Honda Racing team boss Havier Beltran has dismissed rumours that crocked rider Dan Linfoot will be replaced for the Oulton Park MCE British Superbike round.

Linfoot is continuing to recover from an operation on a broken wrist, which he sustained in a crash during the second BSB round at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. Beltran told Bikesportnews;com that Honda development and World Endurance rider Julien Da Costa will ride the Fireblade during the upcoming Snetterton test and will be on stand-by just in case Linfoot hasn’t fully recovered from his fracture to take part in the race at the track in June.

Frenchman, Da Costa is no stranger to Snetterton and competed last year at the circuit as a wildcard rider, and not only that the multiple World Endurance champ has been involved in the development of the CBR1000RR for a number of years.

“I can confirm there won’t be a replacement rider at Oulton Park - however we will have Julien Da Costa stand by and test with us at Snetterton, and if Dan is able then he will also ride at Snetterton too. With Julien already participating and doing a lot of work with the team last year - and having been at Snetterton it made sense to draft him in to assist with the development of the Fireblade,” said Beltran, speaking to bikesportnews.com.

It was also a positive Oulton Park test yesterday for the remaining Honda Racing duo of Jason O’Halloran and Jenny Tinmouth. They were able to try out new settings in order to gain better grip and traction control. But also away from the track Beltran is pleased that Linfoot had a successful operation this week on his wrist and thanked the medical crew at Brands for their swift response to his rider’s serious injury.

Beltran said: “The medical crew at the Brands Hatch track did a great job in getting his wrist back straight so the operation was a straight forward pin, and we are hoping to get Dan back on the bike for hopefully, maybe the Snetterton test but for sure the Snetterton race.

“During the test at Oulton the guys have been going through a number of settings and shock changes to help get better rear grip and traction for Jason - and to help Jenny get her head around the Oulton Park track, as it is different from Brands Hatch Indy. It is her local circuit and we want her to progress up the time scale and to finish two races.”