Much is new ahead of ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team’s 2025 campaign, a new version of the M 1000 RR, the #1 mounted on Toprak Razgatlioglu’s bike, and new regulations are set to impact BMW’s package as the German manufacturer hopes to not only defend their Riders’ title, but double down, and claim the Manufacturers’ title as well. Further complicating all this buzz, while he will be fully recovered by the start of the season, it was confirmed Razgatlioglu will miss at least the Jerez test, and potentially the Portimao test as he suffered an injury to his right index finger, crucial for his signature braking style.
TOPRAK #1 AGAIN, BMW #1 FOR THE FIRST-EVER TIME: aiming high in 2025
Toprak Razgatlioglu’s bombshell decision to change teams from Yamaha, which he had won a World Championship with in 2021, to BMW, who in their history had never propelled a rider to a Championship was a huge talking point heading into 2024. A year later, ‘El Turco’ has flipped the narrative on its head, he is the defending Riders’ Champion and it is BMW who are projected among the title frontrunners this year. Hot off the best season in the manufacturer’s history, BMW will look to keep that momentum ahead of the preseason tests in Jerez and Portimao which precede round one in Phillip Island, Australia.
“Normally I wouldn’t use #1, but I did this for BMW, this is a really big team accomplishment, we worked really hard and now we are World Champions,” said Razgatlioglu. “I can feel improvements in the grip, it doesn’t feel super different, but with the new fairing I feel the bike being even more agile, to me this is a big step.”
VAN DER MARK RESURGENT: The Dutchman looks to keep building on a strong 2024 campaign
Shoulder-to-shoulder, he is joined by friend and teammate Michael Van der Mark, who enjoyed a very positive comeback season. Free of injury after struggling to maintain his race fitness throughout 2022 and 2023, 2024 saw him place 6th in the rider championship, winning race day one at the French Round, third at race day two in the Spanish Round, and a fastest lap at race day two at the Motul Czech Round.
“We’ve been building a lot of momentum the last year, we ended the season so strong, and now with the bike new and improved, we should be there from the start,” said Van der Mark. “I have a lot of confidence, and of course Phillip Island is different, but I think we are stronger than last year. I’m really looking forward to it.”
BLUSCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW CHALLENGE: He and his BMW Team set their eyes on the rider and manufacturer title double
Sven Blusch, BMW Motorrad Director was enthusiastic to get the season rolling, while to him the pressure is higher, symptomatic of having the prestigious #1 on the fairing of one of their riders, he also expanded on the higher goals the team is striving for.
“It’s a different mindset we have now, from being the hunters, to now being the hunted, so far it feels really good,” said Blusch. “I think if you come in as the Champion you always want to be the Champion again, there’s the Manufacturers’ Championship as well, which we were not able to win last year, and now we are going for sure for both, we are going all-in.”
TITLE DEFENCE: BMW’s take on this season’s opposition
Team Principal, Shaun Muir made clear that while his BMW garage is highly confident in the talent of their riders and team, goals as high as winning both the Riders’ and Manufacturers’ competitions will be no easy task with the other teams they will be facing off against on the track.
“The fuel flow regulation is going to make in impact for everybody, we don’t underestimate the opposition at all, we know the strength of the other manufacturers,” said Muir. “ We know specifically riders like Nicolo Bulega and Alvaro [Bautista] (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) are going to be very strong, so we don’t underestimate our competition and have full respect for their abilities.”
GETTING AN UPGRADE: BMW will compete with a new and improved M1000RR in 2025
Chris Gonschor, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team’s Technical Director illustrated how his team are adjusting to a new bike as well as new regulations and the absence of last year’s superconcessions which his team was granted.
“The 2025 M 1000 RR benefits from homologations made to the street bike, including six more horsepower, new aerodynamics, a new fairing and new electronics, adding potential for even more improvements.” Said Gonschor “At the end of January, FIM officials are coming to Berlin to fully homologate the bike, and we have no doubt that everything will be sorted, and by Phillip Island we will be ready to race.”
