Due to the fracture of Vale's tibia and fibula, the Dutch rider of the Yamaha team in the Superbike World Championship will have the excellent opportunity to taste the pleasure of the Grands Prix and he is already looking forward to being able to participate in the GP of 'Aragon next week, between its two WSBK races in Portimao this weekend and Magny-Cours on October 1st.
First of all, to clear up a misunderstanding, Yamaha is not expecting any results from van der Mark. They don't entrust him with the bike so that they can work miracles, but simply because a rider is required to replace Valentino. The contract between Dorna and each team specifies that a team can only participate with one driver in a Grand Prix, but not in two consecutive ones. From the second GP, if the starting driver withdraws, he must be replaced. This allows Dorna to respect its TV contract, which includes a certain number of drivers on the starting grid.
The first big difficulty for van der Mark will be getting used to the Yamaha M1, very different from his Superbike R1, with for example Michelins which have nothing to do with the Pirellis. “It’s a completely different bike, but I’m really happy to ride one of the best MotoGP bikes in the world. I don't know what to expect, all the parts of the machine are somewhat different, like the carbon discs and tires. Honestly, I don't know, but what I know for sure is that it will be an incredible bike to ride. »
Why did Yamaha choose van der Mark? Firstly we needed a good level driver, available in the middle of the season, which is a rare commodity. Then entrusting Vale's bike to a rider under Yamaha contract had two advantages: It would be a sort of reward for this rider, and it would not cost much. “When I heard about what happened to Valentino, I knew there was was going to need a replacement for a few races. So my manager spoke with Lin Jarvis about the situation. They immediately said they needed a replacement for Aragón. They had a few options, but the choice ultimately fell on me. »
Michael van der Mark is happy like a child in front of a merry-go-round, getting ready to have a great time. He won't be driving on the M1 before the Aragon GP, but that won't spoil his joy. “I'm very happy, it's great and exciting to have the chance to ride Valentino's bike. But the week promises to be difficult. I haven't done any testing with the machine, so it will be a tricky test, but I'm excited and looking forward to the opportunity. When I found out it was a possibility, I was delighted that it was on a track I knew and not the other way around. It's a route that I really like. This works in my favor and it will help me get my bearings on the bike.”
Photos © Yamaha Racing
Source: worldsbk.com
