He is the first ever Dutch Superstock 600 European champion, the first ever Dutch World Supersport champion, the first ever Dutch WorldSBK podium finisher and the first ever Dutch WorldSBK race winner: Michael van der Mark from the Netherlands.
In 2023 Michael will ride again for ROKiT – BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team in the WorldSBK, aboard the M 1000 RR. After a strong debut in 2021 with a historic win in the Superpole race at Portimao – the first ever for the BMW M 1000 RR – and two podium finishes, Van der Mark and BMW are aiming to become regular podium finishers in 2023 after a difficult 2022 that was mainly dominated by two serious injuries for Michael.
After he was named rookie of the year in 2007 he became double Dutch 125cc champion in 2008 and 2009. During the Dutch TT of 2008 he made his Grand Prix 125cc debut. A switch to the WorldSBK paddock by the end of 2010 turned out to be the right one as Michael has been a revelation on the global motorsport stage since 2011.
He became European Superstock 600 Champion in 2012, World Supersport Champion in 2014 and won the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours four times. In 2018, he delivered Yamaha’s first victory since returning to WorldSBK competition with a spectacular double win at Donington Park in the UK and ended the season in third in the final standings thanks to eight podium finishes.
