Day-one of the new World Superbike season was a tricky one for BMWಌ and Michael Van Der Mark in particular. 

The Dutch rider had a relatively decent FP1 at MotorLand Aragon as he finished ninth fastest, but an early spill at the off-camber turn eight saw him miss over 35🍌 minutes of valuable track action in FP2, as his M 𒁏1000 RR bike landed on top of the air fence. 

"The crash itself wasn’t that big, it’s just the bike ended up on top of the air fence. Temperatu♑res went up and o💃f course the bike’s moving around a bit more, but I don’t know exactly what happened," said Van Der Mark. 

"I lost the front going into Turn 8, 🗹which is a bit🎉 s*** to be honest. We needed this track time and planned to do long runs. 

"Anyway, unfortunately for the boys, a lot of work to do. Tomorrow we have to improve the bike a bit better because, to be honest, this 𓆏morning I felt good. 

"I think my fir𓃲st timed lap wasn’t that bad for the conditions and the tyres I was on. Just a shame and I’m so sorry for the guys but tomorrow we have to try again."

Van Der Mark and team-mate Tom Sykes both looked comfortable𓂃 during the cooler conditions of FP1, but the afternoon’s hotter temperatures - an issue for BMW in 2020, still seems to be holding back their potential. 

Van Der Mark ultimately finished 17th while for𒐪mer team-mate on the Pata Yamaha Toprak Razgatlioglu was quickesꦛt overall.