BMW factory rider Michael van der Mark tests with a production bike at his home track in Assen – The timing of the comeback is still open
One and a half months have now passed since Michael van der Mark’s serious crash at the WSBK event in Estoril. A race comeback is still out of the question, but at a trackday in Assen Van der Mark was able to ride a Superbike again for the first time since the fateful crash in FT1.
“I did a few laps on my training bike at a trackday at the TT Circuit Assen. It was a lot of fun. It showed me how far my recovery process is,” reported Van der Mark, who completed five 20-minute stints.
“This training is helpful and brings me closer to my goal to race again in the World Superbike Championship as soon as possible, even if it is too early to say anything concrete at the moment. But I am working on it,” the Dutchman promises his fans.
At the upcoming WSBK event in Donington, BMW substitute rider Ilya Mikhalchik will once again pilot the second factory machine. Mikhalchik has already ridden at the season opener in Aragon and at last year’s event in Misano.