2012 World Superbike
When the Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing Ducati team announced its assault on the 2012 World Superbike Championship, it featured a three-rider lineup – Sylvain Guintoli, Jakub Smrz and Maxime Berger.
And the team began its assault well at Phillip Island last month; during Race 1, Berger took third.
But starting at round 2 in Imola, another rider will be added to Team Effenbert-Liberty Ducati’s World Superbike lineup – Brett McCormick.
The Canadian, who took his country’s Superbike Championship in 2011, was signed to the Effenberty-Liberty team for 2012, but in the Superstock 1000 class. But now he’ll join the team’s World SBK efforts.
Mario Bertuccio (Team Effenbert-Liberty Ducati Owner) says: "The Effenbert company believes in motorsport and its use as the most powerful promotional engine so much that it was in their contemplation to run a Liberty Racing bike with legendary Troy Bayliss on a couple of occasions this season. They had a strong desire to give him the opportunity to ride as a wild card in a few races.
"Unfortunately, as we all know, this intention was not fulfilled successfully for various reasons. At this point, the possibility has vanished completely and Effenbert decided to reconsider other options of further investments in the team, with regard to the budget, which eventually resulted in the decision to engage a fourth permanent rider for the entire 2012 season. This decision is also promising something very interesting.
"The incentive to promote McCormick in Superbike is consistent with our philosophy of helping to bring up young talents. We truly have the highest respect for the Canadian rider, and we trust him as we are certain that he can pay us back on the track. This is an important choice. There are only a few teams in SBK who have decided to increase the budget for the current season and our route makes us day after day even more proud and confident about the potential of the team.
"Federico Sandi remains the Effenbert Liberty Racing Team’s ace in Superstock and I am sure he will give us very good results riding the competitive Panigale 1199. Our active engagement in this direction remains intact."
McCormick’s World Superbike debut is scheduled for late March, in Italian Imola. On this occasion, "the kid" (Canadian’s nickname) will be riding the Ducati 1198 #68 for the first time and will challenge his opponents of this superior category.
Brett McCormick says: "Effenbert Liberty Racing Team is giving me a great opportunity. My dream has always been to race in SBK and now that I have this opportunity, I will give it everything on the track.
"Recently, I’ve been studying and memorizing the circuits, which obviously I do not know well, so that when the D-day comes, I am prepared as much as I can. It is going to be a very challenging season for me since I’m about to face many experienced riders. This is undoubtedly a great way to learn and grow, and I will always try to be in the leading group!"
