Tommy Hill looks set to be out for much of the World Supersport season after his Honda Althea team announced he was undergoing surgery today [Thursday] on his broken thigh bone.
Having returned to action for the first time in eight months at the Nurburgring, Hill damaged the same thigh bone he broke in testing at Calafet last year, with a tumble at the start of the first race of the weekend.
He was flown home where he will undergo surgery at Redhill hospital in Surrey.
In the meantime, the Hannspree Honda Althea team has announced that Hill will be replaced by Russel Holland, who steps down from Superbikes.
The Australian has endured a tough Superbike season with DFX Corse, scoring a best finish of just ninth place at his home Phillip Island round. Nonetheless, he is a happy to be competing for Althea Racing and is eyeing a top five debut at Misano.
“I'm really happy to have this great opportunity. I'm eager to ride an official Supersport Honda and I would like to thank HANNspree Honda Althea team for having chosen me to replace unfortunate Tommy.
“I know my new team will help me to quickly adapt to the new bike and I'll do my best because I want to be one of the top five Supersport riders, starting from the next race in Misano.”
It isn't clear whether Holland will compete in both the Superbike and Supersport series'.
