Munich. BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team are looking ahead with confidence to the next round of the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) at Donington Park (GBR). The team is expected to field both of its regular riders once again. Both riders have been sidelined by injuries in recent weeks. Following Miguel Oliveira’s (POR) return to the team at Misano, team-mate Danilo Petrucci (ITA) is now also ready to make his comeback. A test aboard the BMW M 1000 RR at Donington Park delivered encouraging results.
The team has endured a challenging period. Oliveira sustained serious shoulder injuries during the races at Hungary’s Balaton Park Circuit in early May, while Petrucci suffered several injuries at Most in the Czech Republic, including a fractured coccyx. Michael van der Mark (NED) stepped in as a replacement rider for three events, while Hannes Soomer (EST) also competed as a substitute at MotorLand Aragón (ESP). Oliveira was able to return to racing at the last round at Misano (ITA), but Petrucci’s home event came just a little too soon for him.
Petrucci’s recovery has now progressed to the point where he is ready to return to competitive action. He is expected to be back on the bike for the races at Donington Park from 10th to 12th July. His test aboard the BMW M 1000 RR at the venue confirmed the positive progress of his rehabilitation. A final decision will be made following a medical assessment during the race weekend.
Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “Welcome back, Danilo. We are delighted that Petrux is on the verge of returning to racing after his injury. The past few weeks have been exceptionally challenging for all of us. That makes it even more pleasing that we are planning to compete at Donington Park with both of our regular riders again. Danilo tested at Donington Park, and his feedback gives us every reason to be optimistic. Miguel already delivered an impressive performance during his comeback weekend at Misano. Both riders still have some time before the race weekend in mid-July to continue working on their fitness. We would like to thank all the medical staff who have supported our riders throughout the past weeks. We also extend our thanks to Mickey and Hannes, who did an excellent job as replacement riders.”
Shaun Muir, Team Principal, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It was great to see Danilo back on the BMW M 1000 RR. Considering everything he has been through over the past few weeks, his performance during the test was really impressive. What impressed me most wasn’t just the lap time, it was the way he approached the test. He was positive from the first run onwards, clearly enjoying being back on the bike and fully committed throughout the day. That gave the whole team an extra boost. At the same time, it was very encouraging to have Miguel and Danilo back on track together. Both riders completed their test programmes successfully and carried out important work in preparation for the race weekend. After the challenges of recent weeks, this test was an important step forward for the entire team. We leave Donington feeling very positive and are looking forward to returning here in two weeks’ time with both of our regular riders.”
Danilo Petrucci, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “I’m very happy because, before the test, I wasn’t completely sure about my physical condition. It was therefore great to see that I could ride again and feel comfortable on the bike. Most of all, I was delighted to be working with my crew again. We worked well together, made progress with the setup, and I was able to ride at a good pace. The most important thing for me, however, was simply having fun on the bike again – that’s what I missed the most. I would like to thank the entire BMW team for giving me this opportunity, and I can’t wait to go racing again at Donington.”
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