World Superstock rider Niccolò Canepa will be replacing injured Carlos Checa in the Alstare Racing team when the championship goes all the way to California for the 12th round of the season that will take place at the iconic Mazda Speedway at Laguna Seca.
Checa has been ruled out for the rest of the season after fracturing his pelvis in free practice at Istanbul Park in Turkey.
The Spaniard underwent successful surgery yesterday at the Dexeus Clinic in Spain, but he’ll need a long recovery time so he’ll miss the final rounds.
Canepa is currently second in the World Superstock standings and with the championship not racing at the venue he’ll get another shot on the Panigale in superbike trim (he has already raced for Alstare Ducati at the Donington Park round finishing 13th and 8th as a wildcard).
The Italian rider already knows the Laguna Seca circuit as he raced at the American venue when he was with Pramac in MotoGP in 2009.
“I’m really pleased to have this opportunity.
Racing at Laguna Seca with the factory Ducati is really something incredible,” said Canepa.
“I’m feeling confident because Laguna should suit the Ducati well and it also happens to be one of my favourite tracks.
” “I thank my team manager Marco Barnabo of the Barni Racing Team for allowing me to do this once again, Ducati’s SBK project manager Ernesto Marinelli and Ducati Alstare team manager Francis Batta for giving me the opportunity, and my managers Silvia Mangione and Silvia Borella from SG Agency for their hard work and belief in me.
It will be a busy month for me and I’ll try to make the most of it, also with an eye on next year.
I would also like to wish Carlos a speedy recovery.
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