Friday, December 2 2011
Leandro ‘Tati’ Mercado has hinted he will be riding for the Pedercini team in the 2012 World Superbike Championship series. Following his 2011 season with Pedercini in the FIM Superstock 1000 series, Mercado got his first taste of Superbike when testing the Kawasaki ZX-10R.
Pedercini is one of the few teams yet to confirm any riders for the 2012 season and Mercado’s hints suggest he will be riding the bike again ahead of the new season.
“These two days of testing for me were very positive and as a first test, I think it went very well. I really enjoyed riding the bike as this was my first real experience of a superbike. My Kawasaki is powerful and fantastic to ride. Every time I entered into the circuit I improved my riding style to better suit the bike.
“Of course we have now a lot of areas to improve with the overall bike set up and with my riding style, but I think these two days here in Valencia have taught me a lot. I enjoy working with my team and I look forward to test again next year, before the beginning of the Championship.”
With the new generation ZX-10R, Pedercini enjoyed its best season so far as a 2011 satellite Kawasaki team, with Mark Aitchison qualifying for Superpole on a handful of occasions and making the top ten twice, while Roberto Rolfo was the highest-scorer, making an 18th overall place.
