We now know what’s in store for Werner Daemen’s BMW team in 2022. The factory team has merged with the BCC Racing Team. Negotiations dragged on for weeks, but the four riders for the IDM Superbike series have now been finalized: Markus Reiterberger (left), Pepijn Bijsterbosch (right), Jan Mohr (center), and Kamil Krzemien.
A joint venture between the Belgian and German teams had already been looking increasingly likely last year. This became clear at the latest when Markus Reiterberger made a few appearances for BCC Racing and, in doing so, became a rival to title contender Ilya Mikhalchik. In the Endurance World Championship, however, the two formed a well-coordinated team under the leadership of Werner Daemen. The waters have now been calmed. Following the withdrawal of sponsor EGS from the IDM Superbike series, the merger seems all the more sensible. After all, the next title is also set to go to the team now competing as BCC-alpha-Van Zon-BMW. The leadership roles have been divided. Belgian and former Superbike rider Werner Daemen will continue to handle management. Andreas Gerlich, owner of the BCC company in Heilbronn, serves as crew chief and oversees the technical side.
Markus Reiterberger has his sights firmly set on a fourth title in the premier class. After winning in 2013, 2015, and 2017, he’s aiming to do it again. The conditions are right. Last season, the Bavarian competed in only three events, but as a rider for the BCC Racing Team, he secured three victories in those six races. Ilya Mikhalchik, also a three-time IDM champion, will no longer be a contender for the title. There are no plans for him to continue in the IDM Superbike series. Team boss Daemen, who has also taken on the role of manager for the Ukrainian rider, is not yet revealing where he sees the 25-year-old racer in the coming months; one of the options was Spain.
Kamil Krzemien (pictured left) is a brand-new addition to the BCC-alpha-Van Zon-BMW team, though he is by no means an unknown face. The 22-year-old Pole from Dolna, a town in the bilingual municipality of Leschnitz, completed his rookie year in the IDM Superbike in 2021 and scored the first 27 championship points of his IDM career with the LRP Poland team. He is familiar with the motorcycle he’ll be riding now. His team from last year also raced the BMW M 1000 RR.
Jan Mohr of Austria and Pepijn Bijsterbosch of the Netherlands have both extended their contracts with Werner Daemen. Mohr finished 14th overall in 2021 and achieved his best result at the end of the season: he finished seventh in the second race at the Hockenheim finale. Bijsterbosch went into the winter break in 16th place in the standings.