The ROKiT-BMW team is approaching the new Superbike season with renewed challenges and expectations. After Toprak Razgatlioglu’s 2024 title victory, the Bavarian manufacturer is now in a hunter’s position, with only two BMWs on the grid this year, following the departure of the Bonovo team to Ducati. The recent tests in Jerez were marked by absences and difficult conditions, and the team worked again on its preparation during the Portimao test on 28 and 29 January.
During the first tests in Jerez, Toprak Razgatlioglu was absent due to a fractured right index finger, while Michael van der Mark suffered an early crash, limiting his laps. These setbacks made the Andalusian tests of little significance for the team. From then on, Toprak's return to Portimao was highly anticipated. We missed him in Jerez. We only had one day with Michael, and his fall affected him the whole day. ", said Shaun Muir, the team boss, at speedweek. " Now we have Toprak back. We'll see how he feels with his injured finger. »
With only ten days of testing allowed per driver During the season, every day counts. We have only had one day of testing with Toprak so far, in December. With Michael we have had two. We will have a full day in Portimao and we will make the most of it ", has explained MuirThe team is also planning two more days of testing at Portimao on March 14 and 15, which will allow them to refine their configuration before the start of the season in Australia. We are still in the evaluation phase of the entire package, with emphasis on chassis configuration »
The technical regulations of the 2025 Superbike World Championship require the use of the standard chassis of the new M1000RR, replacing the modified chassis that led Razgatlioglu to the title in 2024. This transition represents a major challenge for the team. We have made good progress with the 2025 chassis that we tested in December. We accepted it, but to adapt it to the new rules, we need time on the track », admitted Muir. " We have need fast laps in good conditions to get the most out of it. The test team has done a good job so far, but you have to have the racing pace to test the whole package: chassis, swingarm and electronics »
BMW had to revise its chassis and " Toprak Razgatlioglu needs to find out what the package looks like »
After winning the world title in 2024, the team approaches this season with a different dynamic. The dynamics are different, and we only have two BMWs on the grid this year, because we lost the satellite team ", has explained Muir. " The feeling in the team is different. It’s exciting because we haven’t seen Toprak on the bike yet this year. It’s like the first day of school, even though we already had a pre-season test in December. The situation with his finger is of course not ideal., but it's one of his favorite tracks, and he'll try to ignore the injury »
Before the start of the season in Australia, the team must evaluate the technical package and ensure that Toprak is mentally and physically ready. He needs an assessment to be ready in his head and find out what the package looks like. ", concluded Muir. With intensive testing in Portimao and a determined team, ROKiT-BMW hopes to start the 2025 season on a positive note, despite technical challenges and recent injuries.
The season promises to be exciting, with Toprak Razgatlioglu ready to defend his title and BMW determined to prove that his M1000RR remains a driving force in the world of Superbike.
