De Alessio Piana / Corsedimoto.com
Ukrainian rider Ilya Mikhalchik, protagonist of the FIM EWC, will replace the injured Michael van der Mark on the official BMW M 1000 RR during the Barcelona tests. Good news in this historic period.
MIKHALCHIK WITH BMW MOTORRAD SINCE 2018
Ilya Mikhalchik's name in World Superbike has been known for some time now. He distinguished himself in the 2016 European Supersport integrated into the World Championship, before moving to the 2017cc from 1000. First in the international Superstock 1000 to carry out a real professional reconversion. Specifically, Werner Daemen's call to race with his alpha team Technik Van Zon (BMW reference in IDM Superbike) from 2018. Racing as “paid” and not “paid”, as a professional in every respect , is a fundamental objective for a pilot. Even more so if this opportunity, as in the case of Ilya, guaranteed him other chances in his high-level motorcycle career.
At the first time, Ilya Mikhalchik in 2018 became IDM Superbike champion, reconfirming No. 1 also the following season. At the same time, BMW Motorrad entrusts Daemen and its MRP structure with the management of the official Elica team in the World Endurance Championship, becoming the first name chosen for the starting crew. The Ukrainian biker also cut his teeth in endurance motorcycle competitions, refining his technical-competitive background, becoming a complete and versatile rider. There was no shortage of mistakes in the FIM EWC (his fall still cries out for revenge 15 minutes from the end of the 24 2020 Hours of Le Mans), but overall, Ilya proved to be a fast, concrete and reliable driver. The historic victory of BMW Motorrad World Endurance at the 6 Hours of Most in October 2021 and the concomitant 2nd place in the championship also bear his signature. So much so that he will also find confirmation for 2022, where he will be joined in the #37 BMW by Markus Reiterberger et Jeremy Guarnoni.
MIKHALCHIK AT HIM IN SPAIN
While waiting for the start of the 2022 FIM EWC season, Ilya Mikhalchik will take part in this replacement audition with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK factory team in Montmelò. He will join Scott Redding, bringing with him many years of experience riding the BMW and in-depth knowledge of the Pirelli thanks to his 3 titles (2018, 2019, 2021) in IDM. In addition, he also knows Barcelona and will participate there this year in ESBK (Spanish Superbike Championship) with the EasyRace BMW team.
RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN CONFLICT
Mikhalchik has been in Spain for a few months to continue his training program for the 2022 season. From the Iberian Peninsula, he followed the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict from afar, with a feeling of anguish and legitimate concern for his relatives. His parents and his fiancée were in kyiv during the first days of the conflict, and Ilya could do nothing during those days of prolonged waiting, fear and sleepless nights. This is another reason why receiving this “global call” for Ilya Mikhalchik and for all Ukrainian motorcycling is wonderful news…
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