Laverty, Folger sign with BMW satellite teams for 2021 WSBK

The teams, RC Squadra Corse and Bonovo Action, will field one rider each, with Eugene Laverty switching to RC Squadra Corse after losing his BMW factory ride to Michael van der Mark for 2021, while former grand prix rider Jonas Folger will line up for Bonovo Action.

RC Squadra Corse formerly ran as MV Agusta Reparto Corse in World Supersport, and while the signing of Laverty will see the Irishman on somewhat familiar machinery for 2021, he had a wretched 2020 season on the factory BMW S 1000 RR, with only two top-ten finishes, although he did claim Superpole at the Magny Cours round. The new deal will also see the 34-year-old join his fourth different WSBK team in as many years. 

Bonovo Action will come to WSBK full-time after a pair of wildcard entries with Folger in 2020, running a Yamaha YZF-R1. Folger also won the 2020 German Superbike Championship with Bonovo Action. 

Bonovo’s switch from Yamaha machinery to the BMW M 1000 RR for 2021 will see the squad from Sievern in northern Germany become the first “all-German” team in WSBK history.

“Cooperation with satellite teams represents another important step for our involvement in the FIM Superbike World Championship,” said Markus Schramm, Director of BMW Motorrad.

“It is great to have two more BMW M 1000 RRs in the field alongside the two motorbikes from our works team. I would like to extend a warm welcome to the two satellite teams in our WorldSBK project.”

The addition of RC Squadra Corse and Bonovo Action will see as many as twelve independent teams on the WSBK grid in 2021, joining the five factory teams.