Big change for BMW in the Superbike World Championship. The Bonovo Action customer team is withdrawing at the end of the 2024 season, although BMW has experienced a big upswing so far this season. This means that the Bavarian manufacturer will only be competing with the two motorcycles of the factory team next year. The second driver has now been announced alongside star pilot Toprak Razgatlioglu.
Withdrawal for personal reasons: BMW regrets Bonovo Action departure
“I will be retiring from 2025 for personal reasons and Bonovo Action will therefore be withdrawing as a works team from BMW. I would like to personally thank all the fans who have stuck with us so loyally, who have been happy with us but also suffered with us. I would also like to thank our entire team under our team manager Michael Galinski, who have always done an excellent job,” team boss Jürgen Röder announced on Monday. The 2024 season will still be completed, but then it will be over.
“We regret Jürgen Röder’s decision not to continue his involvement in WorldSBK, but at the same time we understand it,” explains Marc Bongers, sports director of BMW’s motorcycle department. So it is clear: BMW would have continued with Bonovo Action. Röder also made it clear that there was no break with the manufacturer: “My thanks also go to BMW. BMW has always been a fair and very reliable partner who has supported us in everything.”
Van der Mark stays at BMW
This means that the two drivers Garrett Gerloff and Scott Redding are initially without a place for 2025, as BMW has already confirmed that they will only be racing with the two drivers from the factory team next year and will not be looking for or founding a new customer team. Star newcomer Toprak Razgatlioglu was a hit, but had signed for two years anyway. So his stay was already certain.
But now it is clear: his new teammate is also the old one. In the course of today’s announcement, the continued collaboration with Michael van der Mark was also confirmed. “I am very, very happy and honored to be able to continue working with BMW. I am very pleased that they continue to have faith in me, especially after the two difficult years, and I think that this year’s results show the trend upwards. I am very happy with how the team works, how the BMW M 1000 RR works and how we continue to improve it,” explained the Dutchman, who has been riding for BMW since 2021.
BMW: First success in the Superbike World Championship, then entry into MotoGP?
Even though Razgatlioglu is making headlines with victories and leading the World Championship, van der Mark’s season also shows BMW’s clear progress. After just four race weekends in 2024, he has already collected more points (66) than in the twelve weekends of the entire previous season (54). His yield per World Championship stop has therefore more than tripled. Despite Bonovo Action’s withdrawal, BMW is on the way to making the Superbike World Championship exciting and challenging Ducati.
But in the future they will perhaps also be able to compete against the motorcycle dominators from Italy in the Ride MotoGP? The rumors about an entry are persistent. The Bavarians announced that they wanted to be successful in the Superbike World Championship first, but that is now the case. An entry into the premier class would be an option for the 2027 season, because then a good opportunity will arise with the new MotoGP regulations. With the withdrawal of one of the two Superbike teams, resources could now be freed up for this project.