After his strong showing at Miller Motorsports Park, Jamie Hacking has been tapped to replace Makoto Tamada at the next two rounds of World Superbike racing at Misano and Donington Park. The news is a boon to Hacking who has been hoping to crack into the WSBK circuit since the start of the season. AMA viewers may remember more than a couple disgruntled Hacking moments where the rider has expressed his take on the AMA in his post-race interviews. WSBK racers may enjoy this news less vigor, as the American’s passing style was of some controversy at the Utah circuit.
Kawasaki is listing their official reason for the replacement as being necessary to allow Tamada to fully recover from his injuries. However, rumors have been emanated from the Team in Green, almost from the start of the season, that the Kawasaki paddock is not happy with the results Tamada has been achieving in WSBK, and feel that Tamada has been forced on them by Kawasaki Corporate in Japan.
Getting a vote of confidence from a fellow AMA/WSBK convert and good friend, Ben Spies has given his full support of Hacking’s entry into the WSBK series on several occasions. Assuming a strong showing in the next two WSBK stops, Kawasaki might have all the ammunition it needs to make such a case to the Akashi headquarters.
Hacking leads Tamada by 7 points in the overall WSBK standings.
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