Michael van der Mark faces a race against time to be fit for the opening round of the 2022 WorldSBK Championship after fracturing his leg in a training accident.
The Dutchman, who will be entering his second season with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK team alongside Scott Redding this year, was due to be heading out to Misano this week for the manufacturer’s latest pre-season test.
However, instead he is recuperating after falling from his mountain bike during training and sustaining a break in his leg.
“The treatment progress over the next few days will show when Michael will be able to get back on the motorbike. We are in close contact with Michael and wish him a speedy recovery,” said BMW Motorsport Director Marc Bongers.
The incident is a blow for van der Mark in his preparations for the new season as he looks to bring the BMW further up the field following modest results on the M 1000 RR in 2021.
The Dutchman scored the manufacturer’s first win since 2013 with success in the weather affected Portimao Superpole Race, though you have to go back nine years at the Nurburgring for BMW’s last full points victory at this level.
He will form one quarter of a four-man factory-assisted effort with Loris Baz and Eugene Laverty competing on the satellite Bonovo BMW.
The opening round of the 2022 WorldSBK Championship takes place at Motorland Aragon on 9-10 April.
