Canadian European Superstock 1000 racer Brett McCormick has been promoted to the Effenbert Ducati WSBK squad for the rest of the season after a deal for the team to run Troy Bayliss at selected rounds this year fell through.

Team owner Mario Bertuccio had wanted the three-time world champion to field a fourth 1198 on a couple of occasions but for reasons unknown, the deal couldn't be secured so McCormick steps up to join Sylvain Guintoli, Jakub Smrz and Maxime Berger.

”The Effenbert company believes in motorsport and its use as the most powerful promotional engine so much that it was in their contemplation to run a Liberty Racing bike with legendary Troy Bayliss on a couple of occasions this season. They had a strong desire to give him the opportunity to ride as a wild card in a few races," said Bertuccio.

“Unfortunately, as we all know, this intention was not fulfilled successfully for various reasons. At this point, the possibility has vanished completely and Effenbert decided to reconsider other options of further investments in the team, with regard to the budget, which eventually resulted in the decision to engage a fourth permanent rider for the entire 2012 season. This decision is also promising something very interesting.”