Eugene Laverty stays with BMW for 2021 WorldSBK in new satellite effort
Eugene Laverty will remain a BMW rider for the 2021 WorldSBK Championship after being named as part of the RC Squadra Corse outfit, one of two teams that will make up the manufacturer’s factory-assisted satellite campaign.
The Irishman - a 13-time race winner and runner-up in 2013 - joined the BMW factory team ahead of the 2020 WorldSBK Championship season.
However, in a season hampered by a lack of running due to the coronavirus, Laverty struggled to get the most of the package with highlights limited to a surprise wet-weather pole at Magny-Cours and a best finish of seventh.
MotoGP 2020 Riders' Championship Race Visualised
Replaced in the factory squad by Michael van der Mark, Laverty will nonetheless continue to race in BMW colours as part of RC Squadra Corse which - together with the Jonas Folger-helmed Benovo Action team - will lead the firm’s new satellite expansion.
Laverty will also be charged with development of the new BMW M 1000 RR, a so-called ‘homologation-special’ model based on the S 1000 RR superbike.
“We are really looking forward to the partnership with Bonovo Action and RC Squadra Corse,” said BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers. “The cooperation with these two teams allows us to diversify our WorldSBK project even more. They will communicate closely with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. The benefit for us is that we can access yet more collective feedback.
“The teams are also very strong as far as the riders are concerned. Jonas Folger and Eugene Laverty are not just fast, but their many years of experience allow them to make important contributions to the further development of the BMW M 1000 RR. It is great that Eugene will still be on board, and to welcome Jonas to the BMW family.”
The deal represents a promotion into WorldSBK for the RC Squadra Corse outfit, which has been competing in WorldSSP in recent years as partners of the factory MV Agusta effort.
