Wrist injury healing up for rookie Mercado

One-man Barni Racing team member Leandro Mercado is still carrying the effects of a recent left wrist injury, suffered in winter tests in 2014, but is making progress after having a pin removed from the injured joint in time to let him ride at the tests at Portimao on his 1199 Panigale.

In what is a WSB debut year for both Mercado and the Barni Racing Ducati team, he feels he will be ready to race at almost full strength during the first round in Australia.

“My wrist should be OK for Phillip Island but at the moment the mobility in the joint is only around 40%,” said Mercado. “We also go to Jerez to test next week and we have all our 2015 machine package now.”

Argentinean Mercado does not underestimate the job at hand in his rookie season in WSB but the 2014 Superstock champion is confident that the second half of the season should show him and his team in their best light. “Everything is new for us,” he stated. “Me, the bike, the team in this class – it is new for us all. But, our goal is to be in the top ten. In the first half of this season it will be difficult to know everything about the bike because we will have to learn everything. In the second half of the season we want to be closer to the front, and also in the top ten.”