WorldSBK: Jake Gagne In For Injured Stefan Bradl
Rennie Scaysbrook | September 27, 2017
American gun Jake Gagne gets another WorldSBK shot
MotoAmerica star Jake Gagne, who made his WorldSBK debut at Laguna Seca riding the late Nicky Hayden’s Red Bull Honda, will get another go the machine this weekend at Magny-Cours in place of the injured Stefan Bradl.
Gagne impressed at Laguna Seca with two measured rides on the factory Honda, taking a pair of 15th places and two championship points, and will once again be out to impress in the hope of a full-time ride in the team for 2018.
German rider Bradl has been plagued with injury since the summer, but following a race one highside last time out in Portugal, he was forced to have surgery on his right wrist after undergoing further examination. With a scapholunate ligament tear, he will go under the knife on Thursday – a day before FP1 in France.
“First of all, I would like to wish Stefan a speedy recovery: I’ve been there before and it’s never nice to have stay away from racing due to injury,” said Gagne. “Obviously, I would like to thank Honda and the team for the opportunity to come back and get a second shot at World Superbike. Laguna Seca was a dream come true for me, and the knowledge and experience I gained from the team throughout that weekend was massive. It will also be nice to have some experience with this version of the Fireblade going into FP1. Magny-Cours is a completely new track for me but I look forward to the challenge of racing on a new circuit and continuing to learn and grow. I have also never been to France, so it will be an exciting week!”