HB Racing/Meen Yamaha’s Richie Escalante, the runner-up in the 2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship, should be able to start the 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship on time in spite of suffering an injury to his left knee in a crash during a recent test session February 17-18 at Thunderhill Raceway Park.

That’s the word from HB Racing/Meen Yamaha Team Owner Humberto Baca, who wrote to Roadracingworld.com: “We are pleased with the results of Richie’s MRI. They confirm a small medial tibial plateau fracture and normal menisci and cruciate ligaments. Recovery should be quick with only the use of a knee brace, and we’ll have Richie ready for the first round of the Superstock 600 class. We will decide later if we will have Richie race the Austin round as a wildcard entry. His recovery will be under the watchful eye of Dr. Thomas Bryan.”

While the Superbike, Superstock 1000 and Supersport classes of the MotoAmerica Championship begin April 8-10 at Circuit of The Americas, in Austin, Texas, the Superstock 600 and KTM RC390 Cup categories do not officially begin their seasons until one week later, April 15-17 at Road Atlanta, near Atlanta, Georgia. Superstock 600 riders, however, are allowed to enter the Supersport race at COTA without jeopardizing their status as a full-time Superstock 600 rider.