'Lack of motivation' has been cited as the reason why Santiago Barragan has decided to leave WorldSBK with four rounds to go.

A decision was taken a few days before the races at Sepang which, according to a Grillini Racing press release, has left Team Manager Andrea Grillini with 'a sour aftertaste'.

"A really complicated season," Grillini says. "I always make all possible resources of the team available to my riders; however this season, each time for different reasons,  I have had to face difficult situations that did not allow the team to give its best and to work in serenity. I will not comment on the decisions taken by the riders but I want to say that, once again, enthusiasm and the desire to move forward win. Enthusiasm is what I found in Gianluca Vizziello, who was not afraid to get involved in WorldSBK, and in young Australian Alex Phillis who decided in perhaps less than an hour from my first phone call to join the team and will race with us at Sepang."

"To be offered to ride the last four rounds of WorldSBK is a privilege and a great opportunity for me," says Phillis, who competed in the first round of the World Supersport Championship earlier this year. "I am going to take it with two hands and do my best to really make something special of it. Can't wait!”