Latest news from the Kawasaki Weber Motos Racing team. While his hand is healing well, the risk of fielding regular rider Leandro “Tati” Mercado in this weekend’s IDM Superbike races at Oschersleben following his injury is simply too great. To ensure that the Kawasaki isn’t left without a rider and will be on the starting grid, Luca Grünwald has been signed as a replacement.
Mercado broke the metacarpal bone in his left hand during a crash in free practice at the season opener at the Sachsenring. During the subsequent surgery in Italy, a plate with ten screws was inserted and the wound was closed with staples. Today he had another follow-up appointment with the doctor. The good news: the staples were removed and the wound is healing well. The bad news: Mercado is not yet fit to race at Oschersleben. The risk of the plate coming loose is too great. Luca Grünwald will step in for the Argentine, thus returning to the IDM Superbike on a Kawasaki, a series in which he had been unable to secure a spot over the winter. “This is a good solution for us,” says team boss Emil Weber, “and we have a German rider at Oschersleben.”
Grünwald has neither tested the Kawasaki nor sat on a ZX-10RR yet. That’s not a problem for Weber. For him, the important thing is that he’s found a confident rider in Grünwald to take the green bike to the starting line. And he knows: “As soon as Tati is able, he’ll be back on the track.” The first test runs will take place in a few days during practice for the Endurance World Championship, in which Mercado is competing and where the next race will be held from June 16 to 18 in Spa, Belgium. A week later, he should then be ready in time for the IDM in Most.