Michael van der Mark has dropped a sizeable hint that he will remain with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK team for the 2024 WorldSBK season alongside the incoming Toprak Razgatlioglu, insisting he 'doesn't have to worry' about his future.

The Dutchman is in the midst of a third season as part of BMW's factory effort alongside Scott Redding, though is currently enduring a prolonged spell out through injury.

His enforced absence - the result of breaking his leg in an accident at Assen - coincided with the 'surprising' news that BMW has penned a deal with 2021 WorldSBK Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu for next season.

Considered something of a coup for the German firm, which has struggled to get on terms with WorldSBK superpowers Ducati, Kawasaki and Yamaha since returning to the series in a full works capacity in 2019 despite two significant updates to its S 1000 RR/M 1000 RR package since then.

The Turk's impending arrival has subsequently turned the spotlight onto which rider will be retained to compete alongside him.

Though Redding has done much of the heavy lifting for BMW since van der Mark's 2022 campaign was also heavily hampered by injury woes and achieved its best results since his arrival, it is van der Mark that is considered the more likely candidate to stay on board.

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With this in mind, the five-time WorldSBK race winner, upon reacting to the news of Razgatlioglu's deal with BMW, told media including BSN at the most recent Donington Park round that he has no concerns about his future.

“I think it was a big surprise for everyone... Really interesting," he said.

"For my future, I don’t have to worry. I think soon they will communicate or I can communicate. For me, it was also good that they will take Toprak, so also I could see how much they want to win. Like I said, I will always be motivated, but this is another extra push.”

He went on to say the deal represents a signal of intent from BMW to make a success of its WorldSBK project.

The manufacturer made its WorldSBK debut in 2010 with the first generation BMW S 1000 RR, emerging as serious contenders for the title in 2012 and 2013, before taking a step back by shifting its involvement from a factory entry to a privateer support role. It then returned in 2019 with the new generation S 1000 RR.

"I think this is also BMW showing their commitment. Taking a World Champion to their project, it shows that they really want to win."

While there is nothing in the regulations to stop BMW entering a three-rider works team, a source told BSN that this is not under consideration.

Additional reporting by Gordon Ritchie