MIE Racing Honda’ Leandro Marc🅺ado will take no part in this weekend’s round six of the World Superbike Championship after testing positive for Covid-19. 

The Argent🎶inian is saidꦰ to not be showing any symptoms by the team but that he will not go into isolation. 

This adds to an already difficult start to 2021 in which Mercado has only competed in two ♎rounds - A🐼ragon and Assen last time out. 

Mercado is not the only rider who has been affec𒊎ted by Covid-19 heading into the weekendꦓ - WorldSSP300 rider Indy Offer has suffered the same outcome. 

Mercado said: "I am very frustrated about this situat𓆉ion because I was so eager to race and to continue the work we are doi🉐ng with the team. 

"But I will have to wat🧜ch the races on television again, which isn’t nice of course. However, the importa🐎nt thing is that I'm fine and don't have any symptoms, so I hope to be back as soon as possible. 

"I would like to thank the whole team, as they are supporting me in every way, and💛 I look forward to being back with them very soon because I am highly motivated to continue to i🤡mprove with my Honda."

Mercado will be replaced by Italian riꦆder Alessandro Delbianco who prev🍨iously raced for Honda in 2019. 

Mercado joins fellow riders Eugene Laverty (internal team restructuring) and Lucas Mahias (injury) reasons in being absent from this weekend, while Jonas Folger will find out today whether he’s been declared fit to race following his injuries♈ suffered in Assen.