Exclusive: Lavilla in for Reynolds.
Crash.net can exclusively reveal that ex-factory Suzuki rider Gregorio Lavilla will replace British Superbike champion John Reynolds for the Rizla Suzuki team at the second official test at Brands Hatch on Tuesday March 15th.
At the test, it will be the Spanish rider's main task to help the team further develop the new GSX-R machine. It is also likely that he will stand in for Reynolds at the first race of the season, if the 2004 champ is still unfit to ride after sustaining a broken leg earlier this year.
Crash.net can exclusively reveal that ex-factory Suzuki rider Gregorio Lavilla will replace British Superbike champion John Reynolds for the Rizla Suzuki team at the second official test at Brands Hatch on Tuesday March 15th.
At the test, it will be the Spanish rider's main task to help the team further develop the new GSX-R machine. It is also likely that he will stand in for Reynolds at the first race of the season, if the 2004 champ is still unfit to ride after sustaining a broken leg earlier this year.
A Rizla Suzuki spokesperson comfirmed to Crash.net that Lavilla will take Reynolds place at the up-coming test, but it is still unknown whether Reynolds will be fit enough to race at Brands Hatch on 28th March.
"Obviously our first priority is to get JR back to fitness," commented the team's PR representative Jason McLean. "He has been receiving specialist treatment all week from the Doctor that helped him over his broken collarbone last season.
"JR is adamant that he will be at Brands but if the Doctors say no, it is likely we will run with Lavilla who would already have some experience of the bike and track from the test on Tuesday."
Lavilla is no stranger to the Rizla Suzuki team after standing in for the injured Yukio Kagayama last season at Thruxton, which was ironically where he and Reynolds were involved in a small coming together that resulted in JR coming off his bike and breaking his collarbone.
