Foggy opts for young Italian at Misano.

Carl Fogarty has chosen young Italian rider Lorenzo Mauri to replace the injured James Haydon on the FP1 for this weekend's seventh round of the World Superbike championship.

Mauri was recommended to the Foggy Petronas Racing team boss by Ducati chief Davide Tardozzi, who has used the rider for test purposes and was impressed by his set-up ability and determined attitude. A translator will work with the FPR team throughout the weekend.

"I thought it might help to have an Italian on the bike at Misano, which is a difficult track to get used to," said Fogarty, "And I wanted someone who was going to grab his chance by the scruff of the neck and really ride this thing.

"A few British names had been mentioned, but nobody who I really wanted. Davide told me that Mauri is as fast as the guys who are winning European Superstock races and that he is absolutely revving about the opportunity. He has got nothing to lose and we have got nothing to lose so, you never know, something just might happen."

The 26-year-old from the Como province of Italy is currently competing in the Italian Superstock championship with the GB team. Last year he was 12th in the same championship with a best-placed finish of fourth at the Oschersleben event.

FPR's James Haydon was ruled out of action for a minimum of two weeks with a prolapsed disc in his neck, following a crash in Germany. He is expected to be back in action for the eighth round of the championship at Laguna Seca on 13 July.