2021 Champions.

Once, twice, three times. Following 2018 and 2019, Ilya Mikhalchik was crowned champion of the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) for the third time this season. This was also the first international title for the new BMW M 1000 RR – despite the fact that Mikhalchik was unable to attend all the events. A clash of schedules with the FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) meant he had to miss one of the six race weekends.

Mikhalchik therefore lined up in ten races for the EGS-alpha-Van Zon-BMW Team on his BMW M 1000 RR. He won a total of four races – more than any other IDM rider. He also claimed a further two podium results, finishing runner-up twice and third once.

The 2021 champion in the Spanish Superbike Championship also rides a BMW M 1000 RR, Ivo Lopes from the BMW easyRace Team. After an exciting season, the 25-year-old clinched his first title in this series at the Jerez finale. He is also the first Portuguese rider to be crowned Spanish Superbike champion.

“This is something special,” Lopes said about the biggest success of his career to date. “It's a dream we all have as a child, to be champions in big championships, and the Spanish is one of them. We worked hard to achieve this great goal. BMW Motorrad, Eni and the BMW easyRace Team were central to the path taken to achieve this dream. This title reflects all the work and dedication, in a year full of emotions and a very positive year. I am very happy that, together with all of you, this great goal was achieved.”

Didier Grams is the very experienced member of the BMW Motorrad Motorsport family. In an interview in 2020, he told us his biggest motorsport dream that he was yet to achieve: “I want win the IRRC title one more time.” That dream came true for Grams in 2021. He had previously been crowned champion of the International Road Racing Championship on four occasions, most recently in 2014. Since then, he remained one of the very best riders in the series, but had not quite managed to pick up another title.

That all changed in 2021. The 38-year-old wrapped up the title at the final round of the season, his home race in Frohburg – and he did so in style, with a double victory on the BMW S 1000 RR. “When I realised, I thought ‘Man, you have actually won another title’. That seemed crazy to me. The cool-down lap was obviously a big highlight. I was absolutely delighted to have done it.”

We celebrated the first title for the new BMW M 1000 RR as early as 29th August. Victory in race six of the Italian National Trophy 1000 at Mugello saw Roberto Tamburini from the Pistard-TMF team crowned champion with races to spare. Tamburini, who can call on a wealth of experience gained in the Supersport World Championship and the Superstock 1000 class, had an impressive season. He finished on the podium in all seven races, with three wins, two second and two third places. The key to success was Tamburini’s determination and fighting spirit, the hard work put in by a strong team, an outstanding motorbike, and the technical support provided by BMW Motorrad Italia.

Tamburini started the season on the BMW S 1000 RR and finished runner-up in the opening race at Mugello. He then made his debut on the BMW M 1000 RR at race two at Misano – and promptly claimed his first victory of the season. This was followed by two podiums in Imola, as well as another two wins at Misano and Mugello, where he wrapped up the title with races still to come. Already crowned champion, Tamburini rounded off the season in Vallelunga with another podium.