Niccolò Canepa is set for one more outing before he retires from riding following confirmation that he’ll contest round nine of the FIM Superbike World Championship in his native Italy this weekend.
The two-time winner of the FIM Endurance World Championship title announced earlier this month that last weekend’s EWC season-deciding Bol d’Or would be his final race before he calls time on his trophy-filled riding career.
But with Pata Prometeon Yamaha’s Jonathan Rea receiving medical advice to continue his recovery from a thumb injury at home, Canepa, 36, will deputise for the Northern Irishman alongside team-mate Andrea Locatelli when the Italian Round takes place at the Cremona circuit near Milan from 20-22 September.
Canepa, who helped Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team finish runner-up to Yoshimura SERT Motul in the 2024 EWC title chase, said: “The news may come as a bit of a surprise since I announced my retirement a couple of weeks ago. But, to be honest, I am really proud to do one more race weekend. I am really sorry for what happened with Jonathan and I wish him a speedy recovery. On the other side I am thankful to Yamaha for this opportunity. It’s always great to race for this team and to race for Yamaha in WorldSBK.
“Cremona is a track that I don’t know so well, I just did a few laps one day with the Yamaha R7 for the WorldWCR shakedown and I am aware that it is going to be a challenging weekend in terms of performance.
“For my job as the WorldSBK test rider, we may have something to test and if I can give feedback to help the other Yamaha riders on track then it will be mission accomplished. I am really happy and looking forward to the very last race weekend of my career now, so let’s see what we can do.”
FRITZ TO ALSO FLY THE EWC FLAG… AND REITERBERGER TOO!
Marvin Fritz will make it two Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team riders on the grid in the FIM Superbike World Championship’s Italian Round.
The 31-year-old from Germany (above) will partner Remy Gardner in the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team line-up in place of the injured Dominique Aegerter.
Fritz, who has four World Superbike starts to his name, said: “First of all, I would like to wish Dominique a speedy recovery. I cannot wait to be in Cremona to ride for the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team and the Yamaha R1 in the WorldSBK, it’s like a dream for me and I’ll take care of Domi’s bike. I’ll have to adapt to a lot of things as since my last wildcard in Portimão [in 2022] things have changed, but I’ll try to enjoy the weekend and do my best, having no pressure. I’m confident it’ll be a nice experience.”
Meanwhile, Germany’s two-time EWC race winner Markus Reiterberger (above) has been recruited as stand-in for the injured Toprak Razgatlioglu – the current World Superbike points leader – by Rokit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team.
He posted the following message on Facebook: “I have great news, BMW allows me to work as a replacement for Toprak Razgatlioglu in Cremona. I would like to wish Toprak a speedy and full recovery [but] of course I'm looking forward to the challenge of riding in the WorldSBK again. I know the team, the championship and the motorcycle. That's why I'm confident that I can quickly get back on track and I will try to support BMW as much as I can.”
Thirty-year-old Reiterberger set a new Bol d’Or race lap record riding for the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team last weekend.
Alessandro Delbianco, who rode for Pitlane Endurance - JP3 in two rounds of the Dunlop-supplied FIM Endurance World Cup this season, will also form part of the Cremona World Superbike entry following his outing at Magny-Cours earlier this month as Dominique Aegerter’s replacement.
The Italian said: “I am very happy to tackle this wildcard with Sandro Carusi and MotoXracing, especially because it is an event in Italy, which makes it even more special for me. I thank Yamaha for the trust they have shown me by deciding to let me race in Cremona, and for the support that has allowed me to get to this stage”.
Original Source [ FIM EWC ]
