WSBK – Michael van der Mark leaves Yamaha for BMW in WorldSBK 2021 – Pre-owned BMW YAMAHA

Michael van der Mark to leave Yamaha for BMW in 2021 WorldSBK

WSBK - Michael van der Mark leaves Yamaha for BMW in WorldSBK 2021 - Pre-owned BMW YAMAHA

Titled in Superstock and World Supersport 600 on Honda, double winner of the Suzuka 8 Hours on Honda and then Yamaha, Michael van der Mark would like to become Superbike world champion … with BMW! He will join the German factory team in 2021. Explanations.

Having started very well at the end of February in Phillip Island (Australia), the 2020 World Superbike season has unfortunately been put on hold by the terrible Covid-19 pandemic. It should leave the first weekend of August in Jerez (Spain), just after MotoGP, and continue on Portimao (Portugal).

While waiting for the World Superbike riders to return to the circuits, the teams are putting on a show by securing the services of the riders for the 2021 season! After confirmation of Lowes and Rea at Kawasaki, we announce the transfer of Van der Mark…

  • World Superbike 2020 :
  • MNC special file :

Site readers – who, as everyone knows, have a bit more RAM than others – remember Michael van der Mark had a brilliant start to his career on Honda CBR600RR: Superstock 600 champion at 20, he two years later was the great champion of the 2014 season in World Supersport.

Winner of the Suzuka 8 Hours in 2013 and 2014 (on the CBR1000RR!), In 2015 he discovered the premier class with "his" Batavian team Ten Kate Honda, in a less sparkling way. During his two seasons on the aging Fireblade, "VDM" however manages to climb on nine podiums and signs a pole position (his only to date).

WSBK - Michael van der Mark leaves Yamaha for BMW in WorldSBK 2021 - Pre-owned BMW YAMAHA

Like his former teammate, a certain Jonathan Rea, the Dutchman decided to change his mount in order to progress within the world Superbike ranking. He was then hired by the official Yamaha team who in the process dismissed our compatriot Sylvain Guintoli…

  • MNC Interview 2017 :

Fourth in the WSBK 2016 on the CBR, the new recruit of the Blues from Iwata fell to sixth place the following year on the YZF-R1 – with only two podiums – but won the bronze medal in 2018. That year. , he won his first victory and even his first double at Donington Park (Great Britain) and restarted the Yamaha counter.

WSBK - Michael van der Mark leaves Yamaha for BMW in WorldSBK 2021 - Pre-owned BMW YAMAHA

In 2019, the n ° 60 on his factory R1 alternated excellent results (Assen and Jerez) and poor performance (fall in Misano, difficulties in Donington then Laguna Seca), so that he finished fourth in the championship, 14 points behind his teammate and buddy Alex Lowes, a little more constant.

  • MNC Interview 2019 :

Although he has only played one event this year and whatever the outcome of this strange 2020 season, Michael has decided to leave the official Yamaha Pata team. Maybe he senses that he and the R1 won’t be able to dethrone Rea and the ZX-10RR? At the end of 2019, Lowes drew the same conclusion and went to Kawasaki to fight on equal terms with the "Number One"…

WSBK - Michael van der Mark leaves Yamaha for BMW in WorldSBK 2021 - Pre-owned BMW YAMAHA

Another factor that may have dictated VDM’s decision: the arrival on these sides of the phenomenal Toprak Razgatlioglu, winner of his very first race on the R1 in Australia! This fourth season at Yamaha will therefore be the last for Michael !

Yamaha and Van der Mark both enter the rescheduled 2020 season determined to end their successful four-year collaboration on a positive note, fighting for racing wins and, ultimately, for the title of world champion ", declares the firm with three tuning forks…

Van der Mark bets on the BMW S1000RR

The propeller firm that will be Van der Mark’s employer in 2021 has set itself the same goals: BMW wants to start winning World Superbike races again and aim for – short, medium? – term the titles of world champions driver and constructor.

"We are convinced that Michael is an asset to our project, and together, in combination with the solid package that we can offer him (a factory S1000RR and the logistics of the SMR team, editor’s note), we can reach the next level in terms of results ", says Marc Bongers, director of BMW Motorrad Motorsport.

WSBK - Michael van der Mark leaves Yamaha for BMW in WorldSBK 2021 - Pre-owned BMW YAMAHA

Past not far from the supreme title in 2012 with Marco Melandri, the German manufacturer obviously expected better from his official return last year. Fourth (out of five) in the 2019 constructors’ ranking, BMW replaced its compatriot Markus Reiterberger this winter with the experienced Eugene Laverty..

Which driver will Michael van der Mark team up with next year? Englishman Tom Sykes, author of the first pole position 2020 but who confused speed and precipitation in the race, or the unlucky Eugene Laverty who fell badly on Sunday morning and could not improve his 11th place on Saturday at Phillip Island … We will have to choose quickly, because the WSBK transfer window is racing !

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