Marc Bongers: “Toprak slows down BMW more” / Superbike World Championship

At the third meeting of the 2024 World Superbike Championship, it became clear that BMW could fight for the title with Toprak Razgatlioglu this year. Although neither the Turk nor the BMW had ever won at the Dutch track, the 27-year-old won in the second race beating Alvaro Bautista (Ducati). In the first race, when Razgatlioglu was second, he had already beaten the two-time world champion.

BMW’s result in Assen was special for Motorsport Director Marc Bongers. The Dutchman made his first contact with TT Circuit racing, both as a mechanic and as a driver.

“Assen was my home race and a big event for me personally,” said the 53-year-old on Sunday afternoon. “A lot of fans, including a lot of Turkish fans, created a good atmosphere. On Saturday we were disappointed not to win the first race because we were so close, but it showed we have the speed to do it.”

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Welcome to the Assen race

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Start of the race

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Razgatlioglu, Bautista, Gardner

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Remy Gardner

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Andrea Locatelli

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Rea, Lowes, Gardner

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Alvaro Bautista

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Toprak Razgatlioglu

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Bautista and Bulega

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Bautista and Razgatlioglu

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Gardner and Lowes

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Razgatlioglu and Gardner

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Bautista vor Locatelli

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Toprak Razgatlioglu wins the race

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Sieger Toprak Razgatlioglu

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Bautista, Razgatlioglu, Gardner

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Sieger Toprak Razgatlioglu

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In between, however, was the Superpole race, where all the BMW drivers experienced serious tire wear problems. Local hero Michael van der Mark raised the white and blue flag in eighth, with his brand mates following in the rest of the positions.

«The sprint race was a little disappointing; “All four BMW cars had tire problems, which resulted in eighth to eleventh places, but we made it through the second main race,” said Bongers, commenting on the Assen attraction. “It was a big battle at the front with seven or eight bikes within seconds – and Toprak and Mickey were in the middle of it. In the end we celebrated another victory with Toprak and now we are in the top group of the championship. Mickey’s sixth place was also strong, although for unfortunately he was pushed back. We have seen that the bike is strong, not only for Toprak, even if he cuts out a little more. We will take these positive impulses with us.”

However, BMW’s top trend can only be seen by the British ROKiT team. Scott Redding (8th and 10th places with crashes) and Garrett Gerloff (16th, 11th and 12th places) from the Bonovo stage team could not come close to the pace of their brand mates.