SBK | Plot twist: Bonovo Action leaves the World Championship at the end of 2024!

The Superbike World Championship has lost one of its teams ahead of the 2025 season. Like a bolt from the blue, the Bonovo Action team, a satellite structure of BMW, announced late this morning that it will end its adventure in the series at the end of year, after four seasons.

The explanation of the reasons that led to this choice was given by Jurgen Roder, owner of the German team, which this season fields Garrett Gerloff and Scott Redding, who will now inevitably have to look for an alternative for next year.

“I will leave for personal reasons and the Bonovo action team will also leave. I want to personally thank all the fans who have always supported us, who have rejoiced but also suffered with us. Thank you very much because without the enthusiasm of the spectators and fans it would not have been possible such a commitment. In recent years I have felt so much euphoria and enthusiasm, in the IDM and in the World Championship. It was nice to give moments of happiness and joy with our riders”, explained Roder.

“I would also like to thank the entire team led by team manager Michael Galinski, who has always done an exceptional job. We hope to be able to make a difference again this year. We are doing everything we can to progress and hope to be able to leave some excellent signs of life from us this season. Thanks also go to BMW. BMW has always been a faithful and reliable partner who has supported us in everything, even this year in which we are receiving the same material as our colleagues at SMR.” , he continued.

“BMW and especially Marc Bongers deserve a heartfelt thank you from me for their support over these years. He has been with us through the ups and downs and has motivated us and helped us to look forward. At the same time I thank our sponsors for their trust and great support over the years. I wish all the teams in the WorldSBK paddock good luck for the future, wishing them many successes”, he concluded.

As mentioned, the Bonovo Action team entered the World Championship in 2021, fielding the German Jonas Folger, with whom he had won the IDM title the previous year, albeit with a Yamaha. In 2022 it then doubled its commitment, fielding two highly experienced drivers among the series derivatives such as Eugene Laverty and Loris Baz.

At the end of the 2022 season, the Northern Irishman hung up his helmet and in his place came Gerloff, who surprisingly also took a pole position at Magny-Cours, giving the team its greatest satisfaction. The American also came close to the podium on several occasions in 2023, while so far this year he has only made it into the top 10 twice. And it’s not going any better than his partner Redding, who took over from Baz after finishing his adventure with the German manufacturer’s factory team.

BMW entrusted its greeting to Bonovo Action in the words of its sporting director Marc Bongers: “We regret Jurgen Roder’s decision not to continue his experience in WorldSBK, but at the same time we understand it. We thank everyone at Bonovo Action BMW Racing Team, Jurgen Roder and Team Manager Michael Galinski who led the team with so much heart and passion, the riders, technicians and mechanics and all those involved for the great and professional collaboration of recent years. Now we will continue to provide all our support to get some great satisfaction together in the races that remain between now and the end of this season.”