BMW is only fifth at the World Superbike Championship in Barcelona: Scott Redding crashes in both races, his brand colleagues are far from the podium
BMW experienced a difficult weekend at the World Superbike Championship in Barcelona. Already before the eighth event of the season, expectations were low. Scott Redding doubted that he would be able to repeat the podium finishes of the past WSBK events in Donington, Most and Magny-Cours. Redding’s fears were to become reality. The former vice world champion crashed in both main races and only collected a meagre two points in the sprint race.
The Superpole was already not going well. Redding was the best-placed BMW rider in 13th place. Bonovo riders Loris Baz and Eugene Laverty followed in 14th and 16th, with Michael van der Mark only qualifying 19th on the grid.
“Sunday was a bit better than Saturday where I had big problems,” Redding tries to look on the bright side. “We made some changes to the bike overnight and the Superpole race went better for us. We were fighting for sixth place and it ended up being eighth. “
“In the second main race in the afternoon we had to use the harder front tyre that I crashed on Saturday. We took this tyre again because of the temperatures and we think that was the right way. But I crashed again on the first lap,” Redding regrets.
After the crash, the Briton had to be taken to the medical centre. “Overall I’m fine, just the knee hurts a bit. I will be fit for the next race. But I am a bit disappointed with our performance this weekend. But there are good days and bad days. Both are part of it. “
Michael van der Mark laments “a lot of problems with the bike “
Team-mate Michael van der Mark also experienced a difficult weekend in Barcelona, only picking up some points in 13th place in race two. “It was a tough weekend,” said the Dutchman. “We had too many problems with the bike and then on Sunday morning we had a small crash in the Superpole race. “
“As for the second race, we knew it was going to be a long distance for the tyres. So I took it easy on the rear tyre at the beginning, but from the start I didn’t have such a good feeling for the front anymore, so I couldn’t push like I did in the morning,” Van der Mark reported.
“It was a long race and we knew there was a big drop coming. Unfortunately the drop at the end was so big that two other riders passed me. E is not easy, not where I want to be. But on the other hand, I am happy that I completed a full race distance. Because that’s what I need,” Van der Mark is convinced.
BMW in search of causes for poor performance
“It was a very mixed weekend for us with a few retirements, some of them due to crashes,” summed up BMW Motorcycle Sport Director Marc Bongers. “We definitely didn’t live up to our expectations. Scott crashed twice in the main races. He had a relatively good Superpole race, which made us optimistic again. And if you look at the times, top eight would have been possible for him in race two. “
“Michael also had a very difficult weekend with a defect in the first race and a crash in the Superpole race. That made it difficult to work out a set-up to achieve more in the second race,” said the BMW manager, citing the reasons for the disappointing results.
“We are now analysing this in order to draw the necessary conclusions,” remarks Marc Bongers and praises the Bonovo team: “They have mastered the challenges here well. The team’s goal for this season is the top 10, and they achieved that in all three races.”
“Overall, though, the gap to the front is too big for everyone and we need to work on that. We will be back where we belong in Portimao,” clarifies Marc Bongers. In the manufacturers’ standings, BMW was able to defend fourth place against Honda. Four events before the end of the season, BMW has 183 points, Honda is on 178 points.
