Rabat returns to WorldSBK for Portimao at Puccetti Kawasaki in place of Mahias
The Spanish rider started the campaign onboard Ducati machinery but will race in Portugal onboard a Kawasaki
Tito Rabat will return to the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve at Kawasaki Puccetti Racing in place of the injured Lucas Mahias, who is still suffering from a fractured scaphoid in his left hand despite undergoing surgery following the crash in Race 1 at Assen.
It was decided in Jerez that Mahias would undergo surgery again on the injury, forcing him to miss the final three rounds of the season in Portimao, Argentina and Indonesia. For the Motul Portuguese Round, Puccetti Kawasaki have drafted in 2014 Moto2™ World Champion Rabat after a short time away from WorldSBK for the Spanish rider.
Rabat started the season with Barni Racing Team and took part in the first eight rounds of the season onboard the Ducati Panigale V4 R, taking a best result of ninth in Race 1 at the Circuito Estoril and his second-best result of tenth in Race 2 at the same venue; his only two top-ten finishes of the campaign. After Magny-Cours, Barni Racing Team announced the team and Rabat had split by mutual consent.
After missing rounds in Catalunya and Jerez, Rabat will be back in WorldSBK in Portugal onboard the Kawasaki ZX-10RR bike for Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, bringing his experience to the team. Discussing the latest move in his career, Rabat said: “I’m very happy to have this great opportunity. I know the Portimao track as I’ve raced here with the MotoGP and trained at the circuit with a road bike. I hope to have a good weekend, score good results and demonstrate my potential. I want to thank Manuel Puccetti and the whole team for offering me this chance, which I hope to fully exploit.”
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