Joerg Teuchert
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The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team completes its first winter testing ahead of FIM EWC 2022 – Jéremy Guarnoni joins the team.
Three days of testing for the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and the # 37 BMW M 1000 RR in Almeria, Spain.
Jéremy Guarnoni will be the new teammate of Markus Reiterberger, Ilya Mikhalchik and Kenny Foray.
Werner Daemen: “We have a lot to do over the next few days, but I’m very happy with the setup we have now. “
Almería. After a successful 2021 season, a victory in Most (CZE) and a second place overall in the FIM World Endurance Championship (FIM EWC), the BMW Motorrad World Endurance team is now fully focused on preparations for 2022. Team manager Werner Daemen took the team to Almeria, Spain for the first three-day winter practice session. A new face is in action on the # 37 BMW M 1000 RR alongside Markus Reiterberger (GER), Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR) and Kenny Foray (FRA): Jéremy Guarnoni (FRA). He will be Reiterberger, Mikhalchik and Foray’s new teammate for the next 2022 season.
The 28-year-old Frenchman Guarnoni is a familiar face of the World Endurance Championship. He participated in his first FIM EWC race at the age of 18, participating in the Bol d’Or 2012 in Magny-Cours (FRA). He has been a staple of the FIM EWC since 2018 and became world champion in the 2018/19 season. He was also the 2010 European Superstock 600 Champion before participating for many years in the FIM Superstock 1000 Championship, where he won third place in the championship twice and also got to know his new teammates Reiterberger and Mikhalchik. Guarnoni spent a season racing in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) in 2014.
The BMW Motorrad World Endurance team uses the test in Almeria to continue working on the optimization of the # 37 BMW M 1000 RR. New components and configuration solutions are being evaluated. Together with tire partner Dunlop, the team is testing a range of tire options. Guarnoni also has the opportunity to use the tests to get to know the bike and the team.
Three race dates have already been confirmed for the 2022 FIM EWC season. The season will start on April 16/17 with the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA), the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps will take place on June 4/5 and the Suzuka 8 Hours (JPN) will return to the FIM EWC calendar on August 7. The other race dates remain to be confirmed.
Quotes about the Almeria test.
Werner Daemen, Team Manager BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team: “It has been a fantastic year for us, our first full year in FIM EWC. I am very proud of the whole team and everyone at BMW, because together we finished second in the championship. I think we really deserved it, especially the victory in the final race. We are now testing for 2022 already. We have a lot to do over the next few days, but I’m very happy with the setup we have now. Markus, Ilya and Kenny are great guys and top riders. Jéremy Guarnoni is new to the team. I’ve been a fan of him since day one. He’s a real endurance runner and a great addition to the squad. We already had a lot of fun, which I think is very important.
Jérémy Guarnoni: “I have a very good impression of the bike. The performance is really amazing, and I immediately felt good about it. I am also very happy with the team which is very professional. I have a very good feeling with the mechanics, the team leader and my teammates. I already knew Ilya, Markus and Kenny as opponents, and now they are my teammates. It’s really cool. I’m sure we can achieve great things next season, and I can’t wait to be there. “
Markus Reiterberger: “Firstly, after a good season in 2021, we know exactly what we need to work on. I am very happy that we have one more test this year. This is very important for us, because it allows us to lay important foundations for the year to come. I’m happy to be able to welcome Jéremy – another strong runner and former world champion – to the team. The first day of testing was very tiring for everyone as it was very cold and there was a lot to test. We have completed most of the program, but there are still a few important things to do. First impressions are definitely promising. With the improvements that we can still make, I think we can regain that position that we have missed this season. I am very confident and happy to be part of the team.
Ilya Mikhaltchik: “It really feels good to be able to start preparations for 2022 this year. First of all, I welcome our new team member, Jeremy. Hope we can achieve good results together. He’s a very experienced endurance runner and I think we’re going to learn a lot from each other. I am very happy to ride with him in the team and on this bike. We made some improvements. I think we have a good overall package, which we can win with. We showed it in the last race. We are now testing a few things to give ourselves even more luck. I think we have the potential to fight at the top next year.
Kenny Foray: “Our winter test is very early, but it’s great for us. The new bike is even better than the old one. It’s really fun to drive. I hope for a very good year for the whole team. If I can contribute to our improvement, then I am definitely ready.
