Guisborough get back in the saddle

North motor sport with ZOE BURN

IT’S been a busy week for Guisborough’s BMW Motorrad Worldsbk team after boss Shaun Muir signed a new rider for next year and his current team took to the track before racing returns.

With the 2020 season set to resume in Spain next month, riders Eugene Laverty and Tom Sykes finally got back out as the team headed to Lausitzring for its first test since the Covid-19 outbreak.

And Muir has already got an eye on his squad’s 2021 assault, after signing flying Dutchman Michael van der Mark.

The 2014 World Supersport champion will race the team’s BMW S1000RR in next year’s title fight and the team has confirmed it will announce its second 2021 rider at a later date.

“We are delighted to welcome Michael to the BMW Motorrad Worldsbk team,” said Muir.

“He brings a wealth of experience and is one of the youngest, most talented riders on the Worldsbk grid.

“Securing Michael’s services emphasises the focus and determination we have to compete for top honours, and we will give Michael every chance to reach that goal.”

With half of next year’s lineup sorted, Muir and the team are focusing on getting back up to speed for when this season reboots.

Unlike most race series, World Superbikes got one round under its belt this year thanks to its traditional February start, and action is due to resume at Jerez on August 1.

Lockdown rules and regulations meant work at the team’s Guisborough headquarters has been restricted, but the squad still managed to make good use of the time.

They’ve been analysing findings and rider feedback from the opening round, using the information to continue development of the RR.

As a result, a host of new components and ideas were ready to test when the team and riders finally got back together at the German track last week.

Laverty and Sykes spent a few days testing new parts and settings as the development programme continues, with both riders feeling happy at the end.

“It was great to be back after nearly four months off due to the pandemic but I am still getting to know that bike,” said Ireland’s Laverty, who has close ties to the North East thanks to his marriage to Durham born and bred Pippa.

“It’s only the fourth track I’ve ridden it on so it has been so beneficial to come here and ride it at the Lausitzring every day. We really benefited from the big amount of track time in sunny conditions. Now we are ready to race again and we will be back stronger than ever.”

Sykes was also relieved to finally get back out. “It is fair to say that while everybody was stuck at home there has been a lot of work going on, certainly a lot of development, so this test has proved to be very vital,” he said.