The Tecmas–MRP–BMW Racing Team is ready to chase the FIM Endurance World Cup title for 2023.
Fruit of a collaboration between the French team Tecmas, the Belgian company Motorcycle Racing Parts Werner Daemen and BMW Motorrad Motorsport, the Tecmas–MRP–BMW Racing Team will enter a brand new BMW M 1000 RR in the Superstock category equipped with Dunlop tires.
The team signed the French duo Loïc Arbel et Kenny Foray, German Jan Bühn and Maxime Bonnot, also French, as the fourth driver for the upcoming EWC season.
Arnaud Sassone, owner of the Tecmas team, said: “ Tecmas a souvent été un acteur de la catégorie EWC, mais nos moyens financiers ne nous permettaient pas de participer à toutes les courses. Lorsque j’ai acheté Tecmas en 2021, notre engagement pour les 24 Heures Motos 2022 était déjà prévu mais j’ai rapidement compris que nous n’étions pas dans la bonne catégorie [en fonction de nos moyens], j’ai donc pris la décision d’arrêter notre programme EWC pour 2022 afin de réaliser un programme plus cohérent dans la catégorie Superstock en 2023, afin de pouvoir participer à l’ensemble du championnat en tant qu’équipe permanente. »
Four fast drivers for the Tecmas–MRP–BMW Racing Team
Le Tecmas–MRP–BMW Racing Team secured a fast quartet for his first FIM Endurance World Cup campaign, led by Kenny Foray, member of the GMT94 team which won the FIM Endurance World Championship in 2014.
The 38-year-old Frenchman, twin brother of Freddy Foray, another EWC winner, was second in the 2021 EWC standings and spent 2022 winning the French Superbike Championship, alongside his role as fourth rider on the BMW Motorrad World team Endurance Team in the EWC.
Jan Bühn, 32, has considerable EWC experience and drove for the Bolliger Suisse team in the 2022 championship. He also successfully competed in the Internationale Deutsche Motorradmeisterschaft in his country for several seasons, winning the Supersport crown in 2015.
Loïc Arbel, 25, second in last year's 24H SPA EWC Motos for TATI Team Beringer Racing, is a product of the French Superbike series where he has scored a myriad of podiums in the SSP600 division.
Maxime Bonnot, 25, returns to the EWC after having participated several times in the 24 Heures Motos and the Bol d'Or. Bonnot, who won the French Superbike Challenger title in 2019, will take on the role of fourth rider for the Tecmas–MRP–BMW Racing Team for the 2023 season.
« I am very proud and satisfied with our crew,” said Arnaud Sassone. " Kenny is already a Tecmas rider and is the French Superbike champion for 2022. I really appreciate his confidence to come to this new adventure in SST. He will be the most experienced driver and will be in charge of his young teammates. Jan Bühn knows endurance very well and I am looking forward to working with this German driver. Loïc Arbel is a fast rider with a very good attitude, he gained a lot of experience by finishing second in the 24H SPA EWC Motos last June. Maxime Bonnot is a long-time Tecmas driver, both in sprint and endurance. »
The move to Superstock is a good thing for Tecmas
Arnaud Sassone, Tecmas team owner, explained why the FIM Endurance World Cup was the right choice for his team in 2023. “ Le choix de cette catégorie n’est pas du tout une régression, au contraire, les pilotes professionnels rejoignent la classe SST, qui devient de plus en plus compétitive », did he declare. " BMW Motorrad Motorsport supports us in this process as well as the MRP team, led by Werner Daemen, whom I thank. We hope that our involvement in this category will give it momentum and that new teams, or teams present in the EWC, will join us.
Our goal is very clear, to be at the forefront of the SST category and show BMW customers that their motorcycle has extraordinary capabilities. But we will do everything to be on the final podium and why not on the highest step. »
The BMW M 1000 RR of the Tecmas–MRP–BMW Racing Team will wear the number 9 in the upcoming EWC season.
The FIM Endurance World Cup comprises the three 24-hour races of the FIM Endurance World Championship based in Europe, the 24 Heures Motos du Mans from April 13-16, the 24H SPA EWC Motos from June 16-18 and the Bol d'Or at the Circuit Paul Ricard from September 14 to 17.
