Now we know what’s happening in 2022 with Werner Daemen’s major BMW team. The factory team has merged with the BCC Racing Team. The deal dragged on for weeks, and now the four riders for the IDM Superbike series have been confirmed: Markus Reiterberger (left), Pepijn Bijsterbosch (right), Jan Mohr (center), and Kamil Krzemien.
As early as last year, a joint venture between the Belgian and German teams was becoming increasingly likely. This became clear at the latest when Markus Reiterberger made a few appearances for BCC Racing and, at that moment, 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 smoothed over. Following the withdrawal of sponsor EGS from the IDM Superbike series, the merger seems all the more sensible. After all, the team—now competing as BCC-alpha-Van Zon-BMW—is aiming to secure the next title as well. 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, will serve as crew chief and oversee technical operations.
Markus Reiterberger has his sights clearly set on a fourth title in the premier class. After 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 claimed 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 racing 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’s by no means an unknown face. The 22-year-old Pole from Dolna, a village in the bilingual municipality of Leschnitz, completed his rookie year in the IDM Superbike class in 2021 and earned the first 27 championship points of his IDM career while racing for 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.