, and set new lap records. In the second main race, it looked like he would complete the hat-trick until just a few metres from the finish. Only shortly before the finish line was long-time rival Nicolò Bulega (ITA / Ducati) able to overtake, and Razgatlioglu had to settle for second place by a mere 0.027 seconds. Teammate Michael van der Mark (NED) had double bad luck at Most. In Superpole, he was among the many riders whose fastest lap was cancelled due to a yellow flag, leaving him 15th on the grid. At the start of race one, he was involved in a multi-rider crash through no fault of his own and had to retire. On Sunday, van der Mark finished 13th and 14th.

Reactions after the Most round.

Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrrad Motorsport: “What a weekend! We’re extremely proud of the entire team – those at the track, at home, and in the test team. Everyone has worked very hard since Cremona, and that has put us in a position to take pole position and two wins. We only missed out on race two by a few hundredths of a second. Of course, that hurt, but overall, the performance Toprak showed this weekend was incredible. What he delivered on the bike was simply outstanding. All in all, we now head into the next races at Misano with a positive outlook. We’ve managed to reduce the points gap in both the riders’ and manufacturers’ standings. Mickey was strong in the practice sessions, but unfortunately unlucky in Superpole, which meant he had to start from the back and couldn’t fight his way forward properly. Now we go to Misano knowing that we can fight again and that we’re right in the mix. We’re looking forward to Italy and will give everything to close the gap even further.”

Christian Gonschor, Technical Director BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “It was once again an intense weekend here at Most, which is practically a home race for us. It’s just a few hours’ drive from Munich, and there were many fans from Germany here. Friday’s practice sessions were run under very tricky mixed conditions. Still, Toprak managed them very solidly and showed very strong race pace during a simulation in FP2. That the BMW M 1000 RR has this kind of pace was confirmed on Saturday and Sunday. In Superpole, Toprak translated the bike’s performance into a perfect lap time. What followed were three extremely strong races from him. Mickey showed good performance in free practice. His weekend was heavily affected by the complicated qualifying, with his final fast lap being deleted due to yellow flags. That meant he had no chance to start further up the grid. His starting position made all his races difficult, and he couldn’t show his or the bike’s full potential. We’ll see him come back stronger at Misano. Overall, it was a successful weekend for us with two wins and a second place – only 0.027 seconds behind. We’ve shown that we can continue to fight with Ducati and Nicolò Bulega for the World Championship, even though they still seem to have an advantage on the straights after the latest fuel flow regulation changes. So we leave Most with one eye smiling – and one eye crying, because the hat-trick just didn’t happen.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “The weekend started amazingly for me. We took pole and won the first two races. But in the second main race, I had some bad luck. It was not a technical problem but in the last few sectors on the final lap the bike felt strange. On the straight, I felt some cut and we lost P1. Anyway, it was a hard effort by everyone and we did a really good weekend. I’m just a bit unhappy that we did not do three wins but only two. Overall, it was not bad, we collected important points for the championship and everything else, we will see at the next race.”

Michael van der Mark, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “I started the weekend quite well. In FP1 and FP2, we had a strong pace and good lap times. My feeling with the bike was good, also in FP3 I felt confident. In Superpole, they unfortunately took my lap away because of the yellow flag. So I was starting from P15 which isn’t ideal on this track where it is hard to pass and the differences are so small. In the first race, I was just unlucky in turn 1, being taken out by someone elses crash. It was a big shame but it happens. In the Superpole race, I tried to get into the top nine so I had to pass but unfortunately could not make it. So I started from 15th again. I had a good start and strong first couple of corners but then I struggled a lot with the bike. It was so hard to ride and I couldn’t maintain a good pace. At the end, I lost a few positions again. It was very strange. We had a good start to the weekend but then difficult races. Now I’m looking forward to Misano to make some progress there.”

Facts and figures.

Superpole.

Air temperature: 14°, track temperature: 24°, humidity: 48%, conditions: dry.

Race 1.

Air temperature: 16°, track temperature: 27°, humidity: 43%, conditions: dry, laps: 22.

Fastest race lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu, lap 10, 1:31.109 (new record)

Superpole Race.

Air temperature: 12°, track temperature: 22°, humidity: 56%, conditions: dry, laps: 10.

Fastest race lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu, lap 2, 1:30.201 (new record)

Race 2.

Air temperature: 14°, track temperature: 22°, humidity: 51%, conditions: dry, laps: 22.

Fastest race lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu, lap 2, 1:30.379

Current riders’ classification (R05/12, after 15 of 36 races).

Current manufacturers’ classification (R05/12, after 15 of 36 races).

Munich. The BMW M Motorsport works driver line-up for the 2025 season is complete. A total of 22 top-class drivers from twelve nations will compete globally as BMW M works drivers in the BMW M Hybrid V8 and the BMW M4 GT3 EVO. Kevin Magnussen (DEN), Kelvin van der Linde (RSA), and Ugo de Wilde (BEL) are three new additions to the team .

The 22 BMW M works drivers, including the nine-time motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi (ITA), once again represent a wide range of characters, nationalities, and age groups. The Americans make up the largest group with five drivers, followed by Germany with four, and Belgium with three. Additionally, there are two South Africans, and one driver each from Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland. Ugo de Wilde, at 22 years old, is the youngest works driver and one of five born in 2000 or later. Ten drivers are under 30 years old. Bill Auberlen (USA) is the oldest driver at 56 years. Maxime Martin (BEL), Bruno Spengler (CAN), and Nick Yelloly (GBR) left BMW M Motorsport after the 2024 season.

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “We are competing in an intensive 2025 racing season with a sportingly first-class, versatile, and highly motivated line-up of BMW M works drivers. I am particularly pleased that we have such a high proportion of young drivers. This proves that we offer a good future perspective. We have an extensive racing programme and high expectations. Accordingly, each of our works drivers is incredibly valuable to us. An important change compared to the previous season is that we have defined a group of eight specialists for the BMW M Hybrid V8 who will compete in FIA WEC and IWSC. Our new BMW M4 GT3 EVO offers many opportunities for deployment worldwide for the entire squad.”

BMW M works drivers 2025 (in alphabetical order).

Portimão. Standing ovations after a perfect weekend were given by over 53,000 celebrating fans at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão (POR), when reigning world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) claimed the maximum points haul at the second round of the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). Starting from pole position, he rode the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team #1 BMW M 1000 RR to victory in all three thrilling races. Over the weekend, he secured P1 in Superpole, Race 1, the Superpole Race, and Race 2. Additionally, he set multiple new lap records. His teammate Michael van der Mark (NED) was also among the frontrunners in Portugal, finishing the races in fifth, sixth, and seventh places. From the first free practice session onwards, he impressed with an extremely consistent and strong performance.

Reactions after the Portimão round.

Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “This weekend in Portimão was a milestone for BMW Motorrad Motorsport – a triumph of team spirit, technology, and unwavering dedication. With his hat-trick and new lap records, Toprak impressively demonstrated the full potential of our M 1000 RR, and Michael rounded off the strong overall performance with his consistent and very strong riding. I am incredibly proud of our entire team – both on the track and in the garage. This was more than just a victory – it was a statement. Now we turn our focus forward: Assen is waiting, and we are coming with momentum!”

Christian Gonschor, Technical Director BMW Motorrrad Motorsport: “It was a very intense weekend. First of all, apologies to Toprak for having to miss the first free practice on Friday due to a technical issue, but as a team, we stayed focused, worked cleanly, and were ready with both riders from FP2 onwards. I think you could see in almost every session that both performed well. Lap records, pole position, three wins for Toprak, and Mickey consistently in the top positions – it has been a very strong weekend for BMW. It was great to be back in Europe and to see on this track layout that our 2025 bike package is working very well. That means what was discussed in the past is in the past, and we can now focus on the present. With many dry sessions both during testing and the race weekend, we had the opportunity to perfect and fine-tune the bike. The engineers, mechanics, and riders got the absolute maximum out of the bike, and the package is competitive. Now we’re looking forward to Assen.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “We have been pushing really hard this weekend, in every corner. A big thank you to the team, everyone is working really hard and we improved the bike in every session. Congrats also to Nicolò Bulega, he did a great job this weekend, he is really strong. I am really happy; we were fighting with Nicolò here and I think everybody enjoyed to watch the races. I am a fighter, I love to fight and I never give up. The bike is not 100 per cent yet, but I was only pushing for the win. Yesterday’s race was harder for me because I often lost the front. I just tried to follow Nicolò and to win the race. It has been a good battle. In today’s races, the pace was incredible and I was pushing really hard, but I felt a little bit better because we had improved the bike and I felt more grip. I came here with the target to get pole and three wins. We achieved all of that and for me, it has been an incredible weekend. After Phillip Island, we came back and have been really strong here. Now we will see how the next races will be.”

Michael van der Mark, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “We had a good weekend. We were pretty fast on Friday so we were really happy with how we started the weekend. In Superpole I was happy, I made some small mistakes and qualified seventh. I did not want to be there but it was not bad. In race one, I just had no feeling with the bike. I struggled a lot and it was just a long race but I finished sixth so that wasn’t too bad but I just did not enjoy it. For today, we made some changes and in the Superpole Race, I was a bit unlucky. I wasn’t precise on the first lap so I lost a couple of places. Then I fought my way back to P7 which was okay coming from where I was after lap one. In race two, I had a good start, a good rhythm. I was just not fast enough to fight for the podium but overall, it has been a good end of the weekend.”

Facts and figures.

Superpole.

Air temperature: 23°, track temperature: 26°, humidity: 37%, conditions: dry.

* new all-time lap record

Race 1.

Air temperature: 25°, track temperature: 37°, humidity: 35%, conditions: dry, laps: 20.

Fastest race lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu, lap 4, 1:40.351

Superpole Race.

Air temperature: 21°, track temperature: 25°, humidity: 39%, conditions: dry, laps: 10.

Fastest race lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu, lap 2, 1:39.441 (new record)

Race 2.

Air temperature: 23°, track temperature: 36°, humidity: 27%, conditions: dry, laps: 11 after red flag.

Fastest race lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu, lap 5, 1:39.614

Current riders’ classification (R02/12, after 6 of 36 races).

Current manufacturers’ classification (R02/12, after 6 of 36 races).

Munich. The 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) kicks off next weekend (21st to 23rd February) at Phillip Island, Australia. With this, BMW Motorrad Motorsport embarks on another year of diverse racing activities around the globe. From factory commitments in WorldSBK and the FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) to a comprehensive customer racing programme and highlights in road racing – the goal remains the same: securing more victories and titles.

This interactive Media Guide is designed to get you ready for the new season. The PDF includes information on teams, riders, the new BMW M 1000 RR, and the customer racing programme, along with statements from management representatives and our BMW Motorrad factory riders from WorldSBK and FIM EWC.

NEW : The PDF now features integrated links to extensive video interviews with our key figures. A simple click takes you from the respective pages directly to the interviews, which you can download for unrestricted use in your media. You will also find a direct link to an exclusive close-up clip of the new #1 BMW M 1000 RR for WorldSBK.

Note for editors.

The videos are accessible via links in the PDF and are available for download in the “Videos” section here in the BMW Group Press Club.

Studio photos of management, BMW Motorrad factory riders, and the race bikes for WorldSBK and FIM EWC can be found in the “Photos” section here in the BMW Group Press Club:

Munich. BMW M Motorsport and iRacing will launch a completely new type of cooperation in the 2025 virtual racing season: As “Official Safety Car Partner”, BMW M Motorsport will provide the lead car at some of the largest races on the realistic simulation platform. The car in use will be the BMW M2 CS Racing, which has been available free of charge for all iRacing users as an entry-level model since December. Sporting a special design and equipped with the characteristic Safety Car roof beam, the car will appear on track at many of the most popular Special Events.

As in real-world motor racing, a lead car will take the field around a formation lap at classic iRacing events such as the 24 Hours of Daytona (USA), the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (GER), or the “Petit Le Mans” at Road Atlanta (USA), before the participants launch their hunt for points with a “flying start”. The BMW M2 CS Racing is the youngest member of the BMW M Motorsport fleet on iRacing, while the BMW M2 Racing successor model is ready and waiting to hit the real racetrack for the 2026 season.

“This Safety Car partnership represents a new chapter in the success story shared by BMW M Motorsport and iRacing,” said Timo Brückner, Project Lead BMW M Automotive Gaming. “Each season, the Special Events attract record levels of participants and have become real community favourites. For example, nearly 20,000 drivers competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona last year. I am delighted that we will enjoy a prominent position next season at the head of the field, with the BMW M2 CS Racing at these highlight events. Just as in real life, this race car is also the perfect entry-level model on iRacing, allowing drivers to later gain experience with the BMW M4 GT4, the BMW M4 GT3, and even in the BMW M Hybrid V8.”

Tony Gardner, iRacing president, said: “We have a strong partnership with BMW M Motorsport dating back more than a decade, having brought seven BMW race cars to iRacing. The M2 CS is the latest BMW to join iRacing and has already proven to be incredibly popular with our nearly 300,000 members. BMW M Motorsport becoming the official safety car partner of iRacing special events further solidifies the partnership and enhances the racing experience for our members. It’s exciting to see how important sim racing is to BMW and its brand – we are looking forward to the iRacing Daytona 24 powered by VCO on 18th January.”

There is a tradition of BMW M models appearing as safety cars at motor racing events. Since 1999, BMW M has provided the fleet of high-performance safety cars as “Official Car of MotoGP™”, the top level of motorcycle racing. As of 2025, this concept will now be mirrored in virtual motor racing.

An overview of the iRacing Special Event calendar:

18th January 2025 – 24 Hours of Daytona (USA)

12th February 2025 – 12 Hours of Bathurst (AUS)

22nd March 2025 – 12 Hours of Sebring (USA)

7th June 2025 – Nürburgring 24 Hours (GER)

28th June 2025– Six Hours of Watkins Glen (USA)

12th July 2025 – 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL)

6th September 2025 – 6 Hours of Indianapolis (USA)

4th October 2025 – Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta (USA)

15th November 2025 – Suzuka 1000 km (JPN)

Este anúncio reforça uma ligação que já existia entre Roberto Martínez e a BMW, uma vez que o treinador é um entusiasta assumido da marca. Agora, como embaixador oficial, será o rosto de eventos e iniciativas que refletem os valores da BMW: inovação, desempenho e sustentabilidade.

O BMW XM, o modelo que acompanhará Martínez, é um SUV de alta performance que combina um motor V8 a gasolina com um motor elétrico. Com 653 cv, este veículo híbrido plug-in representa o compromisso da BMW com a mobilidade sustentável sem comprometer o luxo e o desempenho característicos da marca.

A escolha de Roberto Martínez como embaixador reflete o objetivo da BMW Portugal em associar-se a personalidades de referência, cuja liderança e excelência se alinham com o posicionamento da marca. O treinador, que assumiu a seleção portuguesa em 2023, tem sido uma figura central no desporto e agora também reforça a presença da BMW junto do público português.

Jerez de la Frontera. A dream weekend with a fairytale ending – that is how BMW Motorrad Motorsport can describe the season finale of the 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) at Jerez de la Frontera (ESP). On Saturday, Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team was crowned World Champion early with his BMW M 1000 RR. In the second main race on Sunday, he celebrated his 18th win of the season, and teammate Michael van der Mark (NED) made the dream of a shared podium come true with a third-place finish.

Razgatlioglu arrived at Jerez de la Frontera with such a large points lead that second place in Saturday’s first race was enough to secure the World Championship title. But he wanted another win. In Sunday’s Superpole race, he finished second again, but in the second main race, he stood on the top step of the podium one more time. After two sixth-place finishes, van der Mark reached the podium in the final race, his second after his victory at Magny-Cours (FRA).

The Bonovo action BMW Racing Team had their final race weekend with the BMW M 1000 RR at Jerez de la Frontera, as the partnership came to an end after four years. Garrett Gerloff (USA) finished the season with two seventh-place finishes on Sunday, while Scott Redding (GBR) took twelfth place twice.

In the 2024 season, BMW M 1000 RR riders secured a total of 19 victories and 12 additional podium finishes. In the manufacturers’ championship, BMW finished second.

Comments after the season finale at Jerez de la Frontera.

Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “To be honest, I’m speechless. This is a moment where Toprak and all of us together have made history. He and the entire team have truly achieved something historic, not only for BMW Motorrad but also for BMW as a whole. The World Championship title means an incredible amount to everyone in the company. We are very grateful to Toprak and all those who contributed to this success. A big thank you goes out to all our people on site, to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, and to the staff in Munich, at the Berlin plant, and in Landshut. I think it will take us a few weeks to fully realise it. But as early as Tuesday, we will begin testing for the new season, with the clear goal of defending the title. This Sunday was another special day for the entire team. The joy of Mickey securing third place and both ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team riders standing together on the podium was immense. It was a fitting season finale for the team.

The Bonovo action BMW Racing Team also gave a very strong performance this weekend. We want to thank them for everything, it was a great partnership, and we wish them all the best for the future.

For us, it’s now time to take a short breather and then dive straight into preparations for the new season. But tonight, we will celebrate first!”

Toprak Razgatlioglu, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 2 / R01: 2 / SP Race: 2 / R02: 1): “I want to say thank you to the entire BMW family because we had an incredible year. The season finale was an amazing event. We are World Champions – this was the end to a very long season and a very successful year in which we also had 13 wins in a row. We never gave up, and also today after the sprint race, we were working hard with the team. We changed the set-up of the bike and we tried something to get the win. In the race, I had a very good package and we did it – we won again. And I wanted to win the last race of the season. Usually Ducati is very strong here but we beat them again so everybody understood that BMW is really strong at all race weekends. It was incredible to be on the podium together with Mickey. It was dream, together with the team, to share the podium and it finally came true. He is a very great guy and he is pushing so hard at every race weekend. After his big injury, he is trying to come back and he has shown everyone what a strong rider he is. We are working together very well and I hope that we can race for the podium together again next year.”

Michael van der Mark, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 8 / R01: 6 / SP Race: 6 / R02: 3): “This year has been a dream for BMW and the entire team to take the world title and it has also been fantastic for me. I’ve been putting a lot of work in developing the bike together with BMW. They were always pushing. Even if the last two years have been unlucky they still trusted in me. I was building my pace, it was getting better and better, working together with Toprak. At a certain point we knew that the podium was coming and our goal was to be on the podium together. Unfortunately he wasn’t there at Magny-Cours but to finish the season this way, with the world title, his victory in the last race and me on the podium, it was fantastic for everyone in BMW.”

Jerez de la Frontera. “It feels incredible”. Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) has done it! The 28-year-old BMW Motorrad factory rider is the 2024 Superbike World Champion. The decision came at Jerez de la Frontera (ESP) at the season finale of the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). With a second-place finish in the first main race, Razgatlioglu secured the early title victory. For ‘El Turco,’ it is his second World Championship title after 2021, and for BMW Motorrad Motorsport, it's the first-ever title. This triumph crowns a season in which Razgatlioglu, riding his BMW M 1000 RR from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, set superlatives and records, becoming the first rider to claim 13 consecutive wins, but also enduring a major setback. Let’s look back on Razgatlioglu’s title-winning first season with the BMW Motorrad Motorsport family.
 
The road to the world title.
 
The first test. In early December 2023, the time has finally come. New addition Razgatlioglu has his first test days on the BMW M 1000 RR at Portimão. Shortly after, another two-day test follows at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Despite less than ideal weather conditions in December, Razgatlioglu uses the tests to get his first impressions of the bike, provide feedback for development, and familiarise himself with BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team.
 
Team presentation. On 17th January, BMW Motorrad Motorsport presents its 2024 WorldSBK line-up at BMW Motorrad Welt in Berlin. Razgatlioglu sets his sights on victories and an attempt to win the World Championship.
 
The first podium. The first celebration doesn’t take long. At the season opener in late February at Phillip Island, Australia, Razgatlioglu claims his first podium with the BMW M 1000 RR – finishing third in just his second race on the bike in Sunday’s Superpole Race.
 
The first win. At the second round of the season at Barcelona in March, Razgatlioglu climbs to the top of the podium for the first time on the BMW M 1000 RR. On Saturday, he claims pole position and wins the first main race. This victory is particularly special as he had never won at Barcelona before. He follows up with another victory in the Superpole Race on Sunday and a third-place finish afterwards. His tally after six races with BMW is two wins and two more podium finishes.
 
The start of the record streak. The WorldSBK Sunday at Assen 2024 enters the history books as the day a never seen before streak began. Starting from ninth place, Razgatlioglu wins the second main race, kicking off a record-breaking run.
 
Hat-trick and championship lead. In June, Razgatlioglu achieves his first perfect weekend at Misano. Starting from pole position, he wins all three races, taking the lead in the World Championship standings. He continues this dominance with hat-tricks at Most and Donington Park, winning all races there as well, and extends the streak further.
 
A new record. Since April, Razgatlioglu had been unbeaten, arriving at the seventh round at Portimão with 12 wins to his name, including ten consecutive victories. He equals the record of 11 consecutive wins in the first main race on Saturday. With his victory in Sunday’s Superpole Race, he becomes the sole record holder. But it doesn’t stop there. He wins the second main race, completing his fourth hat-trick. Razgatlioglu leaves Portugal with a new record of 13 consecutive wins and a 92-point lead in the championship standings.
 
The setback. Friday afternoon, during the second free practice at Magny-Cours, Razgatlioglu crashes and hits the track barrier. After initial examinations at the medical centre, he spents the night in hospital. The diagnosis is a mild pneumothorax. Razgatlioglu can’t compete for the rest of the race weekend at Magny-Cours, leaving his return date uncertain.
 
The comeback. After missing the races at Magny-Cours and Cremona, Razgatlioglu returns to action at Spain’s MotorLand Aragón. Despite his injury break, he remained the championship leader, although his advantage had dwindled to 13 points. With great mental strength, ‘El Turco’ makes an impressive comeback, finishing second in all three races and expanding his lead back to 39 points.
 
World Champion! After two wins and a second place at Estoril, Razgatlioglu heads to the Jerez de la Frontera season finale with an advantage of 46 points. He claims the crown in the first main race. Second place is sufficient – and a long world championship party follows!
 
Reactions to the World Championship title.
 
Markus Flasch, Head of BMW Motorrad: “Today is a milestone for our brand. We celebrate our first WorldSBK championship title with Toprak! Congratulations to Toprak and everyone who tirelessly contributed to this incredible achievement –the entire BMW Motorrad Motorsport team in Munich and Berlin, the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team led by Shaun Muir, and the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Test Team. What Toprak showed this season was more than impressive and proves what an outstanding athlete and person he is. From the start, he and BMW Motorrad Motorsport proved to be a successful combination. We provided him with the perfect bike, the M 1000 RR, and with his unique riding skills, he left his mark on the season. Equally impressive is his mental strength, fighting his way back after a severe crash. At the same time, he’s simply a great guy and rightly a true fan favorite: humble, funny, and always hard-working. Together with the team and our engineers, after every success, he looked for ways to improve further. The reward is this well-deserved World Championship title.”
 
Toprak Razgatlioglu: “It feels incredible to be World Champion again. I’m very proud of the team, because everyone has worked very hard at every race weekend. Thank you very much for this amazing support. At the beginning of the season, nobody thought it was possible for me in my first year with BMW Motorrad Motorsport, but now we have won the World Championship. We really deserve it. We improved the bike each race weekend, and we can even improve it further. Now I can just enjoy the two races tomorrow. And then next season, let’s do it again!”

+++ BMW Ladies Championship (October 17-20, 2024, Seowon Valley Country Club, South Korea) features a world-class field +++ Lydia Ko (New Zealand) and Esther Henseleit (Germany), the gold and silver medalists from Paris, are competing in the only LPGA tournament in South Korea +++ Four reigning major champions will tee off +++

Seoul. This week marks the fifth edition of the BMW Ladies Championship. The only tournament on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour held in South Korea has become a fixed highlight in the season calendar and offers a prize fund of 2.2 million US dollars. The event features a compact field of 78 players, all of whom will compete across all four days, as there is no cut in this tournament making the quality of the field even higher. 68 world-class golfers will tee off, along with eight high-profile tournament invites and two Korean amateurs.

The defending champion is Minjee Lee from Australia, who claimed the title last year in a playoff against Alison Lee (USA) at the Seowon Valley Country Club. This year’s BMW Ladies Championship will again be held at the same venue, one of the most spectacular golf courses in the country, located about an hour's drive from the capital, Seoul. South Korean golf fans can look forward to not only the unique BMW tournament experience, for which the premium car manufacturer is known at its golf events worldwide, but also an impressive line-up of stars.

Amongst them are the two athletes who made a major impact at the Olympic golf competition in August: New Zealander Lydia Ko, winner of the 2022 BMW Ladies Championship, who completed her Olympic medal collection in Paris, and Esther Henseleit, who secured silver with a brilliant final round and became the first-ever golf medalist for Germany. Additionally, almost the entire top ten of the women's world golf rankings will be present, with the only absentees being Nelly Korda (USA), who had to withdraw due to injury, and 2021 BMW Ladies Champion, Jin Young Ko (KOR). Aside from Korda, all major champions of the year will be competing: Ko (The Women’s Open), Yuka Saso (JPN, U.S. Women’s Open), Amy Yang (KOR, Women’s PGA Championship), and Ayaka Furue (JPN, The Evian Championship).

Among the eight tournament invites are four additional major champions: Danielle Kang (USA) and Korean players Jeongeun Lee, Eun-Hee Ji, and Jiyai Shin, the most successful golfer from Korea. The 36-year-old has won a total of 64 professional tournaments across six different tours, including the Women’s Open twice (2008, 2012), and will surely be celebrated by fans at her home tournament.

The BMW Ladies Championship made its debut in 2019 at the LPGA International Busan, where the second edition was also held two years later, before moving to the Oak Valley Country Club in 2022. The Seowon Valley Country Club was, and remains, the venue for the 2023 and 2024 tournaments. The competition will be played on the Seowon Hills Course, a par-72 course, playing 6,666 yards (6,095 metres) this week.

Estoril. Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) is firmly back in winning ways. At the penultimate round of the 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) at Estoril, Portugal, he secured a dominant pole position and won both main races by a wide margin with his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team’s BMW M 1000 RR. This brings him one step closer to the World Championship title. Only in the Superpole race did he narrowly miss victory, finishing second by just 0.003 seconds behind championship rival Nicolo Bulega (ITA / Ducati) – the closest finish in the 35-year history of WorldSBK. Razgatlioglu now heads into the season finale next weekend (18th to 20th October) at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, with a 46-point lead. A total of 62 points are still up for grabs.

His teammate Michael van der Mark (NED) secured a place in the second row in Superpole, with his best race result being a hard-fought fifth place in Sunday’s second main race.

For the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, Garrett Gerloff (USA) and Scott Redding (GBR) fought their way forward after a difficult Superpole session. Gerloff stormed to a sixth-place finish in the first main race, while Redding climbed from 19th on the grid in the Superpole race to finish in the top ten.

Reactions after the Estoril round.

Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “This weekend, we made a huge step toward the title. I’m incredibly proud of the entire team. You can feel that the pressure is building, and the team has done an outstanding job. On Toprak’s side, they remained calm, approaching each race with a lot of focus. Toprak rode extremely smartly. He had the championship in mind but kept pushing. For Mickey, it was a very tough and emotional weekend. He fought his way through the weekend very well and finished with a well-deserved top-five result. We are very proud of him. At the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, it was really unfortunate that Garrett had to retire in the last race. He was on his way to a top-five finish as well. On Scott’s side, we saw small steps in the right direction. He had a great Superpole race, where he secured a top-ten finish. I think we can head to Jerez with a lot of confidence now. We are excited for the season finale!”

Toprak Razgatlioglu, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 1 / R01: 1 / SP Race: 2 / R02: 1): “I am really happy today, especially with race two. We did not manage three wins this weekend, but almost, as it was very close in the Superpole race. There, I also used the race tyre because I thought that the Q tyre would drop at the end. I had incredible pace with the race tyre but when I saw the chequered flag I had lost the race. I was surprised that the Q tyre didn’t drop while my tyre started to spin a lot. Nicolo had a big advantage in the last corner and I kept fighting and it was very close. But we got good points for the championship and I won both long races. They are always more difficult because you need to manage the tyre and your pace. I did a very good job. To get the wins again after the big injury is really good for me and now we will see what happens at Jerez. I am pretty relaxed because I have a good points lead. I will just try to enjoy Jerez. I am not feeling stressed because I just need good results there. I don’t need to win at Jerez – and maybe I will win there, too. I know that Ducati is very strong there but we improved a lot after the test and I am ready to fight. if I just need a second position in the last race, that’s okay but I am focusing on winning again.”

Michael van der Mark, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 6 / R01: 7 / SP Race: 13 / R02: 5): “It has been of course a difficult weekend after what happened this week. I want to thank the entire team and BMW for supporting me because it was tough but there was no pressure from them. I wanted to ride. Friday was a day to forget but yesterday was not so bad. In Superpole, I had a good feeling and I scored some good points in race one. But it was a difficult long race and I didn’t feel fantastic. The in today’s Superpole race, I didn’t have a good feeling at all. I tried really hard but it just didn’t work. So for race two it was about to calm down a bit and starting from P11 I managed to have a good start and a good race. I had a strong pace, it was a nice and long battle, especially at the end with Andrea Iannone. We are fighting for sixth in the championship so I really wanted to stay in front of him. The bike felt really good and it was nice to finish fifth in race two. Now I think everyone can’t wait to go to Jerez and to have a fantastic weekend there after we have seen what Toprak did this weekend, being pretty close to the ultimate dream of BMW, and I’ll be ready to support him as much as I can.”

Garrett Gerloff, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team (SP: 17 / R01: 6 / SP Race: 11 / R02: DNF): “It has been a bit of a disappointing day today. I tried to do my best again to get into the top nine in the Superpole race to give me a better start position for the race two. I had a good race with Scott and Michael but in the end none of us finished in the top nine so I had to start from the back again. I had a really good start, I felt really good but then had a technical problem and wasn’t able to finish the race. It was unfortunate because I think it could have been a good day pointswise. But anyway, I only have a couple of days to prepare for the next one and I feel good.”

Scott Redding, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team (SP: 19 / R01: 12 / SP Race: 10 / R02: 11): “Sunday was not so bad, honestly. This morning in warm up, we had miserable track conditions so I just did an outlap and a start. The Superpole race was okay. I felt that I had good speed to get into the top ten. We were fighting a lot, especially over the last few laps. It was really nice so I enjoyed this race. In race two I pushed again to try to finish in the top ten. I didn’t feel as good as in the Superpole race but I felt a lot better than on the other days. I was fighting and in the middle of the race I had some good rhythm but then I destroyed the rear tyre a bit so the last corner was really taking a lot of my lap time away. But I’m reasonably happy because the beginning of the weekend was quite difficult and now we salvaged a better weekend.”

Munich. The BMW Group is expanding its revolutionary driving experience with BMW M Mixed Reality, which breaks down the boundaries between the physical and virtual worlds through state-of-the-art VR/MR technologies. The vehicle itself becomes the controller - a unique 3D interaction between driver, vehicle and environment.

"Mixed reality" refers to the fusion of of physical and digital worlds into a seamless experience. BMW M first presented mixed reality technology at the Web Summit in Lisbon in November 2022 and has been continuously developing it ever since.

With BMW M Mixed Reality, fans and first movers can immerse themselves in a digital world while physically sitting at the wheel of a BMW M vehicle and controlling it.

First-ever multisensory multiplayer

The possibilities of virtual reality are boundless: On a secret mission, you enter the BMW M Garage and from there, you ascend to the top of the BMW M Rooftop Circuit. Surrounded by skyscrapers, two BMW M Mixed Reality customers now race against each other virtually in a multiplayer mode A new feature is that spectators with personified avatars can virtually watch the race live from the BMW M Mixed Reality Bridge. They do not have to be physically present in the area where the multiplayers are driving. They can be virtually connected using devices like the Meta Quest or Apple Vision Pro.

BMW M Mixed Reality will be presented again in Lisbon this year. For BMW M fans, BMW M Mixed Reality has been available in the singleplayer mode since autumn 2023 as part of the BMW M Driving Experience in Maisach, the world's first driving experience for customers.  

For BMW M fans, BMW M Mixed Reality has been available in the singleplayer mode since fall 2023 as part of the BMW M Driving Experience in Maisach, the world's first driving experience for customers.  The pilot project began this year at the BMW M Performance Driving School in California, USA.

Merging reality and the virtual world

The new BMW M Mixed Reality Rooftop Circuit was also a highlight at the presentation of BMW M Mixed Reality. Drivers had to evade virtual obstacles and collect BMW M coins in a shimmering metropolis. The BMW M135 vehicles were used, which thanks to technical refinements can be used as M Mixed Reality vehicles.

This includes very precise GPS positioning on the road surface in order to transfer position and movement to the virtual world. Every acceleration, every turn and every braking manoeuvre is transmitted to the virtual world without latency thanks to precise sensor technology and signal processing. Not only the movements of the vehicle are transmitted, but also those of the driver.

The technology for this is already integrated into the standardised in-vehicle systems of all BMW and BMW M automobiles. These systems are so precise that no additional sensors are required.

Another key element is the VR headset that the driver wears to experience the digital world. This headset must be connected to the vehicle's internal systems in order to synchronise movements and data in real time. Thanks to this equipment, various BMW M models can be used for BMW M Mixed Reality, regardless of the drive system. This includes vehicles with a conventional combustion engine such as the BMW M2 or BMW M4 as well as models with a fully electric powertrain such as the BMW i5 M60. In the future, BMW M can also imagine offering the new BMW M5 with M Mixed Reality. The technology is flexible and can be adapted to different vehicle platforms to provide a consistent and immersive mixed reality experience.

Digital innovations for the driving experience

BMW Group Mixed Reality is an answer to what future virtual experiences in the automotive sector could look like. At the current stage of development, it enables perfect controllability in every driving situation. Drifting will also be possible in the future, although no date has yet been set for when customers will be able to have this experience.

MINI also benefits from the BMW Group Mixed Reality umbrella: There are also plans to offer customers a multi-sensory mixed reality driving experience.

In addition, further applications in the field of vehicle development and professional training are already being investigated. For example, there is potential as a valuable addition to existing simulator driving in the dynamic driving area, without compromising driving safety, or in the development of driver assistance systems. On existing racetracks, a Professional Track Trainer could in the future display content such as the ideal line and braking points to drivers in order to train them to drive even more precisely. Current AR headset technology is not yet accurate enough for this ambitious use case.

In the event of enquiries please contact:

Corporate Communications

Christophe König, Head of BMW M GmbH and BMW M Motorsport Communications

Telephone: +49-176-601-56097

E-mail: Christophe.Koenig@bmw.de

Alexandra Landers, Head of Product and Brand Communication BMW

Telephone: +49-89-382-30871

E-mail: Alexandra.Landers@bmw.de

Internet: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

E-mail: presse@bmw.de

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2023, the BMW Group sold over 2.55 million passenger vehicles and more than 209,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2023 was € 17.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 155.5 billion. As of 31 December 2023, the BMW Group had a workforce of 154,950 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.

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+++ From the BMW Group Plant Berlin to the Brandenburg Gate: eScooters BMW CE 04 and eParkourer BMW CE 02 ride emission-free through the German capital +++ Bart Swings (BEL) and Noraly Berber Vonk (NED) win the 50th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Inline Skating +++ Record: nearly 85,000 active people on the track for the anniversary +++

Berlin. Traditionally, it is reserved for inline skaters to open the competitions on Saturday as part of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. For the 50th anniversary of Germany's largest marathon, a course with a vibrant stadium atmosphere was driven for the first time, initially leading through a five-time loop from the Großer Stern via Ernst-Reuter-Platz and Otto-Suhr-Allee to Charlottenburg Palace and back from there. For the grand finale, the inline skaters raced, cheered on by the usual euphoric Berlin crowd, over the traditional section of the course along the Landwehr Canal, Potsdamer Platz, Gendarmenmarkt, Unter den Linden, to the finish line.

Ahead of the athletes, a small fleet of fully electric BMW CE 04 and BMW CE 02 scooters drove the course. The electrically powered two-wheelers ate specifically developed for urban driving pleasure, and the BMW CE 04 is manufactured at the BMW Group Plant Berlin, the home of international BMW motorcycle production. This exclusive ride also began there, ending with the crossing of the iconic Brandenburg Gate. A special moment that will also be unforgettable for all athletes on the following Sunday. At the 50th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, the BMW CE 04, as well as fully electric BMW cars, are also in use as timekeeping, course, and organizational vehicles.

Following the scooter fleet were more than 3,300 inline skaters, who due to the high speed, held their race separate from other athletes. In total, around 85,000 people from 161 nations – both are records for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON – will be active in various disciplines over the weekend.

Bart Swings delivered a committed solo race and secured his ninth victory in this event. The Belgian attacked very early, gaining a 30-second lead, which he continued to extend. His teammates Jason Suttels (BEL, winner in 2023) and Felix Rijhnen (GER, winner in 2019) controlled the field, then secured the remaining podium spots in the final sprint. Swings won in 1:00:02 hours, ahead of Suttels and Rijhnen (both 1:01:31). The women's race was also marked by many attacks, though no rider managed to break away. The eventual winner, Noraly Berber, initiated the sprint together with her teammates well before the Brandenburg Gate – a tactic that proved successful, though just barely. Berber Vonk crossed the finish line in 1:13:53 hours, with second and third places going to Colombians Johana Viveros (1:13:53) and Aura Quintana Herrera (1:13:54) in a nail-biting finish.

The BMW CE 04 is the perfect urban companion. With its electric drive, forward-looking design and innovative connectivity solutions, the scooter perfectly merges transport and communication functions. Offering a maximum output of 31 kW (42 hp), a maximum speed of 120 km/h and a range of some 130 kilometres, the BMW CE 04 is capable of speedy progress not just in the city but on main roads and motorway sections, too.

With the new BMW CE 02, BMW Motorrad is offering another electric vehicle for urban conurbations and a new way into the world of BMW Motorrad. The BMW CE 02 is electric, particularly appealing to younger people, and is made for the city: nimble, practical, robust and reduced to the essentials in terms of design.

With a maximum power output of 11 kW /15 PS, the new CE 02 can be ridden by persons aged 16 and above. In a 4 kW / 5 hp (rated power 3.2 kW / 4 hp) version limited to 45 km/h, the new CE 02 also meets the requirements of the AM driving licence class and can be ridden in Germany, for example, from the age of 15 and by riders who have a car licence.

The BMW Group plant in Berlin can look back on a long tradition of motorcycle manufacturing. BMW motorcycles have been produced in Berlin-Spandau since 1969. With over 2,400 employees and a capacity of up to 900 motorcycles and premium e-scooters per day, the plant is the heart of BMW Motorrad’s global production.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate communications

Tim Holzmüller

Press Spokesperson BMW Group Sport Engagement, Real Estate

Telephone: +49 151 601 33309

E-Mail: tim.holzmueller@bmwgroup.com
Internet: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en
E-Mail: presse@bmw.de

Christine Graeber

Head of Communication BMW Group Plant Berlin

Telefon: +49 151 6030 2225

E-Mail: christine.graeber@bmw.de

Munich. The first serve has already been played at the BMW Open 2024. However, this first action did not involve a ball: instead, Christian Ach, Head of BMW Germany, and tournament director Patrik Kühnen pulled back a large sheet on the Center Court at MTTC Iphitos. They thereby revealed the 2023 Winner’s Car for the historic ATP Tour clay-court tournament: the all-electric BMW i5 M60 (Combined power consumption: 21.2–18.2 kWh/100 km. Combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km. Electric range: 439–516 kilometers. All data according to WLTP). The vehicle, its electric motors, and the high-voltage batteries are all produced at the BMW Group Plant Dingolfing. In the main singles draw, 28 top players have the opportunity to claim the BMW Open title along with 250 valuable world ranking points, 85,605 Euro in prize money, and one of the most sought-after BMW vehicles currently available.

“The BMW Group is delighted to hand over the first-ever all-electric 5 Series to the winner of the BMW Open 2024,” said Christian Ach, Head of BMW Germany, after the big reveal. “The BMW i5 M60 will assume a leading role on the path to sustainable premium mobility in the upper mid-size segment. This fully-electric car also delivers the dynamic performance of a BMW M. It is the perfect sporting car for a Bavarian champion.”

Each year, around 290,000 BMW 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 Series cars, the fully-electric BMW iX, and BMW M GmbH cars are produced at the BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, which employs more than 18,000 people. This is also the home of the competence centre for e-drive production.

Kühnen had visited the BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in March to conduct a thorough BMW check of this year’s winner’s car together with the employees during the “finish” – the final quality controls at the plant. “It was impressive to experience the modern manufacturing methods and the attention to detail that the BMW Group applies to producing its cars,” said Kühnen. “I also had the opportunity to drive ‘our’ BMW i5 M60, and I have to say that the winner of the BMW Open 2024 can really look forward to a fascinating Winner’s Car.”

The new BMW 5 Series limousine underlines its progressive character with innovative digital services, including options for in-car gaming, audio and video streaming, and extremely high-end driver assistance systems. One of the highlights of the systems for automated driving and parking is the Highway Assistant, which enables the person at the controls to take their hands from the wheel for an extended period at speeds of up to 130 km/h and leave them in a relaxed position, while still paying close attention to events on the road and remaining ready to resume control of driving tasks at any time.

The BMW i5 is a far more comfortable proposition than the path to the title at the BMW Open 2024, as the tournament has attracted the usual top-quality entrants. Three players from the top 15 will be in action: defending champion Holger Rune (NOR, world no. 7 ), who has claimed the last two titles at MTTC Iphitos, Olympic champion Alexander Zverev (GER, 5), who tasted victory at the BMW Open in 2017 and 2018, and the USA no.1, Taylor Fritz (13). They will be joined by 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem (AUT, 97), Jan-Lennard Struff (GER, 25), who reached the BMW Open final three years ago, and top Canadian top player Felix Auger-Aliassime (35).

Electrifying sporting performance – this is a description that does not just apply to the players on court. Just like the winner’s car, the shuttle fleet that BMW will employ during the tournament is also 100% electric. It consists exclusively of fully-electric BMW i7, BMW i5 and BMW i5 Touring, BMW iX, BMW iX1 and BMW iX2 cars.

Tennis fans in Germany have many opportunities to watch the BMW Open on TV or via livestream. Bayerisches Fernsehen (BR) will broadcast one quarter-final, one semi-final, and the final live. All the matches on Center Court (Monday to Sunday) can be seen live on Sky (pay TV) and are also shown on ran.de, joyn, and BR24.de.

+++ BMW Group celebrates the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace +++ Ilka Horstmeier: “Sport creates unique moments, strengthens a sense of community, celebrates diversity, and builds bridges.” +++ Overview of the global sporting involvement of the BMW Group +++

Munich. Golf pros enjoy the celebrations when they take just a few shots to find the hole at a world-class tournament. Providing assistance to socially disadvantaged children through an educational project at the same time though shows how two worthwhile aims can interconnect; an unforgettable sporting event and a social commitment to increased equality of opportunity. It is precisely this combination that the BMW Group supports with its “Eagles for Education” initiative at numerous tournaments, part of an international involvement in golf. The aim is to support educational programmes and provide improved prospects and future opportunities for young people. 

The BMW Group has been involved in this approach on a social level - for some decades also with a special sporting focus. “The BMW Group is much more than a car manufacturer. With around 150,000 employees from 110 nations, we are a part of society – both inside and outside of our factory gates and offices. That is why supporting this diversity within sport is particularly important to us”, explained Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Human Resources and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director. “Sport creates unique moments for athletes and spectators, strengthens a sense of community, celebrates diversity, and builds bridges. At BMW Group, we are very proud to support sporting events around the world, helping to connect people from different backgrounds and cultures with one another.”

The Day of Sport for Development and Peace on 6th April is a good reason to take a look at the BMW Group’s involvement in this area, sport is in our genes.

The BMW Group sporting involvement reaches all around the globe, from Australia, Japan, and China, via India, South America, and the USA, to Finland and Italy. Golf and motorsport are both international focus areas. However, established long-term national involvements in running, basketball, and tennis all have an extensive history and tradition within the company.  Sport achieves something that hardly any other sphere of life is able to do; it unites nations, crosses borders, and is a language that anyone can understand.

Tradition meets the future: how golf brings together top-class international events and the good cause.

Golf is at the heart of the sporting involvement of the BMW Group. Around 40 years ago, the company established the largest international tournament series for amateur golfers, the BMW Golf Cup. BMW has been supporting professional golf for nearly as long, since 1989. The BMW International Open in Munich is the best-known pro tournament in Germany and will take place for the 35th time in 2024.  What makes it even more special is that BMW is not just the sponsor, but also the organiser of this traditional tournament.

Over the decades, BMW has also become established as a prominent and reliable partner in the international golf scene, supporting tournaments that attract world-class golfers: the BMW Championship in the USA, the BMW PGA Championship in Great Britain, the BMW Ladies Championship in Korea, and the BMW Japan Golf Tour Championship feature professional athletes competing in four more tournaments that BMW supports as title sponsor. BMW provides assistance and support as a partner of another 22 tournaments - from the USA to South Africa and Australia - guaranteeing a premium experience for all participants.

The effects of these events extend far beyond sport itself, going hand in hand with responsible, social involvement. The BMW International Open 2023 saw the start of the “Eagles for Education” initiative, as the BMW Group added another module to its long-term, sustainable commitment to improve education and future opportunities for young people. For each eagle chalked up by the top players at the BMW International Open, the BMW Group donated 1,000 Euro to the “JOBLINGE” and “Kick ins Leben” organisations, both of which have been working with the BMW Group for many years. BMW also increased the donation amount for each hole-in-one by 10,000 Euro. A total of 99,000 Euro was raised during the traditional tournament, which the two organisations from Munich applied to the improvement of learning opportunities for disadvantaged children and young adults.

The support for the Evans Scholar Foundation is following a similar path. The BMW Championship 2023, which took place near Chicago in the USA, generated a record total of 5.5 million US dollars to finance full college scholarships for caddies in need. Since the BMW Championship debuted in 2007, more than 3,300 young people have been given the opportunity to move into further education.

A good cause is also behind the BMW PGA Championship. Also known as the “Festival of Golf”, this takes place in Wentworth, just outside London and thanks to BMW’s involvement, the tournament has supported the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) in recent years– an initiative that focuses on suicide prevention.

Even in a single-player discipline such as golf, it is easy to appreciate the power of sport,  working together towards a single objective. This also became clear at the Ryder Cup in Rome, featuring BMW as Worldwide Partner. Turning their differing styles of play into collective strength, the teams from the USA and Europe delivered thrilling golf at this event, which stands alone in the world of sport. Individual interests retreat into the background. As Worldwide Partner of the Ryder Cup, BMW supports the legendary competition with all-electric mobility to support precisely this approach of respectful collaboration.

BMW M Motorsport: the art of engineering comes to the racetrack 

The company has enjoyed many years of success in motor racing. This season, BMW M Motorsport is making a works entry in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the BMW M Hybrid V8 prototype, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the highlight of the season in June, and is also competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in North America. The wide range of BMW M works drivers and BMW M Motorsport teams will also be racing with the BMW M4 GT3 in numerous top-quality, international GT racing series. Customer racing represents another key pillar of this involvement. Privateer drivers and teams are competing around the world, celebrating wins and titles with BMW M cars.

Basketball: new mobility partnership supports future opportunities 

BMW München has also been involved in basketball since the summer of 2023, initiating a partnership with FC Bayern München Basketball GmbH. The players and training staff at the five-time German champions can now drive around in emission-free, all-electric vehicles.

In golf, it is the eagles that are special, in basketball, it is the dunks. The “Dunks for Tomorrow” campaign from BMW München and FC Bayern München Basketball generates donations for education and equal opportunities – with considerable success. For every dunk during a home game at the BMW Park, the company will donate 1,000 Euro at the end of the season to SOS-Kinderdorf e.V. This will help to improve the future prospects for children and young adults from disadvantaged families. A total of 100,000 Euro had already been reached in early March when the 100th dunk was recorded by Devin Booker, the American power forward.

Bobsleigh and biathlon: technology partnership picks up speed

Sport events attract enthusiasts on a global, national, or regional level. In Germany, BMW is involved in winter sports, running and tennis.  The technology partnership with the German Bobsleigh, Luge and Skeleton Federation (BSD) features knowledge transfer from the automotive industry taking place right in the ice channel. The latest project is 3D printing processes from automotive development and production will lead to the production of the ideal footwear for the bobsleigh teams with brand-new spike plates to enable maximum acceleration in the ice channel. The objective it is anticipated that the athletes will be competing with the perfect footwear by the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the latest, as they aim to extract the decisive hundreds of a second required on the way to a gold medal.

The technology partnership also encompasses other projects, such as the BMW Data Coach. The analysis technology is used to optimise the complex system of luge, athlete, and racing line - an approach that has been standard procedure for years in vehicle development. In bobsleigh, sensors are installed in the training sleds to measure dynamic data such as longitudinal and lateral speed, acceleration and yaw rates, and deliver high-resolution recordings. Analysis software allows for precise reconstruction of each run.

The Bob Simulator that BMW constructed for the BSD, especially for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, is also one of a kind. This allowed bob pilots in Munich to familiarise themselves with the previously unknown Olympic track in Yanqing, months in advance.

Technology transfer is also effective in biathlon. German biathletes have the opportunity to perform tests in the wind tunnel. In the BMW Group Aerolab, shooting from a standing position is simulated, analysed and improved under varying wind conditions. The aerodynamics experts from the BMW Group and the German Ski Association (DSV) additionally work together closely to optimise the material for the athletes.

The BMW Group has enjoyed a close connection to the DSV biathletes for many years, as mobility partner, the company equips the athletes with electric vehicles.

The fastest 42 kilometres in the world.

The diversity and solidarity generated by sport also shape the BMW presence in Berlin, the capital of Germany. This is not just the location of the BMW Motorrad plant, where up to 900 vehicles are produced each day by motivated and enthusiastic employees for customers all around the world. It is also where the extremely atmospheric BMW BERLIN MARATHON takes place, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, supported by the company as title partner.

The running event is part of the World Marathon Majors and the most international sporting platform to feature professionals and amateurs from all over the world racing the same route to the finish line. Last year, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa celebrated a new world record with around one million fans along the 42.195 kilometre route. At the finish line, the timer on the all-electric BMW i5 lead car stopped at 2:11:53 hours.

Looking ahead to events in 2024: world-class athletes from tennis and golf to meet at the home of BMW.

Tennis and BMW – this is also the story of a long-standing partnership. BMW is involved in tennis around the world, at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, and at the ATP Masters 1000 Rome in Italy. Since 1987, the BMW Open has allowed the company to provide a stage for world-class tennis not far from its factory gates. This will again be the case from 13th to 21st April, when the stars of the scene serve on the clay courts of the prestigious MTTC Iphitos club in Munich. The tournament will feature German Olympic champion Alexander Zverev and former US Open champion and BMW Österreich brand ambassador Dominic Thiem.

Another big name from the world of golf will attract attention this summer when taking place for the 35th time in July 2024, the BMW International Open will see Bernhard Langer, the most successful German golfer, tee off in München Eichenried. This will be Langer’s final tournament on the DP World Tour.

Topics and stories at the BMW Group

The company provides topics and stories related to selected national and international days of commemoration and action. Feel free to approach us proactively with your topic ideas – we provide insights and introduce you to interesting people at the BMW Group.

The BMW Group will also publish topics and stories related to these days of commemoration and action in 2024:

21st May: World Day for Cultural Diversity

24th June: Architecture Day

15th July: World Youth Skills Day

14th September: World First Aid Day

9th October: Fire Prevention Day

30th November: Computer Security Day

3rd December: International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Phillip Island. The 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) kicks off this weekend (23rd to 25th February) in Phillip Island, Australia. The interactive 2024 BMW Motorrad Motorsport WorldSBK Media Guide provides comprehensive information to set the stage for the season.

In this Media Guide, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers, Shaun Muir, Team Principal of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, and Michael Galinski, Team Manager of the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, share their insights on the upcoming season. Additionally, we introduce our four BMW WorldSBK factory riders: Garrett Gerloff (USA), new addition Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR), Scott Redding (GBR), and Michael van der Mark (NED), along with our new BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Test Team.

The technical section provides comprehensive information and technical data on the newly revised BMW M 1000 RR for the 2024 WorldSBK. Furthermore, you can explore details about BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s other global activities.

Extensive photo material to download for free.
Profile and studio photos of Bongers, Muir, Galinski, Gerloff, Razgatlioglu, Redding and van der Mark, as well as the BMW M 1000 RR and racetrack photos can be downloaded free of charge here in the BMW Group PressClub.
 
 
For the media: Latest information on X .
In the new season, we will once again not only be providing media representatives with regular information through classic press releases, but will also be using our social media channels to keep you up to speed.
 
On race weekends, we will support you in your work on event days by providing up-to-date statements and other important information via our X channel, among other methods. There will also be previews ahead of the events and a summary on the Sunday evening, in the form of classic press releases.
 
BMW Motorrad Motorsport on Twitter: twitter.com/BMWMotorradMoSp 

Jerez de la Frontera. Three teams, six BMW Motorrad Motorsport factory riders; the first test session of the year saw BMW Motorrad Motorsport kick off the critical phase of preparations for the 2024 season in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) with a big line-up. The official tests at Jerez de la Frontera (ESP) on Wednesday and Thursday not only featured the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team with Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) and Michael van der Mark (NED) and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team with Garrett Gerloff (USA) and Scott Redding (GBR) on the circuit. The BMW Motorrad Motorsport Test Team was also in action with Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) and Bradley Smith (GBR).

The two days of testing in southern Spain also represented the first opportunity to go up against WorldSBK rivals, as all manufacturers were taking part. The BMW Motorrad Motorsport WorldSBK teams and the test team enjoyed good conditions at Jerez de la Frontera, with plenty of sunshine and mild temperatures. They were able to complete a comprehensive testing schedule. The focus was on set-up work in a range of areas such as chassis and electronics, as well as evaluating newly developed components.

A further two days of testing are scheduled for early next week at Portimão, Portugal. Phillip Island in Australia will be the location for final testing on 19th and 20th February. That will be followed by the season-opener there from 23rd to 25th February.

Quotes after the Jerez de la Frontera test.

Garrett Gerloff (#31 BMW M 1000 RR, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team): “Overall, it was a good test. We were able to sort out a few problems that we had which is good. All in all it was just really nice to get on the bike again after two months of not riding and to finally do some laps. I am really excited to head to Portimão and keep trying to get faster. I feel like we have an idea of what we want to try and change at Portimão and then we should be good to go for the season. I am happy with this test, happy to reunite with my team and looking forward to riding again in a few days.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (#54 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “These two days of testing have been very positive for me, especially as I am still learning the bike on every lap and I am improving. Especially on these two days we have learnt a lot and we improved some things. We tried many new parts. Sometimes they worked well, sometimes not, but this is normal. We just try to find a good set-up and good parts. In general, it has been a very positive test. I did not expect to ride a 1:38 lap time. I’m very surprised because for me the bike is still new, I am still learning and usually my plan is to do a mid 1:39 maybe, but yesterday I started straight away with a 1:39 and I believe that I also could have made a 1:38 yesterday. Today I finally made it and I am very happy about it because I see the potential of the bike and this is very good for me. Now we keep working hard and we just need to find my set-up. And after that we will start fighting.”

Scott Redding (#45 BMW M 1000 RR, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team): “So, the first two days of testing this year are completed. On day one I was feeling pretty sick. It has been difficult but we have been able to do some laps and find some feeling with the bike. It was just about settling with the new team and blowing the cobwebs away. Coming into day two I felt a lot better and then we worked a lot with the bike to get my confidence and my feeling. We played a little bit with the set-up and tested a few new parts from BMW and I was reasonably happy with the steps that we made for my confidence on the bike. I am looking forward to Portimão next and see if the set-up also works on another circuit.”

Michael van der Mark (#60 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “It has been a busy test; two perfect days with amazing weather, so it was great for testing and I really enjoyed riding again. We’ve been trying to test a lot of different set-ups and different parts on the bike.  They have been quite busy days but I really enjoyed it. We are still trying to improve the bike, and are getting better and better. Also myself, my riding has improved so I am quite happy with it. We learnt a lot and I’m looking forward to Portimão. It’s one of my favourite tracks so I can’t wait to go out there and keep working.”

Munich. Customer racing has always been an important pillar of BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s activities. Year after year, privateer BMW riders and teams celebrate successes in a variety of championships around the world, and the 2023 season was no exception. In the most important international and national championships in Europe, North America and South America, Asia, and Australia, the BMW racers amassed no fewer than 16 championship titles this year. Then there is the equally impressive haul of 153 wins and 382 additional podiums in the various Superbike and Superstock classes. The privateer BMW teams receive global support from the BMW Motorrad Race Support network of experts. They also benefit from the experiences and advancements of BMW Motorrad Motorsport through the works entries in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) and the FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC).

“Congratulations to the successful privateer BMW teams and riders,” said Uwe Geyer, Head of BMW Motorrad Customer Racing. “We are very proud of the successes that they have brought home around the world. These successes reiterate that our M RR is a winning package. They show yet again that with our package, comprising the BMW M 1000 RR race version and the technical support that we offer around the world, as well as with our partner alpha Racing, we provide our customers with a strong foundation that can help them enjoy success in a wide variety of championships. This also proves that the strong focus on the development of racing components with our motorsport development department and our test team for WorldSBK was the right step, which ultimately benefits all our customers worldwide.”

Overview of the BMW Champions of 2023.

The BMW Motorrad Motorsport customer racing programme is a global success story. This is also demonstrated by the 16 championship titles that BMW teams brought home with their privateer entries on various continents. The BMW Champions of the 2023 season are:

• FIM Asia Road Racing Championship – Markus Reiterberger (GER / ONEXOX BMW TKKR Racing Team)
• French Superbike Championship – Kenny Foray (FRA / Tecmas Racing Team)
• Spanish Superbike Championship – Ivo Lopes (POR / easyRace BMW Team)
• Canadian Superbike Championship – Ben Young (CAN / Van Dolder’s Home Team)
• MotoAmerica Superbike Cup – Nolan Lamkin (USA / Tom Wood Powersports BMW)
• IDM Pro Superstock Cup – Kevin Orgis (GER / ORM)
• Italian National Trophy 1000 – Gabriele Giannini (ITA / Pistard Racing)
• French European Bikes Championship – Nelson Major (FRA / Tecmas Racing Team)
• Portuguese Superbike Championship – Ivo Lopes (POR / easyRace BMW Team)
• Alpe Adria Road Racing Championship STK – Milan Pawelec (POL / BMW Sikora M Motorsport Team)
• Alpe Adria Road Racing Championship Cup 1000 – Luca Alessio (ITA)
• FIM European Superstock 1000 Cup – Martin Tritscher (AUT)
• SuperBike Brasil Pro Superbike – Maxi Gerardo (URU / Team BMW Rider Experience)
• SuperBike Brasil Evo & Evo Pro – Raphael Santos (BRA / TRC Performance)
• SuperBike Brasil Superbike Light – Peri Cunha (BRA / SE Racing Team)
• SuperBike Brasil Superbike Rookie Light – Danilo Anselmo (BRA / 3AB)

BMW racers’ successes in the most important road races.

In international road racing, BMW riders and teams have also been among the absolute top favourites for many years. They lived up to this role in the 2023 season, notably Peter Hickman (GBR). At the most important road races of the year, the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy and the Macau Grand Prix, on the BMW M 1000 RR of the FHO Racing BMW team, he was the man to beat. At the Isle of Man TT in June, Hickman celebrated his third overall victory in the prestigious Senior TT, as well as wins in both Superstock TT races. These were the first Isle of Man triumphs for the new BMW M 1000 RR, which made its debut at the iconic road race this year. “Hicky” also set a new overall lap record as well as new lap records in the Senior TT and the Superbike TT. 

At the North West 200 in Northern Ireland, Alastair Seeley (GBR) and the TAS Racing team were triumphant. Seeley was unbeatable on his SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR in the two Superstock races – he finished first in both. On the Milwaukee BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR, Seeley also finished in second place in the second Superbike race of the event.

At the legendary Macau Grand Prix in mid-November, BMW racers pulled off a top-four lock-out for the BMW M 1000 RR. Hickman, who had set the pace with the FHO Racing BMW M 1000 RR in the practice sessions and in qualifying, claimed his fourth Macau victory in the race on the unique Guia Circuit. Davey Todd (GBR / Burrows Engineering / RK Racing) and David Datzer (GER / MTP Racing by ZERO UP Penz 13) secured second and third place on the podium. Hickman’s team-mate Josh Brookes (GBR) rounded off the success in fourth place.

Strong partner for customers: BMW Motorrad Race Support.

During their successful assignments at the racetrack, BMW racers have a strong partner at their side. With its race support, BMW Motorrad offers expert assistance to privateer racing customers around the world. The spectrum ranges from components developed in works racing, to on-site support during testing and racing action.

The race package that BMW Motorrad offers customers is developed in the Superbike World Championship and adapted to suit the needs of customers as well as the regulations of the respective championships. An important aspect is that the required racing components are made available to all customers without complications or waiting times.

“Customers can also benefit from the many years of experience in the field of motorcycle tuning,” said Uwe Geyer. “In terms of electronics, we make our own motorsport electronics available with the Race Calibration Kit. Here, we have experts in the markets who can help customers tune their electronics. And of course, we also have a wealth of experience when it comes to tuning, for example, in the areas of chassis, suspension or chassis settings, and that includes different tyre manufacturers. Customers can benefit from this because we share this data with them.”

Note to editors:

For more information about BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s involvement in customer racing, the global BMW Motorrad Motorsport family, and BMW Motorrad Race Support, as well as customer racing news and interviews with the BMW Champions of the 2023 season, see the website www.motorsport.bmw-motorrad.com.

Portimão. BMW Motorrad Motorsport reflects on an extremely successful penultimate season event of the 2023 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) at Portimão, Portugal. Garrett Gerloff (USA) from the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team produced outstanding results. He finished in fourth place as the top rider from an independent team in both main races and missed the podium in the second race by just one second. Michael van der Mark (NED) from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team made a strong comeback with several impressive seventh-place finishes after his injury break.

In the Superpole qualifying session on Saturday morning, van der Mark was the best BMW rider, finishing seventh. His teammate Scott Redding (GBR) secured the eleventh position, with Gerloff right beside him in twelfth. Loris Baz (FRA / Bonovo action BMW Racing Team) concluded qualifying in sixteenth place. Since an additional engine has been in use on his motorcycle since the round at MotorLand Aragón (ESP), he had to start both main Portimão races from the pit lane.

Due to a penalty for a competitor, van der Mark, Redding, and Gerloff each moved up one position on the start grid for race one on Saturday afternoon. The race once again showcased the potential of the BMW M 1000 RR. Van der Mark was running in the front group after a good start and was fifth before spending a long time in fourth place during the second half of the race. Meanwhile, Gerloff worked his way impressively up from eleventh place towards the front and jumped from sixth to fourth place in the final stages. This equalled Gerloff’s best season result, and he once again claimed first place in the independent class. Van der Mark only lost a few positions towards the end and secured an important strong result, finishing seventh. Unfortunately, Redding struggled to find a good feeling with the bike during the race and crossed the finish line in 15th place. Baz fought his way up several positions after starting from the pit lane and finished in 18th place.

In the Superpole race on Sunday morning, van der Mark confirmed his seventh place with another consistent performance. Gerloff once again charged forward from 12th place and was already in the top eight at the halfway point. However, he was pushed back in a duel and initially dropped to the 11th position. The American rider launched another comeback and fought his way up to eighth place, improving his start position for the second main race in the afternoon. Baz finished in 12th place from the 16th starting position, with Redding following closely behind him in 13th place, just hundredths of a second apart.

In the concluding second main race, Gerloff once again demonstrated his racing strength. By the 17th lap, he had worked his way up to fourth place and was setting his sights on the podium. His gap to third place narrowed to just a few tenths of a second at times. In the end, he narrowly missed out, finishing once again as the top Independent rider in fourth place, but his gap to the podium was only one second, and he was less than three seconds behind the leader. Van der Mark concluded the weekend with an 11th place. Redding had bad luck, as he was pushed off the track in turn three and ultimately finished in 14th position. Baz, in his attempt to make a comeback from the back, pushed too hard and crashed.

The season finale of WorldSBK 2023 will take place from October 27th to 29th at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

Reactions to the Portimão round.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “In general, our overall summary of the weekend is very positive. Let’s start with the challenging points. It was a tough weekend for Scott. He couldn’t find his rhythm. We tried a lot but we have not been able to move him up the field. Loris faced a difficult starting position as he had to start from the pit lane in the main races due to an extra engine we had to incur for him. The penalty is particularly harsh here compared to other tracks because the distance to the pit lane exit is quite long. Unfortunately, he crashed in the second main race. Now, onto the very positive aspects. It was extremely gratifying to see that Michael, just as he did at Aragón, came into great form in the first race here. He had a lot of confidence from the first practice session on and genuinely enjoyed riding. Kudos to Mickey for being able to put two serious injuries behind him mentally. He knows that he still needs to work on his physical condition, but this weekend was extremely positive. Last but not least, Garrett who had already shown an incredibly strong performance in the recent races, and bringing home two fourth-place finishes in the main races here is fantastic. He was not far from the podium in the end. Certainly, the top two riders held each other up a bit, but we were less than three seconds behind the winner. This fills me with great confidence for the season finale and also for the winter, to then attack as a team right from the beginning next year.”

Garrett Gerloff, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team (SP: 12 / R01: 4 / SP Race: 8 / R02: 4): “After qualifying I didn’t think that two fourth-places would be possible at all but I guess that’s something I need to learn about myself, not to count myself out. Race two was the end of a really great weekend. I wasn’t exactly fighting for the podium, but I was close. Until the last lap, I thought, maybe I can catch Rinaldi. In the end, I am just super happy about how the bike feels and how the whole team is working together. I can’t ask for much more. I am really happy! We have only one round left in the year, but I would really love to end on a high note. It was very cool and we are making progress.”

Michael van der Mark, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 7 / R01: 7 / SP Race: 7 / R02: 11): “I am really happy with the weekend overall. From Friday on, I straight away felt very good on the bike. We keep working on the bike but we just made small changes. I am really happy with this weekend’s results. This morning P7 in the Superpole race, I was quite happy with it. I saw that I just miss some race rhythm but anyway, I was really satisfied. The field is so close and you must have a good start position. So it was P7 on the grid for race two. I had a really good start. Unfortunately in turn one, I was a bit unlucky and then I couldn’t gain the places back. And honestly I struggled a bit, I just didn’t feel as good as I felt before. But it’s another race under our belt, we scored some good points and most of all, I enjoyed riding this weekend very much.”

Scott Redding, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 11 / R01: 15 / SP Race: 13 / R02: 14): “It has been a very disappointing weekend. I struggled a lot to find my rhythm and a feeling for the bike. That made it impossible to attack. The whole team has been working hard over the entire weekend and we tried a lot of different things in the sessions but we haven’t been able to find the right solution. We now have a few weeks off, time for all of us to recharge after the double-header, and then we aim to come back much stronger at the season finale.”

Loris Baz, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team (SP: 16 / R01: 18 / SP Race: 12 / R02: DNF): “We knew that the Superpole race was going to be the only funny one, let’s say. I was trying hard to get in the points, but it was not possible, but I had fun battling with the other riders in the group, so that was good. In race two, I had to start form the pitlane again. Luckily for me there was some trouble with the other guys in the first corner, so I lost less time than yesterday and I was not far behind Scott and Johnny. We were coming back and I was just trying to push really hard in order to get some points. There was nothing to lose for me anymore. I was pushing really hard and just over-pushed the limit in turn one. We were trying the SC2 front hard for today and maybe that was not helping over those bumps in turn one. It was a pretty big one, but I am ok. We will see. There is some time to recover and then we head to the last round.”

Misano. The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK riders displayed fighting spirit at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli (ITA) as they attempted to cope with challenges during a weekend of adversity. On Sunday, Garrett Gerloff (USA) from the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team finished eighth in race two, recording his best result of the season so far in a main race. The best results for Scott Redding (GBR) from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team were two 11th-place finishes. In the second main race, Loris Baz (FRA / Bonovo action BMW Racing Team) moved up from the back of the field to 12th place. Tom Sykes (GBR), stepping in for the injured Michael van der Mark (NED) for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, improved as the weekend progressed and chalked up his best result of the season by finishing 13th in race two. Misano hosted the fifth round of the FIM Superbike World Championship 2023.

Superpole qualification on Saturday morning did not go according to plan as the session was brought to a premature close; yellow flags initially made an appearance and were then replaced by the red flag to end the session with riders still out on their flying laps. Redding was classified in 12th place, with Gerloff 14th, Sykes 18th and Baz 19th. Baz was later demoted three places for race one due to a penalty incurred during the third practice session. The best BMW racer in the first race on Saturday afternoon was Redding in 11th place, while Gerloff finished 13th, Sykes 16th and Baz crossed the line in 17th position.

Gerloff was able to make up some places in the Superpole Race on Sunday morning and he was classified in ninth position when the race was ended after an accident three laps before the finish. The result saw Gerloff move up to the third row on the grid for race two. Redding was in 11th place, with Baz 13th. Sykes was able to continue racing after taking a tumble and was classified in 20th place.

The BMW riders once again displayed fighting spirit in the second main race. Gerloff dropped back a few places at the start but battled his way back during 21 laps of racing to take the chequered flag in eighth - his best result of the season so far in a main race. Technical problems forced his team-mate Baz to head for the pits after the sighting lap. He started from the back of the field and battled his way up to 12th place. Sykes started from 17th and crossed the finish line in 13th position, also his best result of the season. Redding made a superb start, moving up from 13th to ninth, but then struggled during the race. He fell back but gritted his teeth, battled on and finished the race in 14th position.

The sixth round of the season in the WorldSBK 2023 will take place from 30th June to 2nd July at Donington Park (GBR).

Reactions to the race in Misano.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “Looking at Sunday, eighth place for Garrett in race two was a bright spot. However, the gap to the leading Ducati is incredible. Finishing 30 seconds behind the winner is not what we expected or were aiming for. Others seem to be struggling too, and we see again and again how important grid positions are for the race. The pace of some of our riders was similar to that of the guys in fourth, fifth and sixth places. However, the red flag during the Superpole hit us hard, even though others were affected just as much. That determines how the rest of the weekend will go. But in the heat and high humidity we had here in Misano, the guys certainly displayed a great fighting spirit. Hats off once again to Loris, who had to cope with the technical setback in race two and then raced from the back of the field to finish 12th. Our lads gave their all. We will continue working hard as we focus on Donington Park, a circuit where we have consistently produced good performances in recent years. We hope that we will be able to get back into the top five there at least.”

Garrett Gerloff, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team (SP: 14 / R01: 13 / SP Race: 9 / R02: 8): “Today was a better day than yesterday, that’s a positive. I am happy with the work the team did last night. I got on the bike this morning and felt a lot better than yesterday. So, I was feeling confident going into the Superpole race and we had a little bit of good luck, but bad luck for Danilo Petrucci and Iker Lecouna who crashed. But it put us into ninth place which we needed to start in that position for race two. We were having a few issues with the start; I don’t think I am doing it 100% right and there eems to be a strange feeling with the clutch. But I’m not making any excuses, I had a bad start, and I did my best to work my way back through. I am reasonably happy with the eighth place we got today but I know that we can do more. I am really motivated for the next races at Donington. It’s a couple of weeks until then, but I will be ready for sure.”

Scott Redding, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 12 / R01: 11 / SP Race: 11 / R02: 14): “The weekend was quite difficult in general. We didn’t have the pace again, but we tried to make the best of it. We were always two or three tenths slower than the second group in the race and just tried to get a good start and be there as long as possible, but it was difficult even in the first few laps. Then as the weekend went on, I just struggled more. Everyone went faster and I went slower. I struggled with the engine brake, we’ve checked the data, and there is some inconsistency with it, which doesn’t help me getting into the corner and prepare the exit, it is just pushing the bike all the time. So, again we have more work to do to find out how we can improve the situation. It has not been the weekend we wanted; it is quite difficult for us at the moment, but we will keep working to find a solution.”

Loris Baz, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team (SP: 19 / R01: 17 / SP Race: 13 / R02: 12): “It was a strange day today. At the beginning, it was frustrating because during yesterday’s race, I felt that the bike was getting slower and slower, but we couldn’t find out why. It was the same in the Superpole race. I was riding fast and had a good pace and think I could have been not too far away from Garrett. But then something was wrong with the bike. It was pretty slow on the straight line, and I also had some issues with going into false neutral in a couple of places which cost me a lot of time. I was disappointed after the Superpole race as it was the first time since my injury that I felt I was having a good run. We decided to start race two with the second bike because we were not able to repair the damage until the start of the second race. Unfortunately, on the sighting lap I saw smoke coming out of the bike but didn’t feel that the engine was broken. I went back to the pits and the team did an amazing job fixing it in time for the race start. I think it was just a sensor that wasn’t in the right place. I had to start from the back of the grid which wasn’t ideal, but I had a good start and was soon where I would have been if I had started from my normal position. I was able to run a good pace so a big thank you to all the mechanics because without them I would have been out before the race started. Hopefully our bad luck is finally over.”

Tom Sykes, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 18 / R01: 16 / SP Race: 20 / R02: 13): “Obviously, I was disappointed with the starting position which really affected our race performance. I felt that I had a good start in the last race today but unfortunately somebody hit me again and moved the position of my brake lever, so I lost some positions and honestly couldn’t do much on the track. I really need to find a setting where I can set a better lap time. The consistency is not a problem, but we are missing pace in some areas and can’t set a good lap time for the first part of the race. It has been a very good weekend in terms of gathering information though. Of course, it is always difficult to come and try and find a base setting for myself during a race weekend, but the guys have worked hard so thanks to the whole team. Certainly now, there is a lot more information to help us move forward.”

Munich. After a four-week break from racing, BMW Motorrad Motorsport now travels to the Adriatic coast. This weekend (2nd to 4th June), Misano (ITA) is the venue for round five of the FIM Superbike World Championship 2023 (WorldSBK). Making a temporary return to the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK family is Tom Sykes (GBR), who is standing in for the injured Michael van der Mark (NED) until further notice.

Three weeks ago, BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the two teams were in Misano for a two-day test at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, in preparation for the coming races. The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, with riders Scott Redding (GBR) and Sykes, and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team and its pairing of Garrett Gerloff (USA) and Loris Baz (FRA) completed a productive test programme on both days.

Quotes ahead of the Misano round.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “We used the break and the Misano test to continue to adapt our new BMW M 1000 RR to the individual requirements of the riders. As such, the teams and riders rode different programmes, compared components and, among other things, worked on geometry and weight distribution – particularly with Scott and Garrett. For Loris, the Misano test was primarily about getting a feel for the bike again after his leg injury. He has had three weeks of recovery time since then, and we are confident that he will be stronger at Misano than recently at Assen and Barcelona. The test gave Tom the opportunity to familiarise himself with the new M RR and Michael’s crew. On the whole, the test was good preparation for the coming races. Our goal is to perform well with both teams and all four riders at Misano, and to convert the hard work into good results.”

Garrett Gerloff, #31 BMW M 1000 RR, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “I’m really looking forward to going to Misano. It’s nice that we had a test a couple of weeks ago, so I feel like we are in a good place for the setup. I hope we can show off on Friday in FP1 and go fast right away and continue to go fast all weekend. It’s a track I enjoy and I’m looking forward to a solid weekend. I also have a friend who is coming, so it’s pretty cool to have someone from home with me. It should be a fun weekend, so I’m looking forward to it. I’m ready to see the whole Bonovo action BMW Racing Team again and to jumping back on my BMW M 1000 RR!”

Scott Redding, #45 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “Misano is a nice track which I like and the fans there are always great. I am looking forward to the weekend. I hope we can make some improvements from Barcelona. We tested atMisano a few weeks ago where we tried a lot setup changes.”

Tom Sykes, #66 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “I am very much looking forward to going to Misano this weekend and competing for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. It is a circuit which always produces great racing in a great part of the world. It helps as well that we are going there on the back of a shakedown test. I was hoping to get more laps on that test but unfortunately, the weather was not very consistent. Having said that, I feel that I had enough dry time on the BMW M 1000 RR just to re-acquaint myself and get some ride position and pace setting in place. I am heading to Misano with my own personal targets, can’t wait for the weekend to get underway and from there we will assess the next goals for the upcoming races.”

Loris Baz, #76 BMW M 1000 RR, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “Finally, after a couple of months feeling strange on one leg and the last couple of races in total pain and not fit enough to be fast, now I’m heading to a race feeling almost 100 %. That feels good. The last time I was riding this bike 100 % was in Mandalika and the feeling there was quite decent. Since then it was more like surviving on the bike. I’m just looking forward to leaving this tough beginning of the season behind me and start working in a proper way again. I’m basically starting my season at Misano. It’s still not perfect in terms of mobility, but the strength and the power in my leg are finally back. I’ve been training hard since the last round so I’m confident heading to Misano, a place that I always love going to and I’m looking forward to seeing my guys, working with them and enjoying the next races on the BMW starting from Misano.”

Munich. The 2023 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) kicks off at Phillip Island, Australia, on the last weekend of February (24th to 26th February). The interactive BMW Motorrad Motorsport WorldSBK Media Guide 2023 is packed with information to put you in the mood for the coming season.

In a series of interviews and statements, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers, Shaun Muir, Team Principal of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, Michael Galinski, Team Manager of the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, and the four BMW WorldSBK works riders Loris Baz (FRA), new addition Garrett Gerloff (USA), Scott Redding (GBR) and Michael van der Mark (NED) look ahead to the new season.

In the technology section, you will find comprehensive information and technical data regarding the modified BMW M 1000 RR for WorldSBK 2023.

2023 is a special year; we are celebrating 100 years of BMW Motorrad. Right from the word go, BMW bikes have always caused a stir at the racetrack. In this Media Guide, we look back at the milestones over a century of motor racing.

“Racing Is In Our DNA”: Season launch film for WorldSBK 2023.

The 100-year history of BMW Motorrad also plays a major role in this year’s season launch film for WorldSBK. Works riders Baz, Gerloff, Redding and van der Mark immerse themselves in the past, whilst at the same time kicking off the 2023 season on the new BMW M 1000 RR.

The clip can be seen on BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s social media channels, as well as on YouTube:

http://b.mw/Launch_WorldSBK_2023

Extensive photo material to download for free.

Profile and studio photos of Bongers, Muir, Galinski, Baz, Gerloff, Redding and van der Mark, as well as the BMW M 1000 RR, racetrack photos and images of important historical racing bikes can be downloaded free of charge here in the BMW Group PressClub:

For the media: Latest information on Twitter.

In the new season, we will once again not only be providing media representatives with regular information through classic press releases, but will also be using our social media channels to keep you up to speed.

On race weekends, we will support you in your work on event days by providing up-to-date statements and other important information via our Twitter channel, among other methods. There will also be previews ahead of the events and a summary on the Sunday evening, in the form of classic press releases.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport on Twitter: twitter.com/BMWMotorradMoSp

Munich. When the BMW Junior Team had its initial meeting in Munich (GER) in December 2019 and then met up again soon after for the first training camp at Formula Medicine in Viareggio (ITA), there were high hopes for a repeat of the success story of the legendary 1977 training programme. Three years later, those hopes have become reality. Dan Harper (GBR), Max Hesse (GER) and Neil Verhagen (USA) have lived up to their predecessors and are a credit to their mentor Jochen Neerpasch, and, after intense training years, have officially become BMW M works drivers in 2023. They will remain as a team and continue to compete in race highlights such as the 24 Hours Nürburgring (GER) as BMW Junior Team, but their promotion to the works driver squad also gives the trio new opportunities.

Like in 2021 and 2022, Harper, Hesse and Verhagen will contest the iconic endurance race on the Nordschleife alongside BMW M Team RMG once again this season with the goal being a spot on the podium. The trio has enjoyed victory at the ‘Green Hell’ in both the BMW M6 GT3 and the BMW M4 GT3 in the past two years. They are even the youngest ever overall winners of an NLS race. The BMW Junior Team will also have joint appearances on tracks other than the Nürburgring again in 2023. Additionally, individual appearances as part of their works driver commitment are an option in the future. For example, Harper competed in the ‘Gulf 12 Hours’ in Abu Dhabi (UAE) for Century Motorsport in December 2022. Hesse will contest the 24 Hours of Dubai (UAE) this weekend, and Verhagen will race at Daytona (USA) in the new BMW M4 GT4 in the BMW M Endurance Challenge at the end of January. In addition to race appearances, Harper, Hesse and Verhagen will also be involved in plenty of testing in various racing cars. All three of the drivers have already been heavily involved in the development of the new BMW M4 GT4. In their role as BMW M works drivers, they will also have the opportunity to represent the brand at various events.

The trio has enjoyed intensive, varied training on their journey from talented youngsters to BMW M works drivers. Regular fitness and mental training camps with the experts at Formula Medicine were a key element. There has also been intensive collaboration with the BMW M Motorsport engineers, various BMW M Motorsport teams and experienced BMW M works drivers to improve their technical understanding of motorsport. The team-building aspect was just as important to those leading the programme. Harper, Hesse and Verhagen spent much of the past three years living together in a shared house at the Nürburgring, which saw them become a real unit away from the racetrack as well. Sporting highlights were the class win with the BMW M4 GT4 at the 24h Nürburgring in 2020, the overall wins in the NLS in 2021 and in the 24h Qualifiers in 2022, as well as strong performances in GT World Challenge Europe, including at the 24h Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) with ROWE Racing last year. The BMW Junior Team also took the BMW M Hybrid V8 prototype for a spin as part of testing.

Quotes on the BMW Junior Team:

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): "Dan Harper, Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen are one of BMW M Motorsport’s biggest success stories in recent years. With their team spirit and their performances on the racetrack, they ensured that Jochen Neerpasch and the people in charge at the time were absolutely right to bring the legendary BMW Junior Team back. I think that the lads and everyone involved can be very proud of what they have achieved. I’m delighted to have three such young, talented drivers in our works driver squad. They are a perfect fit for what I believe to be our very good mix of youth and experience. I can’t wait to see how the BMW Junior Team’s journey progresses in 2023."

Jochen Neerpasch (Founder and Mentor of the BMW Junior Team): "Our Juniors have reached the first major milestone through intensive teamwork. They have joined the phalanx of BMW M Motorsport works drivers. But the team’s training continues. The goal is to help Max, Dan and Neil become a winning team in the major races in motorsport. My personal wish is to see the three of them celebrating on the top step of the podium at Le Mans. On the way they will continue to compete as BMW Junior Team in 2023, and gain experience."

Dirk Adorf (Mentor of the BMW Junior Team): "We have been on a journey with the BMW Junior Team that has been as exciting as it has been successful up to this point. The guys have worked their way through all the vehicle classes at the Nordschleife and, as the youngest GT3 race winners of all time, are now one of the very best teams. Our Juniors placed their trust in us at the start of the programme, not knowing what the future held. And BMW M Motorsport also placed their trust in them, fielding them in the top cars and top race series. After three years it is fair to say that the revival of the BMW Junior Team has been a real success. I’m excited to see how things progress in the coming years."

Dan Harper: "It has been a fantastic three years with the BMW Junior Team. Just taking part in this programme, and now my first official works driver contract, have been a dream come true for my family and me. There have been so many highlights during the training phase so far: the class win at the 24h Nürburgring, our trip to 24h Daytona, the battle for the podium at the 24h Spa-Francorchamps until just before the end, and the first outing in the BMW M Hybrid V8. I am very grateful for all these opportunities and hope that this is just the beginning of a long partnership."

Max Hesse: "Since sitting in a kart, my dream has been to make it as a works driver for a manufacturer. It’s fantastic to have now achieved that goal. I can only thank all those in charge at BMW M Motorsport and Jochen Neerpasch for selecting Dan, Neil and me for this fantastic programme. I believe it was a brilliant selection because the three of us have got on really well on a personal level throughout. Whether on the racetrack, at the fitness camps or at our home, we have worked together terrifically as a team and have formed a very close personal bond. I’m very grateful to Dan and Neil for this. There has never been any egoism or internal competition. We have always pulled together. Which made us strong and obviously convinced BMW M Motorsport that we have what it takes to be works drivers. Hopefully we will be able to continue this successful collaboration for many years to come."

Neil Verhagen: "I have learned an incredible amount these past three years. It was a privilege to work alongside experienced teams. I can’t thank BMW M Motorsport, in particular Jochen Neerpasch, Dirk Adorf and Sven Bluszcz, enough for their trust and their support. I think that Dan, Max and I have proved what we are capable of, and have now been rewarded for this with the works contracts. I always dreamed of being able to make a career out of my passion. Now I have achieved this major goal. I’m really looking forward to my racing programme in the coming years."

Mandalika. BMW Motorrad Motorsport has concluded the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) race weekend in Mandalika in Indonesia with two top six finishes. After a difficult Saturday, Scott Redding (GBR) from the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team claimed sixth position in both Sunday’s Superpole Race and race two. In the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, that lined up on the Mandalika International Street Circuit for the first time, Loris Baz (FRA) secured a top ten finish in Saturday’s race one.

Enormous heat and a relatively large amount of dirt on the track off the line made the weekend a huge challenge for all teams and riders. In the Superpole qualification, held on Saturday morning, Redding claimed eighth position on his BMW M 1000 RR. His team-mate Michael van der Mark (NED) was 11th. Baz finished qualifying in 15th place and his team-mate Eugene Laverty (IRL) who, like Baz, was racing at the Indonesian track for the first time, qualified 20th.

In race one, van der Mark was initially the best-placed BMW rider. After an excellent start, he had made his way up to sixth place, however, in the fight for a top six result, he crashed a few laps before the end and retired. Baz secured another top 10 finish, crossing the line in tenth. In order to avoid a contact, the Frenchman went off the track briefly at turn one and dropped back to last place. But he worked his way back up lap after lap. Redding slid off the track in the dirt off the ideal line after the start, also losing many positions, and struggled with the conditions throughout the race. He finished 12th. Laverty scored two points coming home in 14th.

Redding was then back in the mix in Sunday morning’s Superpole Race, taking the chequered flag in sixth position. He repeated that result in the second main race on Sunday afternoon. Although he lost several positions in the first half of the race and fell back to tenth place, Redding was able to fight his way back up to sixth place in the second part of the race. Van der Mark finished tenth in the Superpole Race and 12th in the second main race. Baz was 12th and 13th in the two Sunday races, while Laverty was 17th and 16th.

WorldSBK now directly heads to Phillip Island in the south of Australia where the 2022 season finale will be held this coming weekend (18th to 20th November).

Quotes after the Mandalika races.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “After the three previous race weekends, where we fell short of expectations, it was good to see a positive trend again, for Scott and also for Michael, and in difficult track conditions. It was very tricky, especially on the first day when there was still very little rubber on the track. It was nice to see Michael find his good feeling again and he produced a very good race yesterday and obviously felt comfortable on the bike. Unfortunately, he had a crash at the end, but the trend was good. Scott didn’t feel comfortable at all in the first race. That wasn’t so much due to the bike but more to the difficult conditions and the many crashes that occurred, especially on corner entries. We changed practically nothing on Scott’s bike for today and he performed very well in both the sprint and the feature race. In terms of lap times, we were much closer to the front than in the last races. Two sixth places aren’t perfect but compared to the last few rounds it’s satisfying. Loris was able to finish in the top 10 again in the first race, but he also struggled with the track conditions. Today, he started the day in a positive mood, but unfortunately had issues with the brakes in the second race. Eugene had a difficult weekend and would have liked to have claimed more than two points yesterday. But now it’s off to Phillip Island for the finale on a track everyone loves. Overall, we have seen a positive trend in Mandalika and we want to take that with us to Australia.”

Scott Redding, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 8 / R01: 12 / SP Race: 6 / R02: 6): “The weekend was difficult with the track conditions, so it was obviously hard for us to set the bike up because the track was changing all the time. Today was better for me. In the Superpole Race, I felt comfortable with the bike, and was able to get a good result. And in the main race this afternoon, I felt pretty good too, but I went off track trying to pass someone, and as a result I lost the front group. I had strong pace at the end of the race, I was catching those ahead, and passed two or three guys. The pace is there but I made another mistake. I am angry at myself for that because the pace was good enough for fourth position and I could have battled with them. But we keep pushing, we keep trying and are looking forward to the next race in Phillip Island.”

Michael van der Mark, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 11 / R01: DNF / SP Race: 10 / R02: 12): “Today’s Superpole Race was alright, I just lost a bit of confidence and didn’t feel as comfortable as yesterday. We didn’t change a lot, but I think with the temperature, the bike reacted a bit more than we expected. So P10 in the Superpole Race, unfortunately no points. Then in race two, I had an okay start but got in a bit of trouble in turns two and three, so I lost a lot of time there. I was trying to catch the guys in front of me, but I didn’t have the same confidence as yesterday and unfortunately had contact from another rider when he pushed me off track, so I lost a lot of time. But at least I scored some points today and got to the finish. Overall, the way I was riding yesterday was like my old self, so I am happy with the weekend as it’s a long time since I had that confidence. Now I am looking forward to Australia. It is a bit weird to have it as the last round but it’s a lovely place to go and one of my favourite tracks in the world. It is a special track, no one really knows what to expect but with the confidence I had this weekend we are going to have some good results there.”

Loris Baz, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team (SP: 15 / R01: 10 / SP Race: 12 / R02: 13): “It’s hard to be happy to be honest, but I am pleased that we are going to Australia in good shape and not injured, as we saw some crashes here. In the Superpole Race, the target is always to be in the top nine. I knew that it was going to be hard, but I just lost too much time on the first lap and was out of the front group. I think I could have had a decent pace because I had the lap times for it, but I was in too much traffic. It wasn’t too bad compared to where we were on Friday. Race two was okay. We tried a new development set-up for next year to collect more data. The start was good, I was with Michael and then overtook him. But then I got an issue with the brakes into one turn for three laps in a row, I went completely straight on and lost almost six seconds there. At that point, I lost focus a bit and it was hard to push. The two guys in front of me pulled away, and I had a big gap behind, so I didn’t want to risk it all, I just tried to collect info for the guys, bring it home and not get injured before the next round. I can’t be happy, but I feel that we improved today, and we were fast in the first laps of race two. So, we keep that in our minds and go to the best track in the world.”

Eugene Laverty, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team (SP: 20 / R01: 14 / SP Race: 17 / R02: 16): “The Superpole Race was reasonable, I made progress but in race two in the higher temperatures, I struggled with the front tyre and with the brakes. Not to score a point is difficult to accept because I pushed to get at least one point. That would have been worth the effort but to be 16th after so much effort was tough. But we forget this weekend and move on to Australia for one of my favourite tracks, Phillip Island.”

San Juan. BMW Motorrad Motorsport kicks off the overseas leg of the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) in the west of Argentina this weekend (21st to 23rd October). The tenth event of the season will take place at Circuito San Juan Villicum, roughly 180 kilometres north of Mendoza. The WorldSBK circus then moves on to Indonesia in November, before the season finale in Australia.

San Juan hosts WorldSBK for the fourth time, having previously done so in 2018, 2019 and 2021. BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team is looking to find its way back to the top with riders Scott Redding (GBR) and Michael van der Mark (NED), and to back up last year’s results in Argentina. Twelve months ago, the team consistently achieved good top-six results with van der Mark.

For the relatively new Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, which is now in its second season in WorldSBK, Argentina is the first overseas event in the World Championship. While the team enters uncharted waters in San Juan, the two riders Loris Baz (FRA) and Eugene Laverty (IRL) are familiar with the Argentinean circuit. The goal is to claim more top-ten results.

Quotes ahead of the San Juan round.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “Our goal for San Juan is clear: to get back to where we were in the middle of the season. We were too far behind the leaders at the last two race weekends at Barcelona and Portimão, and we need to reduce that gap again. San Juan is a very interesting circuit. It poses specific challenges, which have to be overcome. They include the very low grip level. Our engineers, riders and teams are working meticulously to prepare the BMW M 1000 RR for the track. We are excited to see how the weekend plays out, and are looking forward to the outing in Argentina.”

Scott Redding, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “Argentina is a track that I like. I enjoyed riding there last year and I enjoyed it with all the fans so I look forward to going back there, and I always like racing overseas, it is a bit different feeling which is nice towards the end of the season. My hope is that our bike can work well there so we can get some good results. That is the goal. Of course we are always working but the track seems to have a big effect on our results. So I hope here we can find something and try again to be towards the front.”

Michael van der Mark, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It is always nice to go overseas and San Juan is a really nice racetrack. I enjoy going there a lot. So I am looking forward to it. We’ve had some positive results at Portimão, so we are making progress. I am feeling better and better with the bike and my body. Racing overseas is always a little different atmosphere but if we can continue the progress we made at the last round I am pretty sure that we will have some good results there.”

Loris Baz, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “Finally overseas! That was always a part of the season that I really liked and it's always a different feeling to race overseas. It is very exciting, especially because it will be a new experience for the majority of the team. San Juan is a special track. Most of the time there is a lot of sand on the asphalt and the grip is very low. That’s why you always have to spend your Friday ‘cleaning’ the track first. But other than that, the layout is nice and I’ve really enjoyed riding there in the past. I can’t wait to find out how the BMW M 1000 RR works there.”

Eugene Laverty, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “My final run of flyaway races begin in Argentina. The one kilometre long straight suits the horsepower of the BMW M 1000 RR but we’ll need to work hard on putting the power to the ground exiting the slow stuff. I’ve been feeling really good on the bike during the past couple of rounds which ought to set us up nicely to finish the season strongly.”

Portimão. BMW Motorrad Motorsport concluded the European season in the FIM Superbike World Championship with top eight finishes. Scott Redding (GBR) from the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team produced the best race result in Portimão (POR). He finished seventh in the second main race on Sunday. Once again, the most consistent BMW rider was Loris Baz (FRA) from the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, who reached the top 10 in all three races. Michael van der Mark (NED) chased his way up from 20th on the grid to finish eighth in the Superpole Race. Eugene Laverty (IRL) scored one point on Saturday. Portimão was the ninth and final European event of the year. The tenth round of the WorldSBK season will take place in two weeks (21st to 23rd October) in San Juan, Argentina. The final events will then follow in Indonesia and Australia.

After Superpole qualifying, Baz started the first race on Saturday from seventh place, with Redding alongside him in eighth. Laverty was 17th on the grid, with van der Mark 20th. Redding was the best-placed BMW rider in seventh place, only to make a minor error on the final lap. He took a tumble before rejoining the race and crossed the line in 18th. Baz was also on course for the top 10 during the entire race, finishing ninth. Van der Mark in 14th and Laverty in 15th completed the points positions.

Van der Mark moved up from 20th to eighth place during the ten-lap Superpole Race on Sunday morning. Baz again finished ninth, while Redding dropped back some places during the closing laps to finish 13th. Laverty crossed the line in 15th position. Redding bounced back to finish seventh in the subsequent second main race. Baz repeated his top ten performance, finishing 10th. Van der Mark was twelfth and Laverty 16th, just missing out on the points.

Portimão was the final home race for Laverty, who lives near to the circuit. Next season, the 36-year-old will move into management with the Bonovo action BMW Racing team. An event on Saturday evening saw many companions take a look back at his long career in international racing, and the team presented him with a special gift - the BMW M 1000 RR that had been prepared for his guest appearance in the IDM.

The race weekend was overshadowed by the serious injuries sustained by Dutch rider Victor Steeman in an accident in the Supersport 300 class.

Quotes after the Portimão races.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “It was a difficult weekend, and we are not where we should be in terms of results. Loris and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team reached their top 10 objective in all three races, which was good. It was a shame that Scott fell yesterday. It was a minor rider error and that annoyed him most of all. But he was just trying to defend his position. Scott had problems with his X tyres in the qualifying race and could not keep up with the pace. Finishing seventh in the second main race was OK, but the gap to the leaders was just too large, it’s nearly one second per lap. I was very happy that Michael was able to move up from 20th to eighth in the Superpole Race. That’s a sign that he is on the way back, and that was good to see. Eugene didn’t quite get the results we were hoping for in his final races in Europe, but he and the team will give their all as the season draws to a close. Overall, we were definitely not in the position we were before Barcelona. We must continue to work hard to make progress. Congratulations to our BMW M brand team-mates in the DTM, who won the team and drivers’ titles. They managed it, and that’s what we need to do as well.

“Unfortunately, the race weekend started with some sad news for us. It was dreadful to hear that BMW BSB rider Chrissy Rouse succumbed to his injuries after that serious accident in Donington Park. We would like to express our sincere condolences to his family, his friends and his team. Our thoughts are also with Supersport 300 rider Victor Steeman. We hope to hear positive news soon.”

Loris Baz, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team (SP: 7 / R01: 9 / SP Race: 9/ R02: 10): “We had some great fights in all three races. I think our set-up in the Superpole Race this morning was not perfect, I felt like I had to squeeze the brakes very hard all the time. But I was close to Scott, which is good, until the last lap, where I had a big moment. Overall, it was quite a good weekend considering the issues we had in the beginning. I just hope we’ll soon have a full weekend without any problems, where we can work all the way through the weekend, find a good setup and improve the bike. We can’t blame anyone; we just have been unlucky. I think overseas will now be very different, you never know what to expect. But we made it into the top ten, which is the target. Anyway, I hope we can be in the top five soon.”

Scott Redding, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 8 / R01: 18 / SP Race: 13 / R02: 7): “To be honest, the weekend was not great. We struggled again. Maybe not as much as in Barcelona, but we were still not where we want to be. Our weak point still costs us too much time. There is not much I can do. The guys worked well to give me a better feeling in some areas and helped me with the tyre life, so I was able to be more consistent to the end. But I need performance on the exit of the corner and at the moment there is no solution yet. We still have a lot of work to do, and everyone is working really hard. But sometimes you need to go really deep to come to a solution that makes the difference. We will get there. It just takes time.”

Michael van der Mark, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 20 / R01: 14 / SP Race: 8 / R02: 12): “We made a massive change compared to yesterday with the bike. The warm-up felt okay. In the Superpole Race, I had an amazing start, gained a lot of places, and immediately felt that I had a really good pace. We decided to go with the SC0 tyre to keep the distance and also because I just need more time with the bike. At the end, it was the right choice for us. We were really fast in the Superpole Race. It makes life a little bit easier to start from P8 in race two. I had a good start, just got tangled up in a few moments of the first lap. To be honest, I didn’t have the best grip from the start. I dropped a few positions because I couldn’t stay with the guys in front of me. In the end I had a solid pace, I was not incredible fast but also not slow. I calmed down a bit and got more miles under the belt. It was good to finish the race and to score another few points.”

Eugene Laverty, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team (SP: 17 / R01: 15 / SP Race: 15 / R02: 16): “Right now, all we can do is keep working to improve on where we’ve been lately. This weekend, the team did a fantastic job. Instead of trying to do big leaps we’ve worked on our weaknesses to improve the bike. Honestly, in the final race, the bike was the best it has been in a long time. It was doing many things correctly, now we must study the power delivery, as after four laps it seems to be killing the rear tyre and after that we go backwards. We need to dig deep into it and improve this. Because when the tyre is gone after four laps, the 20 laps are really long.

“Last night was such a huge surprise. I was so focused on this weekend, like I’ve approached every weekend for the last 16 years. I got into my routine, and it didn’t matter in my mind that it was the last European round, but suddenly I began to bump into these familiar faces and people had surprised me. My wife Pippa organised a lot of events. In this celebration, it was very nice to see so many of my former teams, my former teammates and of course my current Bonovo action BMW Racing Team. It was also amazing to have Dr. Markus Schramm here as well. To top it all off, there was a bike underneath the cover, and I could see there was a number 50 there and I thought it was a presentation, but when they told me it was my present, I couldn’t believe it. I felt like a kid at Christmas! So, a big thank you to Jürgen Röder and everybody for this event and this incredible gift.”

Munich. The BMW Motorrad Motorsport family is mourning the death of Chrissy Rouse (GBR). The 26-year-old Briton passed away on Thursday, succumbing to the serious injuries suffered last weekend in an accident in the British Superbike Championship at Donington Park (GBR). It was with great dismay and sadness that BMW Motorrad Motorsport received the news of Rouse’s death.

Rouse was a valued member of the BMW Motorrad Motorsport family for several years. In 2020, he won the title in the British National Superstock 1000 Championship with the Crowe Performance BMW Team. This season, Rouse had been riding for the Crowe Performance BMW Team in the British Superbike Championship.

The whole BMW Motorrad Motorsport community wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to Rouse’s family, friends and team. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

Portimão. BMW Motorrad Motorsport will compete at the final European event of the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) this weekend (7th to 9th October). Autódromo Internacional do Algarve near Portimão (POR) is the venue for round nine of the season. BMW Motorrad Motorsport, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team then head overseas. The final three events of the season will be held in Argentina, Indonesia and Australia.

The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team has moved on from the difficult race weekend at Barcelona (ESP). Scott Redding (GBR) is looking instead to back up the success he had enjoyed previously, while team-mate Michael van der Mark (NED) is hoping to take the next step towards the front of the field. The team and van der Mark have fond memories of Portimão, where the Dutchman last year won the Superpole race on the Sunday morning.

The Bonovo action BMW Racing Team finished in the top ten in all Barcelona three races, and is now determined to improve on that performance at Portimão, at a circuit that ought to be more suited to the BMW M 1000 RR. Portimão is a home event for Eugene Laverty (IRL), who has lived just a few kilometres from the racetrack for a number of years now. He and team-mate Loris Baz (FRA) have their sights set on more strong results for the team.

Quotes ahead of the Portimão round.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “After Barcelona, where we fell short of our own expectations at times, we now want to start afresh at Portimão. In the final races in Europe, we need to carry on where we left off at Magny-Cours. It is also important to significantly cut the gap to the front-runners with all four riders. The character of the track at Portimão has suited us in the past, and we hope that will be the case again this year. In the short time since Barcelona, we have worked hard to analyse where our weaknesses are and how we can solve them. We want to bring the European leg of the season to a close on a high so that we can then carry the momentum into the final spurt overseas.”

Scott Redding, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “For me, Portimão is a good circuit, very technical. I quite enjoy riding it because of the character, the up and down, the long corners, the slow corners, so I am very excited to go there. Obviously, after a tough weekend at Barcelona, it would be nice to try to get back to where we were, but again it’s another new track for me with BMW, so I don’t know the potential. I know BMW had a good result there last year in the rain-mixed conditions so let’s see what we can do. It would be nice to get back to the top five, and if we are feeling really strong it would be nice to try and get a podium again or at least fight for it. I am looking forward to it.”

Michael van der Mark, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “I am looking forward to Portimão; it is one of my favourite WorldSBK tracks on the calendar. It’s a unique track and I am always looking forward to getting there. After Barcelona, our main target is to have a problem-free weekend. I still need to ride as much as possible. There were some positives at the Barcelona weekend and I am pretty sure that if all goes well we will be a lot faster at Portimão. Like I said, it is one of my favourite tracks and that always helps. I can’t wait to get started and see how it goes.”

Loris Baz, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “Portimão has always been one of my favourites since day one. Last year there was a turning point of coming back with my three podiums there. Barcelona was tough, but I managed to bring the best possible home. Portimão should suit us much more and I really hope to be in the top five there. If I can qualify better, I’m sure my races in Portugal can be strong.”

Eugene Laverty, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “The Portimão circuit has always been special to me having won there on both Supersport and Superbike machines. I now live nearby so it is truly a home race. Last time out at Catalunya I was pleased to return inside the top ten and that will be the aim again at Portimão. As riders we all love naturally undulating tracks and Portimão is just that, a real rollercoaster. During practice we’ll aim to improve our outright pace as I’ve been lacking in Superpole lately. If we can qualify better then it puts us in the mix for the early laps of the races.”

Barcelona. BMW Motorrad Motorsport travels to Spain for the next race weekend in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosts round eight of the 2022 season this weekend (23rd to 25th September). After a long summer break, four race events will now be held in a fortnightly cycle in September and October.

In August, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team went testing at Barcelona with the four BMW Motorrad factory riders Scott Redding (GBR), Michael van der Mark (NED), Loris Baz (FRA) and Eugene Laverty (IRL). The purpose of the test was to prepare the BMW M 1000 RR for the second half of the season, and the findings could prove to be particularly valuable at the same circuit this weekend.

Quotes ahead of the Barcelona round.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “The results of the last race weekend at Magny-Cours, where Scott finished runner-up to claim the best result of the season so far and Loris was also in contention for a place on the podium, have given us a boost ahead of the coming rounds. After the long break, the action now comes thick and fast, and it was important to get the second half of the season off to a positive start. Barcelona has a totally different character. During the test there in August, we were able to work intensively with both teams and all four riders. We will now build on this basis in the free practice sessions. The goal is to confirm the progress we have made at Barcelona.”

Scott Redding, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “Barcelona is probably going to be one of those circuits on the race calendar that is harder for me but that does not mean we still can’t fight for good positions. It’s a good circuit for us to work on the development of the bike as well so we will probably test a few things. For the weekend, the weather is looking a bit 50/50 for rain or dry so we need to also get some more laps in the rain with the BMW M 1000 RR. We made a step forward at Magny-Cours but we need to make more steps at Barcelona. I’m excited to be back racing again; I had a few days resting, so I am looking forward to it.”

Michael van der Mark, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “I am obviously really happy to be back racing again this weekend. Magny-Cours was a bit like we had expected but unfortunately I made this big mistake in race two. Barcelona is a different track. I feel a lot better physically again. We have tested there in the summer break and it was a good test back then but I was not that fit then so I expect a different weekend. I hope we can fight for the top ten again this weekend but still we need to remember that we have lost half of the season so we cannot expect everything from it, but of course I will try everything to be as fast as possible and my goal is to be in the top ten again. The weather might be a bit unpredictable but I am ready and most of all I am really happy to be back racing.”

Loris Baz, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “After a long break it is cool to start racing every two weeks again. Magny-Cours showed we found a great setup base with the new package. It was really fantastic to fight for the podium in race one and I’m getting more and more confident every race. Yet, Barcelona will be totally different, we know how poor the grip level is there and it’s a big challenge for tyre wear. We did lot of work at the test there and I’m sure we can find some more things on Friday. It will also be important for me to make a step up in the Superpole to be closer to the front from the first lap onwards.”

Eugene Laverty, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “We enjoyed a good test at Catalunya during the summer break and so I’m looking forward to the race weekend. The Catalunya asphalt is very slippery which makes for interesting races. When the others lose rear grip, I find myself more on a par with them, therefore I hope to be more competitive than in recent races. The BMW M 1000 RR engine is very strong along the one kilometre long straight as well, so it’s nice to have that little something extra in the pocket during battle.”

Munich. BMW Motorrad Motorsport will welcome an addition from the United States of America next year. American Garrett Gerloff will compete as a BMW Motorrad factory rider in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) from 2023. The 27-year-old will start for the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team next season.

Gerloff started his career in the USA, where he raced in various championships. In 2016 and 2017 he was crowned MotoAmerica Supersport champion. In the following two years, he enjoyed success in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. Since 2020, Gerloff has competed in the World Superbike Championship, where he has repeatedly demonstrated his ability and speed. He impressed with three podiums in his first season in this fiercely-competitive championship. A further two were to follow last year.

“Howdy, and welcome to the BMW Motorrad Motorsport family, Garrett Gerloff,” said BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers. “We have always followed his development in WorldSBK over the past few years. He showed from the outset that he is fast and talented. He has now matured as a rider. We are thrilled to have Garrett on board from next season. We are confident that Garrett will fit very nicely into our squad of BMW Motorrad factory riders and will further strengthen our project. He will help the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team to take the next step towards the top next season.”

Jürgen Röder, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team owner, said: “We are overjoyed that a rider like Garrett Gerloff is joining the Bonovo action team! We are very much looking forward to working together and are confident that we will embark on an excellent 2023 season with him. I hope that we can provide whatever Garrett wants and envisions and I think then we’ll be well positioned for the new season.”

+++ The first ace on the 15th hole to be rewarded with the first fully-electric BMW 7 Series in history +++ Hole-in-One Prize has only been won twice to date +++ 100,000 US dollars to be donated to the Evans Scholars Foundation for the first ace of the tournament +++

Munich/Wilmington. The BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club (Delaware) features an outstanding field of players and promises spectacular golf. The same adjectives can be used to describe this year’s Hole-in-One Prize, a luxury sedan that is the first of its kind: the BMW i7 xDrive60 (power consumption combined, acc. WLTP: 19.6 – 18.4 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions: 0 g/km; figures according to NEDC: -). The first ace on the 15th hole will be rewarded with the first fully-electric BMW 7 Series ever.

With the BMW i7, the BMW Group is leading the luxury segment into a new era, shaped by innovations in the fields of sustainability and digitalisation. The global launch of the new BMW 7 Series begins in November 2022. 45 years after the debut of the BMW 7 Series, the seventh generation of the model is also produced at the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing (Germany). Here, the model variants with fully-electric drive systems, the combustion engine and the plug-in-hybrid system all roll off the same production line. The electric motors and high-voltage batteries for the BMW i7 are likewise produced in Dingolfing.

Here, as in the supply chain, green energy is being used to a steadily increasing degree in the production process. Added to which, closely controlled selection of raw materials and extensive use of secondary materials ensure the BMW 7 Series plays a distinct role in helping the company achieve its ambitious sustainability goals.

In the 15-year history of the tournament, the BMW Hole-in-One Car has only been won twice. Perhaps it is a good omen for all the players at the 2022 BMW Championship that it was a BMW i car and a BMW 7 Series that brought Hunter Mahan (USA) and Jason Day (AUS) that little bit of luck required. Both players hit their valuable aces on the 17^th hole at Conway Farms Golf Club (Chicago). Mahan received a BMW i3 in 2013, Day donated the value of his Hole-in-One Car – a BMW M760i – to the Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF) in 2017.

On behalf of the first player to hit a hole-in-one at the BMW Championship, regardless of the hole, BMW will once again donate a full four-year scholarship to a caddie through the ESF. This has happened on five occasions in the past at the BMW Championship.

All proceeds from the BMW Championship go to the foundation, which provides full tuition and housing scholarships for hardworking young caddies. Since the tournament’s inception 16 years ago, the BMW Championship has raised over 40 million US dollars for the Evans Scholars Foundation and helped send 3,300 caddies to college. For the upcoming school year, a record 1,100 Evans Scholars will attend 22 leading universities nationwide.

Spa-Francorchamps. Around two hours and just a bit of luck were all that was missing from an otherwise perfect debut for the BMW M4 GT3 at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). Tyre damage to both ROWE Racing cars prevented a deserved podium finish after a superb, faultless performance. Making their Spa debut, the BMW Junior Team with Dan Harper (GBR), Max Hesse (GER) and Neil Verhagen (USA) chalked up an outstanding fifth place overall. In the #98 car, Nick Catsburg (NED), Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Nick Yelloly (GBR) battled for the lead for virtually the entire race before tyre damage put paid to their chances around 120 minutes before the finish. The trio crossed the line in sixth place.

Starting from 15th and 20th on the grid, both ROWE Racing crews worked their way gradually forwards with some calm, consistent and error-free driving. Some smart tactical decisions with pit-stops during full course yellows, saw the #98 BMW M4 GT3 involved in the battle for the lead during the first quarter of the race and Catsburg, Farfus and Yelloly were able to maintain that position as the race progressed. The intermediate ranking after six hours and the standings at the halfway point of the race had the trio in the lead. The BMW Junior Team was in second spot after twelve hours. Around two hours before the finish, Yelloly was safe in second place and even moved within striking distance of the leading Mercedes, only to lose a significant amount of time and fall back due to tyre damage. Final driver Catsburg was unable to improve on sixth place. Harper, the final driver for the BMW Junior Team, crossed the finish line immediately ahead of him. Tyre damage had also cost him valuable seconds that robbed him of the chance to finish third. The BMW M4 GT3 nonetheless produced convincing speed and a high level of reliability. The drivers and teams also gave faultless performances.

In the Gold class, Walkenhorst Motorsport was in a good position for some time with the #34 BMW M4 GT3 and battled for a podium finish, however BMW M works driver Jens Klingmann (GER) and Michael Dinan, Robby Foley and Richard Heistand (all USA) then retired on Sunday morning. The #35 BMW M4 GT3, driven by team principal Henry Walkenhorst, Jörg Breuer, Theo Oeverhaus (all GER) and Don Yount (USA), finished second in the Bronze category. Samantha Tan Racing marked its debut with ninth place in the Silver category for Samantha Tan, Nick Wittmer (both CAN), Harry Gottsacker (USA) and Maxime Oosten (NED).

Reactions to the 24h Spa-Francorchamps:

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “Although it was a good race result with fifth and sixth places for the two ROWE Racing BMW M4 GT3s, I don’t consider that it is a real reflection of our performance. The BMW M4 GT3 was very strong here and we were able to battle for the lead for the entire duration of the race. We were in first place after six hours, and after twelve hours we were first and second. The drivers didn't make any mistakes and the team worked perfectly. I am very grateful to everyone for that. We showed what a great team we have - including our car. Everyone at ROWE Racing and BMW M Motorsport can be very proud. Of course, we would like to finish off such a great performance over 24 hours by standing on the podium, holding a trophy. Unfortunately, double tyre damage put paid to that for us this time. That was simply bad luck. Hopefully, fortune will be on our side next time. Looking beyond the battle for the overall win, I was delighted to watch the BMW M Motorsport teams Walkenhorst Motorsport and Samantha Tan Racing as they were competing. They showed that the BMW M4 GT3 doesn’t have to be in the hands of purely professional drivers to look good. That is exactly what we were aiming for when we developed this car.”

Hans-Peter Naundorf (ROWE Racing Team Principal): “I am unbelievably proud of our team, as we delivered another outstanding performance here at Spa. Every single team member and everyone at BMW M Motorsport worked faultlessly for the entire weekend and provided impressive confirmation of our intention to always be battling for podium spots at the major 24-hour races. One damaged tyre on each car was all that prevented us from turning this aim into reality. Those were the only problems we had with our BMW M4 GT3 during the entire race weekend. They occurred at a very late stage and after that it was not possible to neutralise the race and we were unable to make up for lost time. That cost our crew in the #98 the chance of finishing second, and the BMW Junior Team could have finished third on its Spa debut without the tyre problems. In the end, we recorded two great finishes in fifth and sixth. This might feel like a disappointment initially, as we were extremely competitive and led the race for a long time. Congratulations to our drivers, they were very disciplined in extremely challenging conditions, followed all the instructions and did not receive one single penalty in 24 hours.”

Dan Harper (#50 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing, 5th place): “Our first appearance at the 24h Spa-Francorchamps went well. Fifth place is a good result, even though it is a bit painful to think that we could even have finished on the podium. None of us made any mistakes, and thanks to ROWE Racing and BMW M Motorsport we have once again learned a lot. I am simply grateful for the opportunity to participate in races at this extremely high level.”

Nick Yelloly (#98 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing, 6th place): “Our BMW M4 GT3 was very competitive for the whole weekend. We would definitely have made it to the podium if the tyre gods had just been on our side at the end. That’s just how it is at this race. If you still reach the top six despite this bad luck, you’ve done a good job. Many thanks to everyone – including everybody in the background, who made some very good strategic decisions. We’ll get that podium next time.”