Rennie Scaysbrook | May 20, 2016
Ready to race: Beaubier isn’t putting any extra pressure on himself but knows a good showing at Donington Park could do wonders for his WorldSBK aspirations.
Cameron Beaubier will make his 2016 WorldSBK debut next weekend after it was confirmed the current MotoAmerica Superbike Champion will fill in for the injured Sylvain Guintoli at Donington Park for the factory Pata Yamaha WorldSBK team.
A break in the MotoAmerica schedule means this is the perfect time for the 23-year-old to head to Europe and try his hand against the world’s best production bike racers, although he won’t be at a total disadvantage, having competed at the fast and undulating British venue in 2009 in the 125GP class.
“It’s been a goal for a while now to get a wildcard in the World Superbike Championship,” Beaubier said when talking to Cycle News. “It just worked out that there was a break in the MotoAmerica series and it’s a bummer that Sylvain was hurt, but I think it’s going to be a great experience.”
Beaubier has hit good form of late, taking the second race win at last weekend’s MotoAmerica VIR round and defeating teammate Josh Hayes at one of the veteran’s favorite racetracks.
Cameron will have the presence of manager Jake Zemke and his MotoAmerica Crew Chief Rick Hobbs in the pitbox, however, even with a factory bike under him, he knows he will be up against it at Donington.
“I feel like in MotoAmerica, racing against Josh (Hayes) and Roger (Hayden), they are world-class riders, but over there in World Superbike there’s 20 of those guys,” Cameron said.
“Talking to Ben (Spies, former WorldSBK Champion and Beaubier’s trainer), he told me he thing I’ll have to get used to most is the tires, triple clamps and oversize forks, which make the bike a lot more rigid, so it will be a learning experience for me. There’s no pressure with the ride, but I still want to do the best I can.”
Photography by Gold & Goose, Brian J Nelson.
Guintoli’s bike has been missing from the last two WorldSBK races following the Frenchman’s massive highside at Imola.
