WorldSBK Donington Park: Markus Reiterberger unable to compete due to illness; Peter Hickman to step in.

Munich. Markus Reiterberger (GER) has had to cancel his
participation in the eighth round of the FIM Superbike World
Championship (WorldSBK) season at Donington Park (GBR) at short
notice. The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team rider has contracted a severe
viral infection and a high fever. British BMW S 1000 RR rider Peter
Hickman will stand in for him in the races at Donington Park.

 

Reiterberger spent last night in hospital for observation. He will
undergo further tests. The attending physicians have banned him from
flying and working.

 

In Hickman, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team has found a replacement from
the BMW Motorrad Motorsport family who is very familiar with the new
BMW S 1000 RR. The 32-year-old represents Smiths Racing BMW in the
British Superbike Championship as well as in international road
racing. This year he has brought home wins with the new RR at the Isle
of Man Tourist Trophy and the North West 200. 

 

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “We
were very sorry to hear that Markus is suffering from a viral
infection and is unable to compete at Donington. With Peter Hickman we
were able to find a worthy replacement from the BMW family at very
short notice. Peter rides a package very similar to WorldSBK in the
British Superbike Championship so it shouldn’t take him long to find
his feet. We wish Markus a speedy recovery and Peter good luck for Donington.”

 

Shaun Muir, Team Principal BMW Motorrad WorldSBK
Team:
“We are very sorry to hear that Markus is sick, feels
unwell and is not fit to ride this weekend. I thank him for letting us
know as soon as possible to give us time to find a replacement.
Obviously it was very important to us to have an existing BMW rider as
a replacement rider and Peter Hickman is an ideal choice for us. He is
already riding the current bike and he agreed to join us very quickly
so we are very hopeful that he can do a good job for us at Donington
Park and assist us with the development of the BMW S 1000 RR. At the
same time, I want to thank his team, Smiths Racing BMW, for releasing
him for this event and hopefully we can have a good, positive race
this weekend before we go to Laguna Seca.”

 

Peter Hickman: “First of all, I’m sorry for Markus
that he is unable to race at the weekend and I wish him a speedy
recovery. At the same time, I am happy to step in and support the BMW
Motorrad WorldSBK Team at Donington Park. I didn’t have to think long
when I got the call from Shaun Muir. I want to thank the team for the
trust and my Smiths Racing BMW team for allowing me to compete in
WorldSBK this weekend. And a big thanks to Dunlop UK, as I should have
been racing in the French Superbike Championship for them this weekend
and they enabled me to do WorldSBK instead. It’s quite some years ago
when I raced in this series but I know the BMW S 1000 RR and the track
at Donington Park very well, so I am confident that I can do a proper
job for the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team.”