BMW confirms expanded 2021 WorldSBK effort, adds satellite team

BMW has confirmed it will expand its efforts in the 2021 WorldSBK Championship with the addition of a satellite outfit alongside its factory team.

The German firm is the only manufacturer competing without an additional satellite concern to help push development along but will introduce an extra team in tandem with the introduction of its new BMW M 1000 RR, an upgraded more race-focused version of its current S 1000 RR.

It will compete alongside the current Shaun Muir Racing-run works team, which will have Tom Sykes and Michael van der Mark leading its efforts next year, with Muir saying three teams are in contention to take it on.

“It’s going to be confirmed at some point,” Muir confirmed. It’s very pleasing and reassuring to know there’s certainly three teams out there that want to take that role on. The key for us is getting the right quality team that can attract the right rider as well. I think, in the coming weeks, things will be decided very quickly.”

“Clearly there are one or two riders who could put the bike, the new M1000 RR, at the very top as well in a satellite team.

“We just want to be sure that we can deliver a package for that team that is on par with what we’ll be riding because we don’t see the benefit of having a bike that’s too far removed from what we’ve got. 

The whole idea of that satellite team is they’re a partner team of the factory team. The idea is we have two riders of our own and one or two riders in another team who can be challenging at the front.”

Though it is unclear who will take up the running of this satellite team, top WorldSSP outfit BARDAHL Evan Bros. has been mentioned in recent weeks.

Should this prove the case, Eugene Laverty and former BARDAH Evan Bros. racer Federico Caricasulo - who has just lost his Yamaha ride - would be logical options for the team potentially.