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

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

Settling well on the WSBK specification of 💮the Ducati 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 r💧eally different 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 limi꧃t, but we worked 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 pre꧑viously raced in the World Superbike Championship before, competing with Pedercini Kawasaki for a part-seaso☂n in 2012.