Cycle News Staff | April 6, 2011
Dutchman Barry Veneman will substitute for the injured James Toseland on the BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team at the Assen race on April 17, the third round of the World Superbike Championship.The 34-year-old native of Holland will pinch-hit for the Brit, who injured his right hand in a third gear high-side during a test at the Motorland Aragon on March 18. Toseland suffered a fracture to the distal radius of the right wrist and flew back to the UK where he was operated on at Manchester Hospital. He was told that he faces a six week convalescence. The team didn’t replace Toseland for his home race at Donington Park on March 27, opting to have Italian Ayrton Badovini run the lone BMW Motorrad Italia S 1000 R.Veneman has considerable international experience, though he’s never raced in World Superbike. From 2006 through 2009, he raced in World Supersport, earning one podium finish. His best championship placing is eighth, where he finished in both 2007 and 2008.Veneman does have extensive experience on the BMW, having taken part in several developmental tests with the factory BMW Motorrad Motorsport team. He also races a BMW S 1000 R in the German IDM Championship.
