Loris Baz is not letting anything happen to the Bonovo BMW / Superbike World Championship

With the signing of Toprak Razgatlioglu, BMW had five drivers on four bikes for the 2024 World Superbike Championship and had to part with one driver. The choice fell on Loris Baz, whose contract with the German team Bonovo was terminated after two years. Baz previously competed in one season with BMW in 2018, but then in the Althea team of Genesio Bevilacqua.

“It was two years that started well,” recalls the 31-year-old at Paddock GP. “We knew there were many things to do. But it was an official contract, a factory contract, and that convinced me to go back to BMW. I met a bunch of people who were great: Honestly, Team Bonovo, I won’t let them get in the way. We started well and were often the best BMW at the start of 2022. That was a good season in itself, even if we were far from the targets set by BMW. But when we had problems, we were able to react, develop the bike and make big changes. It’s a shame it’s over, but I still have a good relationship with the Bonovo team.”

Baz only finished the 2023 season 16th in the World Cup, but was unlucky with injuries. In the second meeting of the season in Indonesia, he was hit so hard by Alex Lowes (Kawasaki) in the Superpole race that his right fibula and ankle were broken and there was also a complex ligament injury. The BMW driver needed months to get fit again.

“I came back after seven weeks, although I should have missed three months. I didn’t miss a single race, but I was very young,” says Baz. But inside everything on the leg was destroyed. The leg did not move anymore, there was no ligament left on it and it was one thing in the knee. I struggled with it all season.”

Baz continued: “And then there were all the technical problems. Imola was my best weekend, where I drove three strong races. It was the only weekend where I didn’t have any problems. If it hits you, it hits you, and that’s what it is. However, I have no regrets because when I commit to doing something, I do it with total commitment. I knew it would be difficult etc., but it was an opportunity.”

Baz was unable to land a World Superbike Championship team for 2024 and then reached an agreement with Ducati for another try with the Warhorse HSBK team at MotoAmerica. The season begins April 19 in Atlanta. In his first attempt in 2021 he placed ninth overall.