Eugene Laverty to drive official BMW in WorldSBK 2020

The seasons follow one another and are similar for Eugene Laverty, whose – great – return to World Superbike is thwarted by injuries … His potential and his motivation nevertheless remain intact and allow him to sign for 2020 with the official BMW SMR team, in place of Markus Reiterberger. Explanations.

The 2019 season was to allow Eugene Laverty to regain his best level, that of vice-world champion, which he reached three times: in 2009 and 2010 on Honda CBR600RR in World Supersport, then in 2013 on Aprilia RSV4 in World Superbike..

• MNC special file :
• WorldSBK 2019 :

To do this, the Irish rider benefited from the brand new Ducati product – the Panigale V4R – and the services of the Go Eleven team. Unfortunately, the combination of the three elements did not meet the expected success: Laverty points to an anonymous with only 41 points.

The choice of the bike for this season was not bad though: Alvaro Bautista on the brand new Bologna Superbike crushed the first part of the championship. And during the last WSBK event in Laguna Seca (USA), Chaz Davies was on a par with Jonathan Rea and his Ninja !

Unlike the official pilots, "Youdjine" never succeeded in exploiting the full potential of his machine … private and not "factory". It is moreover by trying to match the pace of the top pilots in Imola that (high-side) then in the hospital (fracture of both wrists …).

Forced to forfeit four events, Laverty undoubtedly has an unpleasant feeling of dejà vu: last year, his second season riding the private Aprilia RSV4 – development – of the SMR team had already been penalized by a bad fall. But next season, Eugene will return to the British team, but with the status of factory driver this time. !

"I am delighted to welcome Eugene Laverty to Team BMW Motorrad WorldSBK for the 2020 season, and also to find him in Team SMR," said Shaun Muir, team manager of the same name. "We are convinced he can fight for the podium." His track record proves it: he won 13 races in WSBK and rode 22 other times on the gearbox (two third places in 2018).

If the former MotoGP rider did not shine this year, his undeniable talent and unfailing motivation have allowed him to bounce back at BMW, replacing Marcus Reiterberger. Still under contract with the Ducati Go Eleven team, Eugene Laverty has not yet been able to comment on the – good – news.

"We hope that as soon as he takes to the track for pre-season testing in November, the bike will be on another level and I think the combination of his experience and speed will be a welcome addition to this WorldSBK project. ".

A BMW project that is starting to take off: Tom Sykes – who has not yet renewed his contract – is improving the performance of the new S1000RR, and therefore its results, little by little. "Step by step", as the quadruple world Superbike champion and current leader of the provisional, Jonathan Rea, tirelessly repeats….

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