Former grand prix rider Julian Simon will make his World Superbike debut at this weekend’s Aragon round with Milwaukee Aprilia, after Lorenzo Savadori was declared unfit to ride.
Savadori crashed at the final corner of the Chang International Circuit early in the second race of the Thailand weekend, landing heavily on his neck.
The Italian rider had to wear a neck brace following the accident, but was confident he would be fit by the time the world championship headed to its first European stop this weekend. However, recovery has taken longer than planned.
Simon, the 2009 125cc world champion, has been contesting the Moto2 class since its inception in 2010. But, following on from finishing third in that year’s season, times grew increasingly more difficult for the Spaniard and he has opted to step away from grand prix racing as a competitor.
He has since taken up the role of Tito Rabat’s rider coach, and also made a one-off appearance in Moto2 in last weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix as Garage Plus Interwetten rider Iker Lecuona’s replacement, where he finished 23rd.
“It is a surprise for me, but I am very excited because it is an experience that I wanted to have,” said Simon.
“It will be my WorldSBK debut and the possibility has come with a very competitive team. I do not know how I will race because I have never competed with a 1000cc bike, but in any case I am willing to enjoy and learn.
“I want to thank Tito Rabat for making things easier and let me accept this participation in a WorldSBK round, as my main job this year is as a coach with him.
“The Milwaukee Aprilia team have not asked for results for this weekend, so I’m just going to enjoy the experience. I have no experience with this bike but we will see how it develops over the weekend.
“I am sorry for Lorenzo that he is hurt, and I hope he recovers soon.”
Though the Aprilia RSV4 is a bike unfamiliar to him, MotorLand Aragon is not. The Spaniard has enjoyed moderate success at the track in his grand prix days, including a second in 2010.
Simon will get his first taste of WorldSBK machinery on Friday when FP1 gets underway at 09:45.
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