Castrol Honda’s Ruben Xaus will be replaced in this weekend’s World Superbike finale at Portimao by Karl Muggeridge, who rode for the team in the World Supersport and Superbike championships.

The 37-year-old Australian first rode for Castrol Honda team principal, Gerrit ten Kate, in 1999 and won the World Supersport title in 2004 before graduating to the World Superbike Championship.

“Obviously, I’m sorry for Ruben because it’s never good to miss out through injury, especially the last round of the season,” Muggeridge said. “However, I hope I can bring something positive to the team to help the guys finish the year on a good note.

“I’ve got no pre-conceived ideas on where I should be over the weekend, so we’ll just take each session as it comes and try to make some steps forward in each one.

“I haven’t ridden at Portimao since the first race here in 2008 and the CBR that I’ve been riding in the German championship is a quite different bike to the current Castrol Honda version.

“So it’s a big task but one that I’m determined to make the most of.”

Muggeridge rode a Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade to the 2010 German Superbike title and finished third in this year’s series.

Xaus suffered a further crash at Magny-Cours in France two weeks ago, sustaining neck injuries, which have forced the 32-year-old Spaniard to sit out this weekend’s finale.