Source: Supplied.

European-based Australian Remy Gardner will add the 2016 IDM Superstock 1000 Championship to his roster after signing to race with the factory-supported Team Yamaha MGM squad, beginning at the next round at Zolder.

Alongside his Moto2 World Championship duties with Tasca Scuderia Racing, Gardner will gain valuable 1000cc seat time aboard a YZF-R1 in the German-based IDM series after Lukas Trautmann was promoted to Superbikes.

“I’ve never raced with the 1000cc before,” Gardner said. “I’ve ridden one before, now I’m really excited for doing a race – it should be good. Obviously we want to try to be on the podium, but we’ll see. We have to keep working and keep focussed and see how we end up at the end of the day.

“Yamaha Germany asked me if I want to come and participate in IDM, obviously you can’t turn down a factory ride, so here I am. The track in Zolder I only know from video games, so I know the amount of corners and where it goes, but I don’t know exactly the track.

“My first feeling on the bike this morning was good. It’s pretty difficult to ride a standard bike and the track is a little bit dangerous as well. I wasn’t really pushing too hard, because it wouldn’t end very pretty, but it was fun, and I was having a good time, riding with the factory guys.”

To prepare himself for his first race weekend on the Superstock 1000 entry, Gardner tested a standard R1 on Friday in Schleiz to get used to the circuit and bike alongside new teammates Florian Alt and Trautmann.