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A change in top management at BMW has led to a reversal in terms of the racing program. If former boss Markus Schramm had always firmly rejected the hypothesis of the brand entering the MotoGP – despite having advocated for the Munich-based constructor’s return to the SBK in 2019, along with Shuan Muir and riders Tom Sykes and Markus Reiterberger – his successor, Markus Flasch, has contrarily reiterated his desire to make the brand's presence in the sport even more incisive.
Currently involved in the SBK championship with the M1000RR, they could soon be making a debut in the GP’s premier class, and the new CEO clearly hinted at this during an exclusive interview with the German magazine Motorrad: "I’m an absolute supporter of the races," he said. "In this respect, I’ve decided to bring together BMW M GmbH with BMW Motorsport. I’m convinced that behaving well in this area helps strengthen the brand and the enthusiasm it sparks within the community."
Going into detail on the matter, Flasch explained: "We’re closely watching the development of the World Superbike format so that we can best assess whether it is suitable for us in terms of tracks, calendar, and technology."
With this, the manager may have wanted to support the skepticism that had already been expressed by BMW Motorsports Director Marc Bongers. When speaking with Motorsport-Tototal.com, he criticized Dorna's choice to concentrate the tests on the calendar primarily in Europe, except for the opening round in Australia, entirely leaving America out and also Asia, both very important areas in terms of market.
The fact that entering the MotoGP may not just be a fantasy was confirmed by Flasch's own reflection on the possibility that the SBK may "not be the only engagement, along with the World Endurance Championship and IDM." Added to this is the likely reorganization of the company hierarchy, with Bongers probably being replaced by Sven Blusch and moving solely to the SBKs.
"BMW M has been a MotoGP auto partner for years," he stressed, "This has allowed me to be present at all the races. I know those in charge, and we’re a brand with an important presence there. However, it‘s clear that it has to make sense for us, and that’s exactly what we’re considering. Overall, I wouldn’t rule out our participation."
The earliest date could be 2027, with the change in regulation, which could sound like a godsend for those constructors that aren’t in the line-up.
