Despite the 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship having plenty of life left in it, the 2023 grid is taking shape and there’s been another signing for the next season, bringing the first big change. Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) will move from Yamaha machinery to BMW, as he joins the Bonovo Action BMW team. For Gerloff, he’s tasted the podium in 2020 and 2021 but so far in 2022, it has eluded him, something he will hope to change before the end of the season and definitely for 2023 when he’s aboard the BMW M1000RR. Going into their third full season, the Bonovo Action BMW team have had plenty of top ten finishes and podium challenges, particularly in their second season with Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW), whilst their other current rider, Eugene Laverty, will move into the team’s sporting side.
Gerloff made his WorldSBK debut in 2020 with the GRT Yamaha outfit, coming in as a multiple MotoAmerica Superbike race winner and a double MotoAmerica Supersport champion. Gerloff was an instant hit in WorldSBK, getting in the top ten before bagging a first podium in Barcelona in Race 2, whilst he would return to the podium two further times at Estoril. Two more podiums followed for Gerloff in 2021, the last of which came at Donington Park. Since then, Gerloff hasn’t replicated the success he previously enjoyed, after notable incidents in 2021 with Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) at Estoril, as well as Yamaha compatriot Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) at Assen. A change of scenery may well be the key to reigniting Gerloff’s potential.
Speaking about the deal, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers welcomed Gerloff into the BMW family: “Howdy, and welcome to the BMW Motorrad Motorsport family, Garrett Gerloff. We have always followed his development in WorldSBK over the past few years. He showed from the outset that he is fast and talented; he has now matured as a rider. We are thrilled to have Garrett on board from next season. We are confident that Garrett will fit very nicely into our squad of BMW Motorrad factory riders and will further strengthen our project. He will help the Bonovo Action BMW Racing Team to take the next step towards the top next season.”
- From WorldSBK.com
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