American Jake Gagne may once again be called into action by the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team, but instead of riding the bike left vacant by the tragic death of countryman Nicky Hayden, MotoAmerica Superbike racer Gagne may be asked to fill in for injured full-time rider Stefan Bradl this coming weekend in France.
Gagne, who races a Genuine Broaster Chicken Honda CBR1000RR SP2 in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, was recruited to be the first rider to race the Red Bull Honda CBR1000RR SP2 of Hayden when he competed on the machine in the World Superbike event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in July.
Gagne scored points in both races and nearly matched the pace of Bradl in every session, but in spite of what appeared to be a positive performance, Gagne was not invited to continue riding for the Red Bull Honda team at following rounds.
Instead, the Red Bull Honda team recruited former full-time World Superbike rider Davide Giugliano to test and then race its second bike at Lausitzring, in Germany, but Giugliano failed to score any points in either race.
The Red Bull Honda team then invited Japanese racer Takumi Takahashi to race its second bike September 15-17 at Portimao. Takahashi, an All-Japan Superbike Championship title contender and a three-time Suzuka 8-Hours winner (all on Hondas), finished 15th in Race One and 10th in Race Two in Portugal.
Red Bull Honda planned to have Giugliano return to the team for Round 11, this coming weekend at Magny-Cours in France, because Takahashi is unavailable due to a conflict with an All-Japan Superbike Championship round, but now it’s looking like Bradl will be unfit to ride at Magny-Cours due to a wrist injury he suffered in a crash during Race One at Portimao.
Bradl’s status wasn’t mentioned at all in the Magny-Cours preview released today by Dorna.
Roadracingworld.com could not reach Gagne at post time, but sources with knowledge of the situation say that the Red Bull Honda team may announce as soon as today or Tuesday that Gagne will ride in place of Bradl this coming weekend in France.
Stay tuned.