Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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"We call it the elastic effect," says Gonschor. "For sure, he [Razgatlioglu] cannot do more. Compared to the other 20 riders on the grid, both [Razgatlioglu and van der Mark] did an incredible job. But there was something missing, so Toprak had to [take] a little bit more risk on the front. He can manage it, but it's just very complicated and takes a lot of energy from him." UNDER THE ELECTRONIC SKIN Unlike MotoGP, WorldSBK teams are given the flexibility to choose their own engine control units (ECUs) and develop custom software, provided they adhere to specific regulations, with BMW partnering with Bosch to develop a platform specific to the M 1000 RR. "Our electronics are Bosch BMS-MS2, includ - ing a dedicated WorldSBK and EWC 2D power loom in combination with the race-calibration Motorrad Motorsport's Technical Director, Chris- tian Gonschor. "It was a dedicated distribution of torsion and lateral stiffness, without numbers or direction. It's never about going softer or stiffer. It's fully independent. You have braking, midturn position, and corner exit characteristics. You have to put it together, and not in every driving situation do you need the same stiffness. That's the key point. You must find the puzzle, which is shooting every situation on track." BMW's ace in its sleeve is their Turkish star Razgatlioglu, who has pushed the project hard - er than any rider BMW has ever had. Toprak's unique, front-heavy riding style suited the 2024 chassis perfectly, but for 2025, the always- moving target of optimal on-track performance has once again shifted, this time to corner exits where Ducati's combination of the Panigale V4 R and Italy's Nicolo Bulega is currently superior. "Last year, I'm easy riding, because when I am pushing so hard, the bike is also working," says Razgatlioglu. "But now I am pushing so hard, the bike is not working like it did. Every corner, I try to do without a mistake. I am push - ing so hard. This is not easy. Also, it is not easy over 23 laps! Ducati is very strong this year." At Italy's Cremona this year, the difference was clear to see, as Razgatlioglu would gain meters on the brakes to Bulega, but the Ducati's superior midcorner turning and exit grip and acceleration would see the gap Toprak worked so hard to reduce spring back as the throttle was opened. (Top) A MoTeC C185 dash gives access to the Bosch ECU and all the goodies in it. (Above) Isn't that swingarm just a work of art? Christian Gonschor is the man responsible for guiding the technical development of the M 1000 RR in WorldSBK and EWC. P102 FEATURE I RIDING RAZGATLIOGLU'S BMW M 1000 RR