Leandro Mercado's return to the World Superbike ranks got off to an inauspicious start after a c🦩rash on the second day of testing in Jerez left him with fractured wrist anℱd injured hand.

The Argentinian will lead Barni Ducati's move into World Superbikes next season having won the FIM Superstock 1000 title w🌌ith the team in 2014.

Settling well on the WSBK specificati𒊎on of the Ducat꧑i 1199 Panigale, Mercado was pleased with his pace before the accident. Suffering a fracture to the scaphoid, Mercado will suffer a recovery time of around six weeks.

"It was a positive two day test. The bike is really diffꩵerent to the one I used in STK1000 and I have to admit I found a good feeling with it straight away.

"Weather conditions did not allow to push to the limit, but we w🐼orked well and set some good lap times. It's a shame for the crash, which ruined our plans. Fortunately in few weeks ༒I will back to full fitness."

Mercado has previously raced in the World Superbike Championship before, competing with Pedercini Kawasaki for a part-seaso🎉n in 2012.