Michael van der Mark fractured his leg while training in the mountains two weeks ago. The injury forced him to undergo surgery just before the start of the 2022 World Superbike season, scheduled for this weekend at the Motorland Aragon track.
With little time to complete a full recovery, the Dutch driver will be forced to miss the opening round of the year and will leave his BMW in the hands of Ilya Mikhalchik. The Ukrainian driver has already raced with the M1000RR in the last tests carried out in Barcelona, always replacing the Dutchman, and will also take to the track in the Monday and Tuesday tests organized by Dorna also at Aragon.
“It was a tough decision, but unfortunately I won’t be able to race at Motorland Aragon,” said van der Mark. “Right now we have to be smart and stay calm, because this is the only way to bring my recovery forward. I miss working with my team and driving the BMW M1000RR, but at the moment my goal is to recover as soon as possible ”.
Ilya Mikhalchik, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
Photo by: BMW Motorsport
Mikhalchik will therefore be in Aragon together with Scott Redding, who arrived at BMW this season after two years in Ducati. The Briton signed the seventh time in the Barcelona tests last week, a second and a half from the best pace set by the leader Toprak Razgatlioglu.
The Ukrainian rider, on the other hand, who raced the Spanish Superbike Championship this weekend, finished the Barcelona tests in 16th position, more than a second from the time of his provisional teammate. The work of the BMW works team is supported by the satellite couple of the Bonovo MGM team, who entrust the bike to Loris Baz and Eugene Laverty.
#SBK #Aragon #van #der #Mark #place #Mikhalcik