Monza (Italy): Kawasaki Racing Team have roped in Spaniard Sergio Gadea as a replacement for injured rider Joan Lascorz for the weekend's World Super Bike Championship race.

Lascorz is still recuperating from a surgery in a hospital in Spain.

Gadea, who will be partnering Tom Sykes, is a multiple 125cc Grand Prix winner and a podium finisher in that class as recently as 2011.

For Gadea racing a Superbike in this category (1000cc) will be a new experience. He has also never raced at Monza before.

"This is a great challenge for me and I am very happy about it. I want to thank Kawasaki for the confidence they have had in me this weekend. I have never seen Monza before - only on the Playstation - and I was up until 1:30 a.m. this morning playing it. I have also done many laps on the scooter just to be sure of the circuit layout for the first practice session," said Gadea. (IANS)