It isn’t a good moment for World Superbike racers. Just a few weeks following Joan Lascorz’s horrific crash at the post race test at Imola, Effenbert Liberty’s Brett McCormick is now in the hospital facing some serious and multiple injuries.

20-year old McCormick was riding in 11th in Race 2 at Assen, when he crashed out heavily at turn 12, he was transported to the medical centre where he was diagnosed with fractures to his cervical vertebrae - seemingly without any neurological consequences - a facial trauma, and fractured finger in his right hand. He was transferred to Groningen Hospital for further examination.

Effenbert Liberty Racing press release:

The Effenbert Liberty Racing Team announces that Brett McCormick, following the disastrous crash in race two this afternoon in Assen, after the control in the circuit medical center, has suffered the trauma of the cervical spine, facial trauma with a hematoma to the eye sockets as well as a fracture of the fifth finger of his right hand, and he was sent to Assen hospital for further evaluation.

The result of more checks carried out that there was a fracture to the fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae, apparently without neurological involvement, so Brett has been transferred in the Groningen’ hospital, where it will decide how to stabilize the injuries. Further updates will follow as soon as possible.”

The Canadian Superbike champion started the season at Imola after Effenbert Liberty decided to pull the rug out from their announced Superstock effort and promoted him to World Superbikes to field a four rider strong team, with Sylvain Guintoli, Jakub Smrz and Maxime Berger.

Video of the incident after the jump:

Continue reading: Brett McCormick suffers serious multiple injuries in Race 2 crash at Assen

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We were kind of wondering why we didn’t see Jorge Lorenzo posing for Barracuda’s calendar this year with super hot Russian model Vera Sapojnikova and now we know why. Barracuda has stepped up its game and has become one the official sponsors for Gresini’s MotoGP and Moto2 teams and also for World Superbike Effenbert Liberty Racing team.

Sometimes you’re left wondering why some teams have title sponsors and array of smaller ones and others lose them …

Source | alvarobautista.co

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20-year-old Brett McCormick the 2011 Parts Canada Superbike champion has landed a ride with Effenbert-Liberty Racing for their World Superstock team.

The Canadian champion in October rode a BMW S1000RR in World Superstock for the Garnier Alpha Racing team at Magny Cours in France and then at the Portimao round, finishing 13 at Magny Cours and 10th at Portimao and in the post season test a Portimao, the Effenbert Liberty Superbike team had him try out Jakub Smrz’s Ducati 1098R and were duly impressed by his first laps on the bike and signed him up for their new Superstock effort.

McCormick will be riding the debuting Ducati 1199 Panigale, and his first official appearance for the team will be at a Phillip Island for a three day test session.

“It has been my goal and my dream to race in the world championships, and I have to thank the Effenbert-Liberty team for giving me a test in Portimao. Their team and bike are with the best, and they are serious about winning, so I plan to return their faith in me by putting the team colours at the front! At the test I found the bike to be the best I’ve ever ridden. And working with the team from both a technical and human standpoint was awesome, so I can’t wait for the season to start!” said the excited Canadian.

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World Superbike team Effenbert Liberty Racing will be expanding their efforts next year and will be fielding three Ducati’s. After previously reconfirming last year’s riders Sylvain Guintoli and Jakub Smrz, the Czech based team will be adding French rider Maxime Berger to their 2012 line-up.

Only 21, Berger is the former 2007 European Superstock 600 champion and two time FIM Cup Superstock 1000 runner-up in 2008 and 2010 and in his debut season with the now defunct Supersonic Ducati team (now Ducati Rome team who will field Niccolò Canepa) finished 16th overall.

Berger tested for the Effenbert Liberty team in October at Portimao and was the fifth fastest rider and was one second adrift from Eugene Laverty (Aprilia) who topped the timesheets during the test.

“I am honored by the confidence that the Effenbert Liberty Racing Team has given welcoming me within their highly professional structure. I know I can count on the all team, with whom I had the pleasure of participating to a private test on the Tuesday following the races in Portimao. I appreciate the welcome that they reserved me and I am very proud to have the possibility to honor the team’s colors in 2012. They can count on my professionalism, my motivation and the desire to honor my commitment to carry the colours as higher as possible. My second season on a Ducati Superbike will be for me the opportunity to fully take advantage of the bike qualities and I have no doubts that the work that we will be undertaking will soon bring its results. Rendezvous for everyone in 2012! “ said Berger.

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French rider Sylvain Guintoli has renewed with Effenberty Liberty Racing team for the 2012 World Superbike season.

Despite having carried fractures to his hand and ankle picked up at the start of the year at Phillip Island and diagnosed only after the Donington round, Guintoli finished the season on a high note at Portimao with a stunning second place in race 1, which brought him to sixth in the final championship standings.

The Effenbert Liberty rider also got a chance to ride a Ducati GP again this year, when he replaced Pramac Ducati’s injured Loris Capirossi at Sachsenring.

“I am very happy to stay in the Effenbert Liberty Racing Team , I felt very well both from the technical and from the human point of view and now I have developed a very good feeling with the Ducati that suits my riding style well and is giving me great satisfactions. I am very motivated and am sure that next year we will improve. It will be a great season! “ said Guintoli.

Effenbert Liberty has yet to announce if they will be fielding another two Ducati’s in 2012, as it was rumored during silly season.

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