BMW finishes Portimao test with all four riders in the top 10 – Technical progress confirmed – Toprak Razgatlioglu happy with his set-up
“It was a fantastic day,” beams Toprak Razgatlioglu after the two days of testing in Portimao. The BMW newcomer caught the eye with strong lap times and finished the test with a qualifying attempt as the fastest. But the lap times and consistency in a race simulation were also strong
“I drove a race simulation over 15 laps. I drove 1:39.9 twice. After that I was in the low 1’40s,” Razgatlioglu told WorldSBK.com. “Those are very strong lap times.”
“It looks like we are ready, but we still need time because we are still learning. In general, I am satisfied because the race simulation was also very good. We need a good set-up for the race. We are now 95 or 99 percent ready for a race.”
“The bike feels more like my bike now. I can ride more my style. The grip has also improved, but we still need more. The turning is not yet at 100 percent, but we are close. We are learning every day.”
BMW has further developed the details of the M1000RR over the winter. There have been small updates in all areas, with a focus on the chassis, electronics and aerodynamics. New swingarms have also been tested.
“The aerodynamic updates have made the bike a little more agile, which helps the riders,” explains Motorcycle Motorsport Director Marc Bongers at WorldSBK.com. One question was how Razgatlioglu’s particular riding style would harmonize with the BMW.
After the tests so far, these doubts have been dispelled. “It’s a pleasure to see that Toprak didn’t need much time to adjust to our bike,” says Bongers. The engineers have been working on adjusting the set-up for Razgatlioglu’s style
“We made the biggest progress with the engine brake – especially for Toprak’s extreme style. We are very satisfied with this test. We are happy that we were able to transfer the pace from Jerez to here. We are confident. It’s good to see where we stand. “
The test team is also back in action
B BMW traveled to Portugal with a large contingent. There were a total of ten motorcycles for six riders. Michael van der Mark finished the test in fifth place. The Bonovo duo of Scott Redding and Garrett Gerloff finished ninth and tenth.
The test team was also in action with Sylvain Guintoli and Bradley Smith. “It was phenomenal to see that the ideas that were developed in the race teams but could not be tested immediately were handed over to the test team,” says Head of Engineering Christian Gonschor.”
“This way of working is ideal. It enabled us to provide the racing teams with the best possible support. Among other things, we tested applications and were able to provide feedback before the regular drivers tried them out. We evaluated some chassis elements with the test team.”
The season opener in Australia is scheduled for the end of February. Before the race weekend from the 23rd to the 25th, there will be a two-day test on Phillip Island on the 19th and 20th. Forecasts for this unique track are difficult because the riders there tend to use harder tires.
“Phillip Island is completely different. So we’ll have to wait and see,” says Razgatlioglu. “It’s impossible to say anything before the race or the test. But all in all, the mood is very good, I’m very happy. We did a very good job on these two days. “