Xavi Forés returns to the World Superbike Championship this year. Over the last three weekends of racing in Argentina, Indonesia and Australia, Spaniard will ride a Ducati Panigale V4 R for Team Barni Spark Racing while Luca Bernardi returns to the World Supersport Championship on a Ducati Panigale V2 at CM Racing.
Team Barni Spark Racing has announced that Xavi Forés will be riding the Italian team’s Ducati Panigale V4 R after the Portuguese Superbike World Tour in Portimão this weekend. The Spaniard has already raced for Team Barni Racing from 2016 to 2018 and will once again be with the Italian team for the last three Superbike weekend races in 2022 in Argentina, Thailand and Australia.
Team Principal Marco Barnabo has focused his efforts on enabling current Barni Spark Racing Team driver Luca Bernardi to finish the season with Team CM Racing in the World Supersport class, aboard a Ducati Panigale V2. As before, the Barni Spark Racing team will continue to work hard to give Bernardi the opportunity to fully enjoy the Portuguese role this weekend.
Marco Barnaby, Barney Spark Racing Team Principal: “It was a difficult decision but I think we made the right decision, for the team as well as Luca. Despite his back injury in 2021, I put my faith in him at the start of the season because I believe in his qualities, but after eight rounds, the results unfortunately do not live up to expectations.
Having also supported him during surgery to remove his spinal implant, I believe the best solution is for Luca to continue his development at Supersport and I have taken measures to ensure that happens. We are working with the CM team on the development of the Panigale V2 and they needed a rider who could exploit the bike’s potential.
Why do we choose Xavi? He already knows our team and the Panigale V4 R and has shown that he is strong with this bike in the World Endurance Championship.”
Useful Links Pirelli Portuguese Tour:
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