BMW factory rider Michael van der Mark has to skip the important World Superbike Championship test in Misano due to injury after a training crash with his bike.
While Yamaha, Ducati, Kawasaki and Honda have already completed more than one test this year, BMW have held back. This week, the Munich-based company will start testing in Misano. But factory rider Michael van der Mark will not be able to gain any experience at this test. The Dutchman injured himself in a training crash with his mountain bike.
Van der Mark suffered a fracture in his leg, according to BMW. The fall occurred on Sunday. “The progress of treatment over the next few days will show when Michael will be able to get back on the bike,” commented BMW motorbike sport director Marc Bongers. “We are in close contact with Michael and wish him a speedy recovery. “
So BMW can only rely on factory rider Scott Redding, who switched from Ducati to BMW in the winter, and the two new Bonovo riders, Eugene Laverty and Loris Baz, for the Misano test on Wednesday and Thursday.
Eugene Laverty, who will ride for Bonovo-BMW in 2022 as Jonas Folger’s successor, is thus the only rider with current BMW experience. Loris Baz, just like Scott Redding, still has to get used to the BMW M1000RR.
After this week’s Misano test, BMW plans to take part in the big test in Barcelona (25/26 March) as well as the official test before the season opener in Aragon (4/5 April).
