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With test rider Augusto Fernandez called to replace Miguel Oliveira in the MotoGP round in Austin, it will be Jason O'Halloran who will race the R1 of the injured Jonathan Rea in the second round of the World Superbike season. Scheduled for next weekend in Portimao.
The Australian, a Yamalube YART Yamaha team rider in the 2025 EWC season, as well as soon to take on the role of test rider for the Iwata-based manufacturer in World Superbike, will get on the Pata Maxus Yamaha team's R1 for the first time on March 28, during the first practice session of the Portuguese round.
Despite being on his first outing with the team, O'Halloran will be able to count on his vast experience gained riding an R1 in BSB, where he became Yamaha's most successful rider, in terms of race wins, thanks to 26 wins between 2019 and 2023. It will help him to better prepare for the Endurance World Championship season, which will start in April at Le Mans. TheAustralian has also taken part in several winter tests with the YART EWC team over the past months.
"I'm excited to get the opportunity to ride for the Pata Maxus Yamaha team in Portimao while Jonathan continues to recover. I have really enjoyed being back on the R1 in pre-season testing with YART, it's a bike I've always gelled well with and I had a lot of success with the R1 in BSB, so to try it in full WorldSBK spec is something I'm looking forward to," commented O'Halloran. "Of course, heading into a race weekend with no testing is jumping into the deep end, but I will give my best for the team and for Yamaha, while also remembering that the EWC season starts in just a few weeks! I'd like to thank Yamaha and the team for the opportunity and to wish Jonathan a speedy recovery."
Niccolò Canepa, Road Racing Sporting Manager at Yamaha Motor Europe, has no doubts about the Australian rider's potential and that he can have a good weekend.
"We are really happy to welcome Jason to the Pata Maxus Yamaha team in World SBK. He is currently our EWC rider and is also our WorldSBK test rider, but he hasn't had a chance to ride the bike yet! The Portimao weekend will be a good opportunity to get a first touch of the bike together with our competitors to understand the bike's level so he can contribute to our development work as we try to continue to look to improve," he said. "Of course we all know Jason's speed, he is the most victorious rider for Yamaha in BSB and knows the R1 well in BSB spec, which is very similar to World SBK, and he also knows the Pirelli tyres. He has been very fast in the winter tests with the EWC YART bike, so I believe he will have a good race weekend. We are very close to the Le Mans test and race, so thanks to YART for allowing us to borrow Jason in this very busy period for them."
