With the restart of MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship edging closer, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team became the latest outfit to take part in testing as the team completed a two-day test at the Lausitzring, Germany. Both Eugene Laverty and Tom Sykes participated in the test as the team tried out new components on the BMW S1000 RR.

Despite work being restricted due to government regulations during the coronavirus lockdown in both Germany and the UK, the team were able to continue working on the bike based on feedback from Laverty and Sykes, as well as analysing data from the opening round of the season at Phillip Island.

For Irish rider Laverty, it was a chance for him to continue learning about the bike following his switch to the team for the 2020 season. Laverty said: “We had a fantastic test at the Lausitzring. It was great to be back riding my BMW S1000 RR after nearly four months off due to the pandemic, but I am still getting to know that bike. It’s only the fourth track that I rode it on, so it has been so beneficial to come here and ride it at the Lausitzring. We really benefitted from the track time in sunny conditions. Now we are ready to race again, and we will be back stronger than ever.”

Sykes, who claimed pole position in Tissot Superpole at the Yamaha Finance Australian Round, added: “After such a long period off the bike with this tricky moment in time, it is an absolute pleasure to be here at the Lausitzring and back testing with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. It is fair to say that while everybody was stuck at home there has been a lot of work going on, certainly a lot of development, so this test has proved to be very vital. We certainly gathered a lot of information. It was good and it’s a great feeling to be back on the BMW S1000 RR. Now we all are looking forward to returning to racing shortly.”

BMW will also appear on track for a two-day test at Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya in July to continue development of the bike before the season resumes at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto at the end of the month.

Shaun Muir (Team Principal) said: “The test at the Lausitzring was the first time we had been back at the racetrack after the first round of the season in Australia, as in between we had been in lockdown with the coronavirus restrictions. We had great days of testing, the weather has been kind to us with very good conditions and we had the opportunity to test quite a lot of parts that we have been working on during the break.

“It has been very successful for both Tom and Eugene and we feel confident now that a lot of effort that the guys have been putting in at the factory will pay off now. We can look forward to another two days of testing at Barcelona in the first week of July.”

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