'The #1 looks nice with the BMW, I hope we keep it' - BMW set their sights high for the 2025 WorldSBK season
01/16/2025 03:48 AM
Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark have set ambitious goals for BMW ahead of the 2025 World Superbike season.
The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team unveiled their 2025 BMW M1000RR on the 15th of January. Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark, who will ride for the team this season, attended the team's launch party, as well as BMW's World Endurance Team.
After Razgatlioglu won the 2024 World Superbike title in his debut season with BMW many speculated whether he would use the #1 plate in 2025. The Turkish rider made his official decision in Berlin and unveiled his bike with a #1 on the front of it.
In usual Razgatlioglu fashion the two-time World Superbike Champion has set himself ambitious goals for the 2025 season. The Turkish rider is looking to retain the #1 plate and win his third World Superbike title this year.
"I think everyone likes it like this," Razgatlioglu said in Berlin.
"When I use the #1, I'm feeling more pressure but normally I don't like it. I'm using it for BMW because this was a lot of teamwork; finally, we got the title, and we are Champions.
"The #1 looks nice with the BMW. I hope we keep it at the end of the year, this is the important thing. Last year, I didn't think about any targets, but I did an incredible job. This year, I'm just thinking about Phillip Island and some races I didn't win.
"I need to win now. Especially at Phillip Island, I'll try to win there. Everyone's very strong and working hard. I hope we get the title again."
'I want to get as many podiums as possible' - Michael van der Mark
Michael van der Mark will enter his fifth year with BMW in the 2025 World Superbike season. Since joining the German manufacturer he has suffered with severe injuries. However, in 2024 he had his joint-best year with BMW as he ended up sixth in the standings.
The Dutch rider believes that BMW could go on to claim the triple crown in World Superbikes. This would mean BMW would win the riders, teams, and manufacturers titles in 2025.
"It was nice to be here after one year," van der Mark said.
"In this last year, we could see that a lot of people became fans of not just Toprak but of BMW and our entire WorldSBK project. It's fantastic to be here, and it's nice to start the season that way. Everything is looking fantastic and now I just want to race the bike.
"We finished last season so strong with the double podium, I think this is where we should start. I want to get as many podiums as possible. I think the ultimate dream of everyone in the team is to have the riders', the teams' and of course the manufacturers' championship. That would be a nice goal and if we continue like last year, it should be possible."
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