WorldSBK: Marc Bongers: Toprak Razgatlioglu ‘denied questions marks about BMW, gave me positive feeling’

Marc Bongers says that the common criticisms of BMW’s M 1000 RR were denied by Toprak Razgatlioglu when he stepped aboard their WorldSBK machine.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, BMW WorldSBK Portimao 2023
Toprak Razgatlioglu, BMW WorldSBK Portimao 2023

Razgatlioglu will line-up for BMW this season and in the process try to brꦺing the German manufacturer their first-ever WorldSBK title.

Not a completely new bike, but instead a refined one, Razgaᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚtlioglu will be aboard an M 1000 RR that has new technical updates, according to the BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director.

Speaking at BM✤W’s launch, Bongers said: “The bike has a couple of 🦩technical updates. We have reworked the aerodynamics of the bike from 2023 to 2024. 

“Then, in terms of the chassis, we will hit the road with a revised swingarm. Engine-wise, we’ll have a small update, an evolution rather than an evolution, but every little bit helps and in t♊his very competitive Championship, you need that. 

“And actually, on the electronic side, this is a constant process of updating in every area, as well as adaptiꩵng to riders and new riders.”

Since returning to the sport as a full factory outfit BMW have not enjoyed much success, and their way of working and the type♏ of bikes produced have come ওunder scrutiny as a result.

But Bongers believes much of the criticism is a misconception, and that Ra🏅zgatlioglu proved that to him during his tests last season.

Bongers added: “After all the question marks in the press, or the wor♍ld outside of BMW, where people would say: ‘is that the right choice for Toprak? They have their own electronics, the bike doesn’t seem to turn very well, ꦕbraking’… 

“When Toprak came back with his first comments, he basically denied all these question marks. The bike stops, the bike turns,📖 the bike brakes, the bike accelerates.

“That gav🌳e me a posඣitive feeling, but again, we have tests in front of us with the competitors and it will be our first real reference to see where we’re at. 

“We still have 🐬to work and as he said himself before, he needs some moreꦯ time because we didn’t have very efficient test time in December.”

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