Van der Mark also in the saddle at Aragon
The 2026 season, at least until now, has turned into a real curse for BMW, and not just in terms of on-track results. Despite the four podiums achieved in his first year in Superbike (always in 3rd place), Miguel Oliveira had to deal with a bad crash that occurred in the Superpole Race at Balaton Park, where the Portuguese rider suffered a concussion and a left shoulder injury, as well as a fractured scapula and ribs.
Read more Bulega: “I arrive in Aragon with great confidence. Some interesting solutions in the Misano tests”
The former MotoGP rider has not yet finished his recovery phase, which is why he was replaced at Most by test rider Michael van der Mark. The Dutchman, according to BMW’s official statement, will once again replace Oliveira in the upcoming Aragon event, scheduled for this weekend: “Many wishes for a speedy recovery to Miguel and Danilo! As substitute riders, Hannes and I will support the team as much as possible. I adapted quite quickly at Most. At MotorLand Aragon, I will try to continue on this path and help the team’s work on the BMW M 1000 RR so that everything is ready for Miguel and Danilo’s return. The results will not be the main focus, but obviously I still have the ambition to make further progress and score as many points as possible with BMW.”
Read more Aragon 2026, Race 1: Bulega again on the top step of the podium
The return of Soomer
In his message, Van der Mark mentioned Danilo Petrucci, another official rider of the Bavarian team who will not be able to take part in the Aragon weekend. Recovered after a hip injury, which had forced him to stay in the pits in Race 2 at Balaton, the rider from Terni suffered a fractured coccyx, contusions in the lumbar area, left hip and pelvis after a bad crash in Race 1 at Most. He will therefore also be replaced for the Aragon weekend, in this case by the Estonian Hannes Soomer, present in SBK on three occasions riding a Honda in 2023 and three times on the podium from 2017 to 2022 in the Supersport championship: “For me, this is an unexpected return to WorldSBK – said the Estonian – and I had hoped it would happen under different circumstances. First and foremost, I wish Miguel and Danilo a speedy recovery! Obviously, we all know each other well in the BMW family, but in the Misano test, I had the opportunity to familiarize myself more with the team and with World Superbike. At MotorLand Aragon, my priority will be to put all my efforts at the service of the team and BMW Motorrad Motorsport. I know it will be a challenging task, but I will work hard and give my all.”
Read more Aragon 2026, Superpole Race: not even the initial difficulties stop Bulega
