Crash at Suzuka: BMW team loses key regular driver

The AutoRace Ube Racing Team will have to contest the Suzuka 8 Hours without Hannes Soomer. The Estonian crashed on the second and final official test day at the Suzuka Circuit, injuring his right shoulder in the process. Soomer has already left Japan and is on his way home to Europe, where he will undergo a thorough medical examination.

“I’m sorry for the team and my team-mates. I wish them all the best for the race!” Soomer posted on his social media profiles following his crash. This leaves the BMW team facing a difficult decision in the run-up to the endurance classic. It is currently unclear whether Naomichi Uramoto and Sylvain Guintoli will tackle the Suzuka 8 Hours as a duo or whether a third rider will be nominated at short notice.

The reserve driver cannot step in

However, the search for a replacement is proving complicated. Jeremy Guarnoni is actually due to take on the role of reserve rider for the AutoRace Ube Racing Team. However, the Frenchman is already under contract with S-Pulse Dream Racing Suzuki this weekend, where he will be lining up alongside the German Jonas Folger. A last-minute change therefore seems impossible.

Hannes Soomer

Foto: BMW

Soomer’s withdrawal comes at a most inopportune time for the team. During the official test, the AutoRace Ube Racing Team was at times among the fastest teams and, amongst other things, finished fourth in the fourth session of the first day of testing. The team was consequently looking forward to the highlight of the season with great hope.

How long will Soomer be out of action?

The extent of the shoulder injury will only become clear once he has undergone examinations in Europe. It is therefore currently unclear whether Soomer will be able to compete in the next Euro Moto race weekend. The series heads to Oschersleben in four weeks’ time, where the BMW rider had originally intended to return to his BMW M1000RR.

For the AutoRace Ube Racing Team, the top priority now is to resolve the rider situation. After all, with the start of the Suzuka 8 Hours fast approaching, there is little time left to decide on a possible replacement or to race with just two riders.