For Markus Reiterberger and the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, the next classic will be the Bol d’Or of the FIM Endurance World Championship 2021. With the 24-hour race on the Paul Ricard Circuit near Le Castellet (FRA), the third round of the FIM EWC season 2021 will take place on September 18-19.
In preparation for the famous endurance race, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team took part in a two-days test in Le Castellet last week. Reiti and his teammates Xavi Forés (SPA), Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR) and Kenny Foray (FRA) worked on the optimal set-up of the # 37 BMW M 1000 RR for the challenges of the 24-hour race. In the successful test, the team set the fastest time on both days - each with a new lap record. On Tuesday, Mikhalchik placed the # 37 at the top of the daily standings with a new record of 1: 53.261 minutes. Reiterberger undercut this again on Wednesday with the record time of 1: 52.484 minutes.
At the last edition of the Bol d'Or in September 2019, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team made its debut in the FIM EWC. Back then, the team with the # 37 BMW S 1000 RR immediately secured a place on the podium with third position. This is of course the clear goal for the race next weekend, which Reiti and his three teammates will work towards during the race week, which begins tomorrow with a private test on the Paul Ricard Circuit.
Markus Reiterberger: “On the first day of the test almost two weeks ago, I first had to familiarize myself with the track again, as I was last here in 2015 and one or the other thing has changed since then. But I adjusted to it very quickly and set the second fastest time behind my team-mate Ilya, who set a new record. Our pace was good, but we also tried a few things on the bike. On the second day I was really happy with my race pace on the long runs, I was super fast and consistent. At the end of the second day I was also able to set a new record. To have the fastest lap ever done on a motorcycle in Le Castellet is a cool feeling. But what is much more important is the race pace, and we are excellently positioned here with our motorcycle. We'll be fine-tuning our package a little further before the race. Our goal for the race is to get the win. The podium is the minimum goal, the win would be great. We have the package for it, the team will prepare the bike optimally, and with our trio of riders and our fast fourth rider, we are in the best possible position. I'm looking forward to Bol d'Or. "