Markus Reiterberger used the build-up to the start of the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship in Le Mans last month to highlight the role Patrick Hobelsberger can play as BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team bids for EWC success this season.

Hobelsberger had been due to race for Team Bolliger Switzerland in 2023 but instead made a late switch to the Dunlop-equipped Belgian squad as its fourth rider, providing the essential back-up function performed by Kenny Foray last season.

“I know him from IDM and now he makes the step [to EWC],” Reiterberger (pictured left) said of his fellow German rider (pictured right). “He practice a lot in the wintertime and on our bike he has a few laps, maybe not enough but I think he can adapt and be a good spare rider.”

Hobelsberger, who finished fourth and second in the two Internationale Deutsche Motorradmeisterschaft races at the Sachsenring recently, described his appearance at the 24 Heures Motos last month as an “awesome experience”.

Anything Jérémy Guarnoni’s fellow BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team riders can do, the Frenchman can also do.

With Illya Mykhalchyk and Markus Reiterberger winning in Germany and Malaysia respectively recently, Guarnoni – who also forms part of BMW’s race-winning FIM Endurance World Championship squad – took victory in the latest French Superbike Championship event at Nogaro.  

After finishing third on his Team MDS BMW M 1000 RR in the first of two races, there was no stopping Guarnoni in the second counter for what marked his first victory in the series. Mike Di Meglio, who races for F.C.C. TSR Honda France in the EWC, finished race two in second position ahead of his team-mate Alan Techer.

Mathieu Gines, who rides for Wójcik Racing Team in the EWC, won the first race ahead of Kenny Foray, part of the Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team line-up that claimed Dunlop Superstock Trophy honours in the 24 Heures Motos last month. 

Meanwhile, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium hosts round two of the EWC season, the 24H SPA EWC Motos, from 16-18 June.