Spanish
Motorcycle
Instructor/
Champion
Killed
S
panish riding instructor
Ismael Bonilla passed away
following an accident on the
front straight at Jerez over the
July 4-5 weekend.
Bonilla was the Spanish Champion
in 1994 and competed in nine 250cc
Grands Prix between 1996 and 2001. He
later raced in the Spanish Formula Xtreme
and Kawasaki Ninja Cup Championships.
After retiring in 2013, Bonilla devoted
his time to coaching Spain's next gen-
eration of riders, his latest client being
Alejandro Carrion from the SMRZ Racing
Team in WorldSSP300.
MotoAmerica Superbike rider Toni
Elias paid tribute to his friend and former
teammate, saying, "No words! He was
my teammate in '99. Good rider, coach,
manager, fighter and a good guy...
thanks for all you did for our sport/rid-
ers...you left too soon my friend... we will
miss you... my heart is with wife Angela,
little daughter, family and friends!! Rest In
Peace Ismael." CN
IN
THE
WIND
P44
Spanish motorcycle
instructor and
racing personality
Ismael Bonilla
died from injuries
suffered on the
track.
Van Der Mark To BMW
Michael van der
Mark's BMW
appointment
will come at the
expense of either
Tom Sykes or
Eugene Laverty.
P
ata Yamaha WorldSBK rider Michael van
der Mark will leave the team at the end of
2020 after four seasons riding for the Japa-
nese factory and will move to the factory
BMW Motorrad team.
Van der Mark will replace either Tom
Sykes or Eugene Laverty in the Shawn Muir-
run squad.
"We are delighted to welcome Michael to
the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK team," Muir
said. "He brings a wealth of experience and
is one of the youngest, most talented riders
on the WorldSBK grid.
"Securing Michael's services emphasizes
the focus and determination we have to
compete for top honors, and we will give Mi-
chael every chance to reach that goal." CN
