WorldSBK: Hannes Soomer will replace Syahrin at Most

Hannes Soomer will return to the WorldSBK paddock at Most and stands in for Hafizh Syahrin.

Hannes Soomer will replace Hafizh Syahrin at the MIE Racing Honda Team this weekend at round eight of the WorldSBK Championship. Soomer will make his WorldSBK debut, after last racing in the paddock in 2022 in WorldSSP.

The Estonian rider will replace Syahrin who is currently recovering from injuries which were sustained in a crash while testing for the Suzuka 8 Hours. 

Soomer’s last season in the WorldSBK paddock came last season where he finished 13th in the standings. He rode for the Dynavolt Triumph team, racing with Stefano Manzi onboard the Triumph Street Triple RS. 

His best season in WorldSSP came in 2020 where he finished ninth in the standings. The ‘Baltic Bullet’ claimed three podiums in the season, with two in Magny-Cours and one at the final round in Estoril.

He will join the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team who are currently 13^th in the Team Standings. Hafizh Syahrin is currently 21^st in the Championship standings, with a best finish of 14^th.

Hannes Soomer switched to IDM, the German national Superbike Championship, riding onboard a Honda. He has already raced at the Most circuit this season, finishing on the podium. 

The Estonian rider will join Eric Granado at the MIE Racing Honda Team for the eighth round of the season. Granado’s best finish came at the opening race of the season, at Phillip Island with a 16th-place finish.

Talking about his debut, where he will race alongside Eric Granado, Soomer said: “I am happy to be making my debut in WorldSBK with the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team this weekend and I am looking forward to being back in the WorldSBK paddock.  I know I will have to adapt to the bike quickly, but Most is a fun track, and I am up for the challenge!”

Image credit: worldsbk.com