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2011 European Superstock 600 champion Jed Metcher will make his debut race outing at the second last round of this year’s FIM Superstock 1000 class at Jerez in Spain, before finishing off the year at Magny-Cours in France where the young Australian scored his maiden Superstock 600 victory in 2010 riding as a wildcard.

Metcher, 24, will race with the EAB Racing Team, aboard a Ducati 1199 Panigale R next month. Metcher has never ridden a ‘race ready’ Panigale, although he has ridden a road going version at Misano in 2012 during a test.

Thanks to a two fundraiser two weeks ago that Metcher organised, which had a few stars in attendance such as Isle of Man TT legend Cameron Donald, KTM factory stunt rider ‘Lukey’ Luke Follacchio and even Essendon AFL (Australian Football League) player Michael Hurley, who were on hand to help auction off memorabilia and prizes all donated by Australian companies which helped get Metcher over to compete in Europe.

“2014 has been a very interesting year!” said Metcher. “I have built relationships with some amazingly supportive people in Australia and I’m now incredibly excited to be back in the World Superbike paddock. I’m grateful to be able to show that my riding has developed since being on a superbike machine this year.”

Metcher’s 2014 season has consisted of an extensive amount of testing to develop the Race Center Superbike that he will compete on in 2015. Metcher has also managed to break the fastest ever lap record at his local track, at Broadford’s State Motorcycle Sports Complex Center and won an Australian Superbike Championship race at the world famous Phillip island Circuit.

This year the young Australian rider who hails from Eltham in Victoria has teamed up with a team named Race Center running the Batteries North RC-10 Superbike, with the goal of developing the bike for a wildcard appearance in next year’s Australian round of the World Superbikes at Phillip Island. The Race Center project is headed up by respected race tuner Darren Sciberras who also shares the dream of succeeding as a team in the wildcard appearance.

“I couldn’t be more appreciative of the Race Center and all involved in making the project come to life. I would also like to thank Ferry Schoenmakers and Manuel Cappelletti for the opportunity to compete in a professional consolidated team next month,” explained Metcher, who will have a hit out at Phillip Island this weekend at round three of the Pirelli Road Race Series in order to gain more valuable data.