WSB: Matteo Ferrari to deputise at Aragon for injured Leandro Mercado

Matteo Ferrari will make his World Superbike Championship debut at Aragon this weekend when he steps in to replace the injured Leandro Mercado. 

The inaugural FIM Enel MotoE World Cup winner (2019) will ride for the Motocorsa Racing Ducati team at the first-ever Teruel Round of WSB. He’ll be using Mercado’s Panigale V4 R in Spain.

Ferrari is a race winner in the now defunct FIM European Superstock 1000 Cup, where he also rode a Ducati. The Italian has previously competed in Moto3 and also won the 2012 European Moto3 Championship.

Mercado was injured during the opening lap of last weekend’s Superpole Race at Aragon. The Argentinean rider collided with Tom Sykes, who had just made it back onto the circuit after being forced wide at turn eight. Mercado was diagnosed with a left ankle sprain and a suspected cervical strain. As a result, he was ruled out of the final race of the weekend.

“The accident on Sunday that led to the collision between Tom Sykes and our rider Tati Mercado forced me to make the difficult decision to replace Tati for the Pirelli Teruel Round,” Motocorsa Racing’s team boss Lorenzo Mauri explained.

“I know very well that he wanted to take part in the entire weekend, but my fear is primarily his health. I don’t want to risk compromising next weekend by straining his left ankle; I prefer to stop it now and return it to 100% in the next round on the track in Barcelona where we will continue the work done so far.”

Mercado will now return to Italy to begin treatment on the injuries he sustained at Aragon last weekend. Ferrari’s first taste of WSB action will be on Friday (September 4) at 09:30 for Free Practice 1.