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As the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship heads to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for round eight of the season, Red Bull Honda World Superbike team have announced American Jake Gagne will join Stefan Bradl at the GEICO US Round.

Honoured to step into the seat of the CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2, Gagne is willing to take on the challenge whilst hoping to do the late, great Nicky Hayden proud at a track which brought the American so much success. Currently competing in the MotoAmerica Superbike championship, Californian Gagne has a long history of success in racing. Winning the Red Bull Rookies Cup in 2010, he then went onto win the Daytona SportBike Championship in 2014 followed by the MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Championship the year after.

At the age of 21, Gagne looks forward to an important weekend at his home circuit: “For me this is a dream come true and a huge honour to get an opportunity to race in the World Superbike Championship with such a prestigious team. This is a huge opportunity and I am going to do everything I can to do the best job possible and learn as much as I can. The loss of Nicky was very difficult for us all but I know he will be watching over us and I hope I can make him proud. Laguna Seca will always be a very special track for him and I'm honoured to get out there in front of our home crowd and show what I can do. It seems like a great fit coming off a Honda Superbike here in the States, as well as having Red Bull as the team sponsor, as they have supported me throughout my whole career. I would like to express my huge thanks to Honda, Red Bull and Ten Kate for this incredible opportunity.”

Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager adds how positive the team are feeling ahead of the Geico US Round: “Jake is a young and talented racer who already knows the Fireblade quite well from racing in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship and has raced – and won – many times at Laguna Seca. We are looking forward to welcoming him within the team and giving him the best possible support for his World Superbike debut. I’m confident he will enjoy the experience and will do his very best in front of his home crowd. Nicky was known for his great support of young riders – especially his fellow Americans – and was always available for a chat and to offer advice, so I feel this is the perfect way to honour him at Laguna Seca.”

Keep up with Gagne’s progress around the stunning 3.610km circuit as WorldSBK bikes head out for free practise at 09:45LT (-7 GMT), before kicking off with race one on Saturday 8^th July at 14.00LT, which will be live on the WorldSBK VideoPass.