After seven years in the Moto2 World Championship, Spanish motorcycle racer Xavi Vierge joined Team HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) for the 2022 Superbike World Championship (WSBK) season. Number 97 didn’t waste any time acclimating to the WSBK paddock, though, finishing nine of the first 12 races in the points and securing ninth place in the championship standings.
Just when Vierge’s progress was peaking during the series’ Italian round at the Misano World Circuit, an unfortunate crash in the weekend’s second race put a halt to his season. With just 10 laps until the checkered flag, Vierge was battling with Motocorsa Racing (Ducati satellite team) rider Axel Bassani for fifth position when the two tangled at turn 11. Bassani went on to finish the race, but Vierge’s campaign ended in the gravel trap. He later took to Instagram to explain the incident.
