WSBK: Gabellini In, Torres Out at MIE Racing for the Rest of the Season

The MIE Racing Althea Honda Team has announced a new rider line-up ahead of the season resuming in Jerez.

Lorenzo Gabellini will join the outfit in place of Jordi Torres who drops out of the WorldSBK series. Takumi Takahashi meanwhile remains part of the team.

Gabellini is competing with Althea Racing in the Italian championship aboard a CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. He claimed a fourth and fifth place finish at the Mugello races just over a week ago.

Speaking about his move to WorldSBK the 2019 Italian Supersport champion said:

“Racing in the World Superbike Championship has been my dream since I was a child and obviously now, I’m very happy and excited that my dream has come true. This opportunity came unexpectedly but I am ready to work hard to deserve it and to grow in the MIE Racing Althea Honda Team and with the Honda. It is a great challenge, but I am ready and looking forward to it.”

Lorenzo Gabellini

Torres was set to join the grid with MIE Racing from the start of the European season. However, the Spaniard also has commitments in other championships, racing in MotoE with the Pons team as well as in Spanish Superbikes.

Numerous clashes between the series caused by calender rearrangements forced Torres to give up his ride in WorldSBK. Team and rider agreed to part ways by mutual consent and team principal Midori Moriwaki wished Torres all the best.

Team owner Genesio Bevilacqua commented on the unusual situation:

“Lorenzo Gabellini is a talented young rider, talent that he demonstrated both last year, in the Italian Supersport 600 championship, and just over a week ago, in his first Italian Superbike race with us at Mugello. The situation generated by the pandemic has opened up this unexpected opportunity for Lorenzo, allowing for his collaboration with Althea Racing and MIE Racing in the Superbike world championship.

Genesio Bevilacqua