One of the names touted as a potential team-mate to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Remy Gardner at GRT Yamaha for the 2023 WorldSBK season, Gagne ultimately lost out as reigning Supersport champion Dominiquꩵe Aegerter was given that seat. 

Set to stay in MotoAmerica and defend his crown for a third c𒈔onsecutive season, Gagne will have the opportunity to impress ahead of a potential switch in 2024.

Gagne, who got the better of former MotoGP rider 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Danilo Petrucci to secure his second domestic title, will be aboard the Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing R1 aღt Portimao. 

The United States is already represented in WorldSBK with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Garrett Gerloff, and although this weekend is only a wildcard appe🎶arance, three-time 500cc world champion Rainey is excited to see what Gagne ca𝓀n do.

Speaking to WorldSBK.com, Rainey said: "I’m very excited that he would want to do this challenge. I think Jake knows the track; I think he likes the track from the times he’s raced over ther൲e before. 

"I think his real bonus is bringing his team, the Attack team with him. ♉I think that’s what is really going to giv🐼e him the best shot at trying to do well. Taking that all in, we’re really rooting for him. 

"Jake going over there may be our best shot to really make a statement about what kind of level we really are over here, because in WorldꦓSBK the bikes are all pretty simila✤r from a national championship to the World Championship, a lot of the specs are similar. 

"Every team has their own different architecture as far as the way the rider sets it up with his team, the electronics etc. Gꦍoing in, Gagne’s got a lot of confidence. I think he wants to do well for himself first, but also for everybody else in MotoAmerica. 

"For me personally, I think realistically heℱ can get a top ten🅷 and anything above that is going to be all on him. I’ll clap whatever the [result] is."

Given the level in WorldSBK that has been spearheaded by title contenders 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Alvaro Bautista, 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Toprak Razgatlioglu and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Jonathan Rea in 2022, breaking into the top ten would be a very im𒀰pressive result for Gagne. 

Tyre knowledge could be key to a good result, says former WorldSBK champion Spies

Another rider who has backed Gagne😼 to do well is 2009 WorldSBK champion Ben Spies, with the American citing his experiences with Pirelli tyres as one of the reasons why.

Spies added: "This will be interesting for me because Gagne’s been riding really well. He’s been in the paddock for a couple of years with Honda. He understands everythin♊g, how it goes, and, more importantly, has a little bit of time on the Pirellis which are a step better than what he’s on now. 

"They handle quite a bit differently on the front tyre, which is good for the Yamaha. It’s all good. It’s nice that he has that feeling. It will be interesting becau♍se I feel when he was at Honda, he wasn’t riding at the same level he is now. 

"Not saying he’s going to come over there and win the race or something like that, but he’s definitely riding extremely well right now and it’ll be interesting. He’s got all h🉐is stuff worked out so there’s no pressure on him. 

"I don’t want to cast where I think he’ll finish, just because the competition is deeper no🍸w than when he was there.&nb༺sp;

"He’s got some fa🌟st guys to go racing with. I think he’s a top-12, top-ten, straight away and then it gets difficult frꦡom there. Pace wise, he’s definitely a top-ten rider right now in my eyes."