Cameron Beaubier to Make World SBK Debut
America’s Cameron Beaubier is set to make his debut appearance in the World Superbike Championship, the Team Graves Yamaha pilot set to ride next weekend aboard the Pata Yamaha YZR-M1 at Donington Park.
Beaubier will substitute for the injured Sylvain Guintoli; the 2014 World SBK Champion (Aprilia) suffered a crash last month during qualifying for round five at Imola. The Frenchman was forced to undergo surgery to his left ankle, and rehabilitation has taken longer than expected. Guintoli targets a WSBK return at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli June 17-19 (round eight).
It didn’t take Yamaha long to decide on a substitute. Beaubier, the 2013 Daytona SportBike and 2015 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion, was the perfect choice. The Roseville, Calif., native has won four races in four rounds, and is second in points – nine behind teammate Josh Hayes, a four-time AMA SuperBike Champion.
Beaubier will pilot a Pata Yamaha World Superbike YZF-R1 in both 23-lap races at the Derby circuit. He will be just the second American represented on the 2016 WSBK grid so far this season, the other being 2006 MotoGP Champion Nicky Hayden. And he’s no stranger to Donington; he raced there in 2009 while competing in the former 125cc GP class.
Cameron Beaubier says ”I feel really fortunate that the Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team is giving me this opportunity to be a part of the team for the weekend while Sylvain is healing up. I’m also thankful that Yamaha US is allowing me to do this in the middle of our season! It will be a tough weekend with lots of learning but I’m going to do my best and have fun!”
He joins the other official Pata Yamaha team rider Alex Lowes, who is currently ninth in the standings after five of 14 rounds.
For more, visit our World Superbike page.
