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After missing three rounds due to an unfortunate wrist injury, Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) returned at Jerez before taking his best results in over a year at Misano. The Argentine rider – the only representative of South America on the WorldSBK grid – put in superb performances for back-to-back top tens in Race 1 and in the Tissot Superpole Race, before a crash in Race 2 left a bitter-sweet taste to the Argentine’s weekend.

Speaking after Saturday, Leandro ‘Tati’ Mercado said: "Race 1 was underwater, although a P10 was a very good result. At the beginning of the race, I lost a lot of time in finding the feeling with the bike, but later in the second half of the race I was able to overcome in very difficult conditions.”

Mercado had been in consistent form before his injury, although he hadn’t finished a race inside the top ten since Misano last season. His next objective will be to continue achieving top ten results, at two circuits which his best result is seventh – Donington Park and Laguna Seca.

Continuing to review his weekend, Mercado spoke about Sunday in much dryer conditions: “Ninth position in the Tissot Superpole Race and a fall in Race 2 that I did not expect! That fall deprived us of a good race since we had the pace to fight for the top ten. It is difficult to fight with the official bikes, but we always give our maximum!”

Now back racing and fully fit, Mercado will seek to return to the top ten in the next two rounds before a Summer break follows. Then, there are two rounds remaining before his home round of the season at the Circuito San Juan Villicum. Mercado retired from Race 1 there last season but was 12^th in Race 2.

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