‘Impressive’ Scott Redding gives BMW optimism for 2022 WorldSBK campaign

BMW Motorrad WorldSBK boss Shaun Muir says he was ‘impressed’ by Scott Redding following his first touch on the BMW M 1000 RR he will campaign in the 2022 WorldSBK Championship.

The Briton began his new chapter in WorldSBK as a BMW rider this week with three days of testing, beginning with a day spent in Jerez on a tweaked roadgoing model before riding the 2021 race-spec bike in Estoril.

Though no times were recorded (or published) and Redding is unable to speak openly about the test due to contract restrictions that prevent him from doing so until January, he did state on Instagram that the inline-four is ‘very different’ to the Ducati V4 he has raced over the past three seasons (one in BSB, two in WorldSBK).

However, Muir was able to expand on this in comments attributed to Speedweek, the eponymous manager of the SMR squad that runs the BMW effort saying he was pleased to see Redding ‘happy’ after his maiden outing.

“Scott tested for two half days, always in the afternoon, and drove around 40 laps each time. The result was very positive and he was satisfied with the setting of the bike. 

“We have worked our way through various things so that he feels comfortable on the motorcycle, and we have also made initial adjustments to the electronics so that he gets the feeling he wants. "

“We didn't look at times and we weren't looking for it either. But what he showed was impressive.

“The first impression is that not only are we happy, Scott seems happy too. There were also no incidents such as falls or other problems. We are all the more looking forward to the test in Jerez next week.”

Redding joins BMW - replacing Tom Sykes - after being ousted from the Ducati squad in favour of Alvaro Bautista, despite finishing runner-up in 2020 and third overall in 2021.

In two seasons ex-MotoGP rider Redding has already won 12 races and 37 podiums.