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.”
Track Facts Misano. |
|
Circuit |
4.226 |
Corners |
16 – 10 right-handers, 6 left-handers |
Pole |
Right |
Longest |
510 |
Grip level |
Medium |
Track |
Several long straights, partly fast corners, |
Strain on |
Medium |
Amount at full |
30 % |
Top speed / lowest |
276 |
Best overtaking |
T1, T8 |
Key |
Good |