Yamaha World Superbike rider Michael van der Mark will make his MotoGP debut at Sepang next weekend as the unwell Jonas Folger’s replacement at the Tech3 team.
Folger has been absent since the Japanese Grand Prix thanks to a suspected case of Epstein Barr virus. The German withdrew from the Motegi race to return home for blood tests and remains in doubt to see out his rookie MotoGP campaign.
2014 World Supersport champion van der Mark was set to replace Valentino Rossi at the factory Yamaha team for the Aragon round after the Italian suffered a double break to his right leg in a training accident.
However, the Dutchman had to stand down when Rossi made a sensational comeback at the Spanish circuit just 23 days after injuring himself.
Van der Mark is looking forward to making his belated MotoGP debut at a circuit he knows well, and believes the recent upturn in form he has shown in WorldSBK on the Yamaha R1 signals the best time to ride the M1.
“It goes without saying that I am really excited,” van der Mark, who took two top six finishes in the Jerez WorldSBK round this weekend, said.
“I came quite close to getting the opportunity to ride a MotoGP bike a few weeks ago, but it didn’t work out.
“Then Herve (Poncheral, Tech3 team boss) called, and although I have a busy schedule, I could not say no to this chance.
“I am very happy and I look forward to this adventure. Luckily, I know Sepang, but the MotoGP riders have done a lot of tests there this year, so everyone will be fast.
“However, I just want to enjoy this weekend, to improve myself and see how it is to ride the YZR-M1.
“At the moment, we have some good momentum in WorldSBK, so I think it is the perfect time to jump on the Yamaha.
“I look forward to riding the bike and I want to thank Herve and Yamaha for this opportunity.”
Van der Mark – who is sixth in the WorldSBK standings – is in the midst of a strong season, scoring two podium finishes while helping Yamaha to a third successive Suzuka 8 Hours win in July.
Current WorldSBK team-mate Alex Lowes – with whom he rode alongside at Suzuka – made his MotoGP debut with Tech3 last year for the British, San Marino and Aragon Grands Prix as the injured Bradley Smith’s replacement.
Van der Mark will be Tech3‘s third new rider in as many weeks, with Yamaha test rider Kohta Nozane deputising in Japan and Australian Broc Parkes taking over from him this weekend at Phillip Island.
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