Valentin Debise will make his World Superbike debut this weekend at Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya, in Spain, when he rides for OUTDO TPR Kawasaki in place of injured Sandro Cortese.

Cortese crashed on the final lap of World Superbike Race One at Portimao and suffered a broken back, fractured ribs, and other injuries. He was airlifted from the track and underwent surgery to stabilize his broken vertebrae. He is expected to recover fully, but the German rider will not return to racing in 2020, according to a report on the official website of the FIM Superbike World Championship.

Debise, age 28, has experience in the French Supersport and Superbike Championships, the FIM 250/Moto2 World Championship, the FIM Supersport World Championship, and the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship, where he finished third in the Championship standings each year from 2016 to 2018. Debise is also a tire tester for Michelin.