BMW Motorrad Team Principal Shaun Muir believes the German manufacturer is on the right track after a successful WorldSBK test in Portimao.
BMW endured a difficult first round in Phillip Island, earning only one podium finish from reigning WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu.
The Turkish rider failed to accumulate further points in the other two races, while teammate Michael van der Mark secured a two-point finish in Race 2.
The outcome of last week’s WorldSBK test in Portugal gave the Bavarian brand some much-needed optimism for the upcoming race weekend.
Razgatlioglu finished top of the timesheets on Day 1 by a country mile, posting an unstoppable lap time of 1.40.543s, more than half a second clear of his nearest challenger, Nicolo Bulega.
“We’re back in Portimao, which has always been a strong reference for us,” said Muir to WorldSBK.
“Despite some lost track time due to the weather, both riders managed an average of 50 laps per day, so we can’t be too disappointed.
“On the other side of the garage, Toprak [Razgatlioglu] focused on re-establishing his base setting, quickly finding a strong race pace while fine-tuning his setup. His 10-lap race runs have been some of the most consistent we’ve seen with this package.
“With only three fully productive pre-season test days before Australia, these two days have been an important extension of that work.
“The team has made clear progress, and we’re seeing growing confidence in both riders.
“Now, with two weeks until the race, we feel we have a solid base to build on and are in a much stronger position heading into FP1.”
BMW previews upcoming round
BMW expressed its affection for the Algarve circuit and enjoyed great success in 2024, where Razgatlioglu completed a historic and dominant treble.
The Turkish rider set a new series record by completing 13 race wins in a row, a record previously held by six-time champion Jonathan Rea.
“Portimao is a circuit that suits our riders and complements the M1000 RR,” Muir stated.
“It has been kind to Toprak [Razgatlioglu] and Michael [van der Mark] over the years, with both securing podiums and wins here.
“The track’s flow and layout generally work well with our bike, making it a strong reference point for testing.
“Overall, it’s a fantastic circuit, and we love coming to the Algarve, where the weather is usually blue skies all day.”
