Aiden Wagner to replace injured Irwin on CIA Honda

Aiden Wagner gets World Supersport call-up

(Subject to paperwork being signed off on)

UK rider Andrew Irwin crashed and injured himself during testing today at Phillip Island and it seems as though Aiden Wagner might be the unlikely benefactor from Irwin’s misfortune.

The Queenslander is being drafted into the CIA Landlord Insurance Honda squad for the opening round of the series to replace the injured Irwin, who has fractured his hand and is awaiting surgery on in Melbourne before hoping to ride at the following round in Thailand.

Aiden Wagner, 2014 Australasian FX Supersport champion pictured here early in 2015

Aiden Wagner had a knee reconstruction in November and was actually on hand at Phillip Island today to serve as a spotter for PJ Jacobsen.

When Irwin was ruled out of this weekend’s proceedings, the team spoke to Wagner about filling in and he is fit and raring to go.

Wagner does not currently even have gear on hand at Phillip Island, thus his hum is flying down from Queensland tonight with his riding gear so Aiden can hit the track tomorrow morning on the CIA Landlord Insurance Honda.

Aiden Wagner's mum Jo hot-footed it to the airport and is flying Aiden's gear down to Melbourne for him tonight. — Aiden Wagner’s mum Jo hot-footed it to the airport and is flying Aiden’s gear down to Melbourne for him tonight.

Who is Aiden Wagner?

Aiden Wagner won the 2014 Australasian FX Supersport Championship before embarking on a somewhat tumultous career overseas in the following years. Wagner forewent the offer of a Team Honda Racing Fireblade ride for the 2015 Australian season (Link), to pursue a World Supersport career after stunning the Superbike paddock at Eastern Creek when he took a race win while replacing the injured Jamie Stauffer.

Aiden Wagner with mechanic Dan Williams and Team Honda boss Paul Free after taking out race one on his Superbike debut at Sydney Motorsports Park earlier this year. Wagner was offered a ride with Team Honda for the remainder of 2015 but elected to go overseas — Aiden Wagner with mechanic Dan Williams and Team Honda boss Paul Free after taking out race one on his Superbike debut at Sydney Motorsports Park early in 2015. Wagner was offered a ride with Team Honda for the remainder of that season but elected to go overseas

However, in that 2015 season Wagner eventually rode for three different World Supersport teams with a best result of 13th.

Aiden Wagner celebrates victory on his Superbike debut at Eastern Creek — Aiden Wagner celebrated victory on his Superbike debut at Eastern Creek in 2015

Starting the 2016 season with GRT Racing Team, Wagner had a troubled season, eventually splitting with GRT and then filling in various seats throughout the remainder of the year.

A similar tale of woe played out in season 2017 after the 23-year-old signed with Gemar Balloons Team Lorini, but not before Wagner finished seventh at the Phillip Island season opener, and followed that promising start with an eighth place in Thailand. From there though things went downhill and Wagner split with the team.

Aiden Wagner - Phillip Island 2017 — Aiden Wagner – Phillip Island 2017

A great performance thrown in at the deep end this weekend could put Wagner back on the radar of various teams should any further opportunities arise in 2018.