Michael Van Der Mark: MVD M 1000

Michael, great to hear your voice. I can hear your dog barking in the background. I’m assuming you are currently at home in Holland and riding out the lockdown.

Yes, exactly, Eric. With this lockdown we have to be in by 9 pm or else we get fined. Between 9 pm and 4:30 am we have to be indoors and so that’s where I am at right now.

 

Are you and the team set for the major WorldSBK test set for Portimao on March 4 and 5?

Well, to be honest, it’s been cancelled as well. Because the first race set for Assen has been postponed, and the second race that was set for Estoril has been postponed as well, we decided to start testing later. We will not test until the end of March.

 

So just what have you been up to as of late?

There’s not much to do. I just stay fit. There are not a lot of things we can do right now.

 

Have you remained in contact with the team?

Yeah, but there are not a lot of things to speak about because there isn’t that much going on. The team is building bikes now and things are going to plan and stuff like that. We can keep talking but nothing is happening. We keep each other up to date, but it is the same for all of us, we want to stop talking and start riding.

 

You’re part of a new team and will be racing a new motorcycle when things ultimately do get going. Frustrating to be waiting around and not posting up laps and the lap times that come with them?

Yeah, for sure. You know normally we would have had the first race this weekend or next weekend in Australia. I don’t know how many years it has been for me to be off the bike for this long or to start a season this late in the year. That’s really frustrating. Especially since Australia is always the first race and it’s a really nice event. It’s far away from home, but it is such a cool place to go to and it’s always a nice start to the season and now we don’t know where we start or when we start.

 

Have you been able to speak with any of the other WorldSBK racers?

Yeah, I’ve had a lot of contact with Alex Lowes. He’s in Spain. H was supposed to be testing right now and that was stopped. It’s the same all around. Everyone is ready and everyone is frustrated, but it is what it is.

Your move to BMW for 2021 caused quite a sensation in the WorldSBK community!

Yeah and no one saw that coming. Even I didn’t expect it. I never thought I would go there. For me one of the big things was that everyone was getting a new bike, eve BMW, and Yamaha isn’t bringing a new bike. The bike is working really well now, but it’s more about the future, you know? I spoke with BMW and they said that they were bringing this M version. I spoke with the biggest boss of BMW motorcycles and he said to me, “We need to win and that’s it.” It was real positive. He loves the sport. When the president loves the sport, it’s a real good thing to have.

 

BMW is very committed to both you and WSBK, aren’t they?

Yes, they made a big step in their effort. BMW will also have two satellite teams with Eugene Laverty and Jonas Folger and this is all to  get more information. They want to move fast now. They want to make steps. They want to make steps quickly as well.

 

You did well with Yamaha and more than a few people there were sad to see you move on. Was it a hard decision to leave Yamaha?

Yeah, it was a bit strange because I never thought I would make such a change. I went to visit BMW and I was confident, you know? I saw everything and I never had any doubt. I thought to myself, “Okay, I think I need to do this for the future.” Okay, we’ll have to see if I made the right choice, but I do feel like it was the right thing for me to do. It was also tough because I was enjoying t so much with all the people Yamaha and working with the team. I didn’t want to leave but I thought it might be better for my future.

 

You rode the BMW S1000RR the day after the final race at Estoril. Not long after, you put in your first laps on the new M 1000 RR at the Miramas circuit in France. Good first impressions?

Yes, unfortunately I only had 20 laps on it at Estoril. It’s always good when the first feeling is good and my first feeling on the BMW was good. And for the team it was good and it was positive to see what my feedback was. I felt good with the bike. I was up to speed quite quick. The first feeling was good and it is already a good start. You know, you ride a new bike and you’re not stressed and not thinking, “Oh, what have I done?!” I also tried the wings at Estoril and the change is massive on the bike. You have to get used to it, for sure. They are a big improvement and the bike is a lot more stable exiting corners. It’s all we need. The bike has more and more horsepower. We saw that when Ducati came with their V4. It had so much power yet it was so stable in the exit. Yeah, I think it’s the future. Whether you like it or not, it is the future. I think on the M 1000 they look really cool. I have to ride a lot with the bike to see what works and what doesn’t. The bike turns very sharply. That’s something that is always nice when you dive into a corner and the bike will still turn. I’m really encouraged. It’s always good to dive into a corner and be sure about it.

 

You’ll be teamed with Tom Sykes in 2021 and BMW will also back the Bonovo MGM Action team for Jonas Folger and the RC Squadra Corse for Eugene Laverty. Strength in numbers, huh?

Yeah, I’ve known Tom for a couple years now and we’ve already worked together. Even at Estoril, he was there also and we worked together. I think all the riders with BMW have talent and they have the experience and they’re all going to be fast. I think it’s good to have four or five fast riders on the team.

 

So now it’s just hurry up and wait to be told to climb back on your motorcycle?

Yes, we’ll just wait and see if we get an e-mail telling us where to show up!

 

Okay my friend, big question: Can you and BMW be world champions?

Yeah, that’s the ultimate goal. Exactly. I think with Superbike we have some top riders and some top bikes there and I hope we make a step forward and we will be able to fight with them. We want to win and we want to be successful. We have no other option.