WSBK: BMW Field Two Satellite Teams with Laverty and Folger for 2021

The number of BMWs in WorldSBK will double from two to four next season.

Speculations of a BMW satellite team have been going around the paddock for months. It has now been confirmed that both RC Squadra Corse and Bonovo action will be running BMW machinery in 2021.

Eugene Laverty will stay with the German manufacturer and aboards the RC Squadra Corse machine. Jonas Folger meanwhile enters the series full-time with Bonovo Action after wildcard appearances in 2020.

RC Squadra Corse are an established part of the WorldSBK grid while they also claimed podium finishes in the 2020 WorldSSP campaign. The team will appear under a new name in 2021 as Laverty joins the squad.

The Irishman will also remain a BMW test rider following his involvement in developing the M 1000 RR.

Company director Markus Schramm commented on the growth of the BMW Motorrad family:

“Cooperation with satellite teams represents another important step for our involvement in the FIM Superbike World Championship. It is great to have two more BMW M1000 RRs in the field alongside the two motorbikes from our works teams, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team with riders Tom Sykes and Michael van der Mark.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to the two satellite teams in our WorldSBK project. The Bonovo Action Team with Jonas Folger is the first German team to register to compete in the WorldSBK with a Bavarian rider on a Bavarian motorbike. That is a special combination. I am also delighted that Eugene Laverty will remain an integral member of our BMW family, applying his talents and his knowledge of BMW superbikes in our satellite team RC Squadra Corse, newly formed but already known in the World Superbike paddock. I hope that they will all enjoy a successful 2021 WorldSBK season!”

Markus Schramm

Folger and Bonovo Action have made headlines with two wildcard outings in 2020. The German showed great pace particularly at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya when he competed with Yamaha machinery.

The line-up was unbeatable in the German superbike series as they won all eight races.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport director Marc Bongers welcomed the additions to their WorldSBK efforts:

“We are really looking forward to the partnership with Bonovo Action and RC Squadra Corse. The cooperation with these two teams allows us to diversify our WorldSBK project even more. They will communicate closely with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. The benefit for us is that we can access yet more collective feedback.

The teams are also very strong as far as the riders are concerned. Jonas Folger and Eugene Laverty are not just fast, but their many years of experience allow them to make important contributions to the further development of the BMW M1000 RR. It is great that Eugene will still be on board, and to welcome Jonas to the BMW family.”

Marc Bongers