The 2025 World Superbike Championship has cast a shadow over BMW with rule changes that feel like a sudden slam on the brakes. BMW technical director Chris Gonschor likens the move to a football player scoring a goal, only to have VAR take away the credit for it…
The German manufacturer BMW Motorrad expresses its dissatisfaction with the recent modification of the technical regulations of the Superbike World Championship, which prevents it from using a chassis developed thanks to the concessions obtained in 2023.
Changes to the technical regulations for the 2025 Superbike World Championship have major implications for BMW, and not the most favorable. Chris Gonschor, technical director of the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK team, expressed his disagreement with these changes, which he considers insufficiently thought out. According to him, these adjustments risk compromising the progress made by the German manufacturer in recent seasons.
After disappointing results, BMW had obtained authorization to use "super dealership" parts from 2023. These modifications, particularly to the chassis, have enabled the brand to achieve a spectacular comeback. With Toprak Razgatlioglu the controls, BMW chained the victories: the Turk won 18 races on 30, set a record of 13 consecutive victories, and won his second world title in 2024. A historic performance that propelled BMW at the top of the Superbike Championship.
However, the introduction of a new homologation model, the M1000RR 2025, has sown doubt. Initially, it seemed that BMW could continue to use its modified chassis, in accordance with paragraph 2.4.3.1, section F5 of the 2024 regulations. This text stipulated that the super concessions could be retained if the parts concerned did not undergo significant changes in the new homologation. BMW felt that this applied to his chassis.
Chris Gonschor, BMW: “ If I remove the competitive component, I come back in 2023 »
But the regulation has been amended for 2025, and an additional sentence has been added to paragraph F5. From now on, super concessions are only valid if the manufacturer continues to benefit from concessions – which is no longer the case for BMW. Result: the German manufacturer will have to use the standard chassis of the new M1000RR, a decision that Chris Gonschor qualifies as " illogical ».
« Concessions are made to improve a component that was not competitive " explains Gonschor on speedweek. " We demonstrated that in 2023. We were then able to modify that component using dealer parts, which resulted in a competitive bike. Then we became world champions. If I then remove the competitive component, I'm back in 2023. The argument that you have become world champions and therefore you don't need it anymore would technically mean that the problem is solved. But the problem can only be solved with this specific component »
Gonschor also highlights the importance of the human factor in this equation. Toprak Razgatlioglu, former factory driver Yamaha , played a key role in the success of BMW. But the technical director insists the goal is to make the bike competitive for multiple riders, not just one. My goal is always the same: I want to improve the bike as a whole and bring it to such a competitive level that multiple riders can use this bike to get on the podium and compete for victories. And this requires one or two modifications to the product; in our case it was the frame. Without a frame, We can't start from scratch, it's utopian »
Promoter Dorna, as well as some competitors, claim that BMW had been aware of the regulatory changes for months. But Gonschor retorts that these discussions were not formalized and did not justify an immediate reaction. If you immediately respond to every discussion in life with action, you find yourself in chaos “, he says. " We are a company and we plan for the long term. We are sticking to the project plans with the production machines. But We also adhere to long-term regulatory stability »
To BMW, this situation represents a step backwards. The manufacturer will now have to deal with a standard chassis, while seeking to maintain its competitiveness. Gonschor concludes with a hint of bitterness: " We have taken a step backwards, and we must first understand this. » It remains to be seen how BMW will take on this new challenge in a championship where every technical detail can make the difference between victory and defeat.
