Whilst the 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is gearing up for the Prosecco DOC UK Round, one rider is upping their recovery from injury. Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) completed a training day at this home circuit of Assen as he steps up his recovery from a right femur fracture sustained at the Circuito Estoril.

Van der Mark has endured an injury hit campaign so far, missing the Aragon Round through a preseason training crash where he fractured his right leg. He returned for the Dutch Round, the second round of the season, and completed all three races with a best result of eighth in Race 2. However, on the opening lap of FP1 at Estoril, van der Mark crashed at Turn 10 and fractured his right femur.

The Dutchman underwent surgery on the injury and has been recovering ever since, with his recovery stepping up a gear at the TT Circuit Assen. Van der Mark was able to complete a day on his training bike – also a BMW M1000RR machine – on home soil as he gets ready for his second comeback of the season. Completing five stints of 20 minutes each, VDM was able to see how far away he is from coming back; he will attend the Donington Park weekend, but he won’t be racing, as Ukrainian rider Illia Mykhalchyk will once again be on track.

Reacting after taking to the track for the first time since Estoril, van der Mark said: “I took a couple of laps with my BMW M1000RR training bike during a track day around the TT Circuit Assen. It was pretty much fun and showed me how far I am with my current recovery process. These activities are really helpful and bring me closer to my goal of being back in WorldSBK as soon as possible – even if it’s too early to predict now when. But I’m on it!”

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Photos: racesport.nl