BMW Worldsbk boss Shaun Muir has stated that Autodromo Internacional do Algarve is “kind” to both the past Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark, as well as to BMW itself.
The Algarve venue, which will host the second round of the 2025 World Superbike Championship from March 28-30, was the first victory scene of the 2021 BMW M1000 RR, and was the scene at the hands of Van der Mark.
In fact, since Race 1 of the 2022 edition of the Portimao World SBK race, Razgatlioglu has never finished lower than the second. In seven of these nine races, Alvaro Bautista took over the other top two positions. In the 1023 battle, Spanard was remembered in the 2023 battle when Razgatrioguru, attached to Yamaha, left the final corner and dragged out of the final corner after a long race battle in Super Pole Race and Race 2.
“The Portimao is a circuit suitable for our riders and complements the M1000 RR,” Shaun Muir, principal of the Rokit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK team, told Worldsbk.com.
“We have been kind to Toprak (Razgatlioglu) and Michael (van der Mark) over the years, and have secured the podium and victory here.
“Track flow and layout generally work well on bikes and is a strong reference point for testing.
“Overall, it’s a great circuit and we love coming to the Algarve, where the weather is usually blue all day.”
Razgatrioglu enters the Portuguese round 42 points behind championship leader Nicolo Brega, who won all three races in the Australian season opening.
Turkish riders labeled WorldSBK “almost Ducati Cup” after the Australian round in February. There, Brega led the all-Ducati top five in both Sunday races, but was the fastest and only rider in the recent Portimao Test at 1:39S.