It’s been a difficult start to the 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign for Leandro ‘Tati’ Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team) after a last-minute call-up to race for the outfit. After competing at MotorLand Aragon, the team missed three rounds to undergo a testing programme, returning at the TT Circuit Assen but the Argentinean rider will miss the Tissot Czech Round after testing positive for COVID-19.

The positive result came before the 29-year-old entered the paddock and he is now in self-isolation and is currently not showing any symptoms. Mercado will therefore be forced to miss the Czech Round at the Autodrom Most and will be hoping he can get back on track on his Honda CBR1000 RR-R at the Navarra Round, taking place two weeks after the Czech Round.

Mercado will be replaced by Alessandro Delbianco at the Autodrom Most with the Italian returning to the manufacturer he competed with in the 2019 campaign. Delbianco has competed in 36 WorldSBK races in his career, all in 2019, claiming a best result of ninth at Donington Park in Race 1.

Reacting to the news, Mercado said: “I am very frustrated about this situation because I was so eager to race and to continue the work we are doing with the team. But I will have to watch the races on television again, which isn’t nice of course. However, the important thing is that I'm fine and don't have any symptoms, so I hope to be back as soon as possible. I would like to thank the whole team, as they are supporting me in every way, and I look forward to being back with them very soon because I am highly motivated to continue to improve with my Honda.”

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