Van der Mark to Retain in BMW for 2023 Season

After a lengthy tenure with Yamaha, five-time race winner Van der Mark switched to BMW at the start of the 2021 WSBK season. His team’s rainy Superpole race at Portimao gave them their first victory in eight years.

Even though the Dutch rider has been largely sidelined this season as a result of a preseason injury and a crash at Estoril that occurred after his return at Assen, BMW has given him a new contract that will guarantee he will ride an M1000RR for a third straight season in 2023.

With this news, BMW has secured its works rider lineup for the following season, with new teammate Scott Redding reportedly under contract for several years.

BMW has fallen to last place in the manufacturers’ standings this year, trailing a greatly better Honda brand, but a significant update made to Redding’s factory bike and Loris Baz’s satellite machine at Donington Park has enhanced their chances for the rest of the season.

Redding earned BMW’s first podium of the season in the Superpole race at the Leicestershire venue and finished inside the top five in each of the three races thanks to a new swingarm and a slew of other modifications.

The second works seat at BMW is still held by Ilya Mikhalchik, and the German automaker has not yet given a timetable for van der Mark’s recovery from injury.