Haslam joins Scott Redding on one of many German marque’s two manufacturing facility M1000RR machines instead of Sykes, who in flip had been standing in for injured full-time rider Michael van der Mark.
Sykes was concerned in a heavy crash within the closing race earlier this month at Donington, getting snarled with the Ducati of Michael Ruben Rinaldi and Bonovo BMW rider Loris Baz at Coppice nook.
Whereas Baz escaped unhurt, Sykes was taken to hospital and was recognized with 10 damaged ribs and a fractured left ankle. Rinaldi in the meantime was taken to the medical centre however was cleared of any main damage.
Sykes left hospital on Sunday however stays unfit to trip this weekend at Imola, whereas van der Mark – who has been sidelined since breaking his left femur in a crash at Assen – can be nonetheless not able to make a comeback.
As such, BMW has elected to name up Haslam, who’s representing the model in British Superbike this yr. Imola will mark his first WSBK outing since final yr’s Portimao spherical, the place he rode for the Pedercini Kawasaki crew.
“To begin with, many because of Leon for being out there at quick discover to be with us at Imola,” stated BMW motorsport director Marc Bongers.
“We all know one another effectively from the previous, the place we celebrated success collectively, and this season he has returned to the BMW Motorrad household in BSB and is accustomed to the brand new BMW M1000RR. He additionally has loads of WorldSBK expertise, and we’re assured that he’ll shortly get again on top of things at Imola.
“After his crash at Donington, Tom Sykes is on the street to restoration and was discharged from the hospital on Sunday after per week, and all of us ship him our greatest needs.
“Michael participated in a monitor day final week, nevertheless a return for Imola would nonetheless be too early, and we’ve collectively determined that he’ll sit out this weekend, after which we are going to reassess the state of affairs.”
Haslam beforehand rode for BMW in WSBK in 2011-12, scoring a greatest end of fifth within the championship.
The 40-year-old sits fifth within the present BSB standings with six podium finishes to his credit score throughout the opening 5 rounds.
“It’s a implausible alternative,” stated Haslam of his WSBK return. “I’ve loads of historical past from this circuit and it’s implausible to trip once more for BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
“We’re driving the BMW M1000RR within the UK so I’m wanting ahead to work with [team boss] Shaun Muir and all the fellows from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Crew.
“We’ll see. I’ve no actual large expectations, I simply need to attempt to take pleasure in and hopefully we are able to get some good info and a few good outcomes.”
