News

Spain’s Xavi Fores will make a return to the eni FIM Superbike World Championship as he covers for the injured Davide Giugliano for the next two rounds at MotorLand Aragon and Assen. He takes the place of three-time World Champion Troy Bayliss, who confirmed after last weekend’s Thailand round that he would not compete for the rest of the season. 29-year-old Fores, from Valencia, is the current IDM German Superbike Champion, having won the 2014 title aboard the Panigale R of the 3C Racing Team.

In the meantime, Giugliano – who injured his back in pre-season testing at Phillip Island – was examined at the Policlinico di Modena clinic several days ago. ‘Prof. Fabio Catani has confirmed that the Italian rider is making good progress and will be able to resume his training as of this week,’ confirms a Friday press release from the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team press release. ‘Giugliano is therefore expected to return to racing at the fifth championship round, taking place at Imola over the weekend of 8-10 May.’

“I’m really pleased to have this opportunity with the factory team,” Fores comments. “I couldn’t wait to get back to racing after the final round of the 2014 IDM and so I’ve been training hard over the winter. The fact that my first race of the 2015 season will be run at Aragon is fantastic because I’ll be racing at home in Spain, at a track I really enjoy. I also know Assen well and was fast in the IDM race held there last year, so I’m confident I’ll be able to do well. I can’t wait to get on track and thank my team, the 3C Racing Team, and of course the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati Superbike Team for putting their faith in me."

Fores started ten WorldSBK races for BMW and Ducati between 2011 and 2014; his debut came with the German manufacturer at Imola in 2011, with his latest outing having been on an Italian machine at Magny-Cours last year.