[kropotkin thinks...] - WorldSBK 2024 Preview, Part 2: Change of fortunes for BMW?

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WorldSBK 2024 Preview, Part 2: Change of fortunes for BMW? Signing Toprak Razgatlioglu lit a spark under BMW. A two rider test team proved their level of investment but now they need results. Steve English looks at whether the Germans are ready to deliver

Has there ever been a bigger shock in the rider market than Jonathan Rea leaving Kawasaki? Of course there has! It happened a couple of months earlier and made Rea's move possible. When Toprak Razgatlioglu signed for BMW there were plenty of scratched heads around the WorldSBK paddock. Why had he made this move? Surely it couldn’t be just about the money?

It turns out that it wasn’t. Toprak saw something that very few believed was present at BMW; a plan to win. Signing the Turkish megastar proved their credentials and since then, the bean counters in Munich have been working overtime to plough resources into the WorldSBK programme. A new test team, another development of the M 1000 RR and new faces in the garage. Heaven and Earth was moved to sign Toprak and the rest of the universe shifted to make him happy.

The bike has always had a good engine. It’s had aerodynamics to help with anti-wheelie. It’s had good riders. It’s had good engineers. It’s just never quite had the success they expected. Now with Toprak on board they have the best rider in the series. They also have nowhere to hide. That could well be the biggest motivating factor for BMW.

Wanting more


Steve EnglishWed, 21/Feb/2024 - 23:05

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