BMW team manager Shaun Muir emphasizes that Toprak Razgatlioglu “makes the difference” and praises the work of the new test team for the World Superbike Championship
With two victories at the second WSBK weekend of the season, BMW newcomer has clearly exceeded expectations. After finishing in the top 3 at the season opener in Australia, Razgatlioglu went on to win two races at the European opener in Barcelona and left BMW managers cheering
The victories have brought great relief to BMW Motorsport Director Marc Bongers. Since the 2019 WSBK season, Bongers has been trying to gain a foothold in the production-based championship with BMW and, apart from a few highlights, has experienced many difficult moments.
However, the signing of Razgatlioglu has brought a breath of fresh air to BMW. With the new test team, new personnel in many key positions and Razgatlioglu’s talent, BMW was able to make significant progress over the past winter.
“The bike was improved over the winter. But the structure of the team is also more stable now,” says BMW Team Manager Shaun Muir. “Toprak has taken this project to the next level. He makes the difference.”
Since returning to the factory five years ago, BMW has employed a number of top riders. Tom Sykes, a former world champion, was already signed up for the comeback. This was later followed by race winners Eugene Laverty, Michael van der Mark and Scott Redding.
BMW had to wait a long time for a victory in a WSBK main race
But the knot only burst through Razgatlioglu’s commitment and the restructuring in the background. “This project has taken a long time to reach this level. But other manufacturers have also taken a similar amount of time,” compares Team Manager Shaun Muir.
“Yamaha were at it for a long time before they found the holy grail and won their first championship since Spies,” says Shaun Muir, referring to the R1 project, which won the championship in 2021 with Razgatlioglu.
Did BMW underestimate the Superbike World Championship at the beginning and deliver too little? “It’s obvious how much support there is now from the manufacturer,” says Shaun Muir, who also senses a great drive from BMW Motorcycle CEO Markus Flasch.
“The new boss of BMW Motorrad is fully behind it. I think we will also see this dedication in the next two or three years. At least! It expresses what BMW wants to achieve in this championship. The signing of Toprak was the first confirmation of that,” says Shaun Muir.
Would the victories not have been possible without the test team?
However, the BMW team manager also emphasizes the importance of the contribution made by the new test team, which has a strong line-up with Sylvain Guintoli and Bradley Smith. “I’m not sure if we would have reached this level now without the test team. If we’d had the test team a year earlier, it would have been quicker,” comments Shaun Muir.
“I’m a big fan of the test team’s work,” says the Briton. “I was pushing for it two years ago. It’s a really solid structure. The groundwork of the test team has enabled us to be here now. “
“Of course, at the end of the day you need highly qualified riders to take it all to the next level,” explains Shaun Muir, describing the BMW test team as an important part of the structure: “We need the support so that we can fight for a championship. “
