IN
THE
WIND
P28
BEAUBIER GETS WORLDSBK WILDCARD!
C
ameron Beaubier will make his 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 wild-
card in the World Superbike Championship,"
Beaubier told 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 what he will be
up against 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 thinks what 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." CN
Beaubier knows there
will be some very
influential people
watching at Donington.
