Magny-Cours. After a six-week summer break, BMW Motorrad Motorsport kicks off the second half of the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) in France. Magny-Cours hosts round seven of the season this weekend (9th to 11th September). BMW Motorrad factory rider Michael van der Mark (NED) is set for his comeback in the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, as he returns from injury. The race weekend at Magny-Cours is a home outing for BMW Motorrad factory rider Loris Baz (FRA) from the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team.
In preparation for the second half of the season, BMW Motorrad Motorsport, the two teams, and the four factory riders Scott Redding (GBR), van der Mark, Baz and Eugene Laverty (IRL) were at Barcelona (ESP) for tests in August. Among other things, a lot of work was done on the electronics and chassis. Van der Mark, who fractured his right femoral neck at Estoril (POR) in May, used the test to find his rhythm again after the long injury break, and to familiarise himself with any further developments that have been made to the BMW M 1000 RR.
Quotes ahead of the Magny-Cours round.
Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “After the long summer break, we are all looking forward to the second half of the season. Before the break, we showed a clear improvement in form, not only with Scott Redding’s podiums in the Superpole race at Donington Park and the first main race at Most, but with the results and performance as a whole. We now want to continue this trend. At the test in Barcelona, we were able to make important findings with our teams and riders, in order to improve the overall package of the BMW M 1000 RR. We are also very pleased that Michael van der Mark is fit again after his injury and is able to make his comeback. It was important to give him the time to heal completely, and we are confident that he will soon return to his old strength. We are now excited about the race weekend at Magny-Cours. In recent years, we have been very competitive at this varied circuit, the layout of which has a bit of everything. We are working hard to ensure that is the case again this year.”
Scott Redding, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “Magny-Cours is a track that I really like. Obviously I have only raced there two times in my life but I really enjoy it. It is quite technical, it is a fun track. I think it’s a good circuit for the BMW, honestly. At the test we did at Barcelona we had some new updates that I hope we can show the improvements there in Magny-Cours. I hope the weather is good, it’s always a good crowd of people there. The French fans are always crazy and I like that. So let’s see. We had a bit of a break and now it’s back to racing!”
Michael van der Mark, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “I think everybody can imagine that I am really looking forward to this weekend. It has been a long time, so I am really excited to go back racing. Of course, I have to be declared fit. I am feeling fine and everything but of course it still depends on the doctors and what they will say. For me, it is a bit difficult to say what I expect after this long time. I think the main thing is to stay calm, because I have not been racing for a long time. The test at Barcelona was good to get back up to speed but we have to wait and see. For sure, Magny-Cours is a track I really enjoy and last year we had some proper results there as well. So I am just really, really happy to be back racing and the main target is to stay calm because we have six more race weekends this year.”
Loris Baz, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “I am really excited for the home round, especially after missing it last year! I have really good memories from the last time I was there fighting for the win, and I would love challenge for a strong result again! The Catalunya test was important for me to be able to use the potential of the bike with the new package and swing arm. We found a new base set up and I hope it will work at Magny-Cours. Can’t wait to be there with the French fans and the special helmet design.”
Eugene Laverty, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “The Catalunya test was very important for me to get back riding on the same level as the beginning of the season. I felt comfortable on the bike and the addition of the new BMW swingarm allowed me to maintain much more consistent lap times during my runs. Magny-Cours kicks off the busy final half of the season and I want to make a return to the top ten. The last time that I was there in 2020 I secured pole position so I have fond memories of the circuit.”
Track Facts Magny-Cours.
Circuit length
4.411 km – clockwise
Corners
17 – 9 right-handers, 8 left-handers
Pole position
Right
Longest straight
Approx. 900 metres (‘Golf’)
Grip level
Medium
Track layout
Some sweeping turns, some stop-and-go passages, fast changes of direction
Strain on brakes
Relatively high
Amount at full throttle
32 % respectively 31 seconds
Top speed / lowest speed
295 km/h / 46 km/h
Best overtaking opportunity
T5
Key factors
High speed through the corners, stability, good delay on entry into turns, wide range of performance