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MIE Honda has announced an all-new line-up for this week’s Czech WorldSBK Championship, following injuries to regular riders Taran Mackenzie and Adam Norodin.

Mackenzie was ruled out of the Super Pole and the second race of the British round of the MotoGP World Championship last weekend, and the timing couldn’t have been worse. The MotoGP calendar is packed with two-week, three-week and even longer breaks between races, but Mackenzie managed to be diagnosed with a concussion in the first round of one of two back-to-back series (since Estoril was brought in to replace Hungarian in the week before the final round at Jerez).

This means Mackenzie will also have to miss this weekend’s race in Most, where he won his first WorldSSP race last year in mixed conditions.

As for Norodin, the Malaysian was diagnosed with an injury to his right forearm when he crashed in race two last weekend, and that appears to be the reason why he is out of contention in Most.

In a relatively short time, the MIE Honda team has been able to pick up replacements for both riders in Most, with American Hayden Gillem and Argentine Leandro Mercado finishing second this week. Gillem currently sits 11th in the MotoAmerica Superbike standings, having achieved his best result of sixth, at Barber Motorsports Park, so far this season.

Ahead of his WorldSBK debut, Gillem said: “I’m really excited for this weekend. I’ve always hoped to be able to race in the World Superbike Championship one day. I know it will be a great learning experience, as it’s a new circuit, different tyres, a new team and a different bike.

“Racing the 2024 Honda Superbike against my 2023 Honda bike in America will take some time to adjust to, but I am ready for the challenge. I have to thank the Petronas MIE Racing Honda team and Midori Moriwaki for this opportunity. As well as my team, sponsors and family back home for supporting me and my goals.”

Mercado, on the other hand, has more experience in the WorldSBK Championship, having raced for the MIE team last year, but this year he is splitting his duties between the World Endurance Championship and the German IDM Superbike series. Previously, the Argentine rode for the Viltais Honda team (which will not be heading to Suzuka this week for the 8 Hours), which finished fourth in both the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans and the 8 Heures Motos at Spa this year. In IDM, Mercado has ridden a Kawasaki, most recently (and fittingly) at Most at the end of June where he finished fifth and eighth.

“It would be great to be back on a WorldSBK circuit, with a team I know,” said Mercado ahead of the Czech round. “Fortunately, I was free to race this week because I won’t be racing at the Suzuka 8 Hours after all. I won’t start the weekend with any special expectations, but I want to improve from session to session.”

“I will do my best to make use of my experience and provide the team with more useful data. I would like to thank the Petronas MIE Racing Honda Team for inviting me back, and I hope we can have a good weekend.”