Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Chris Rankin will ride the Supersport-class Annandale Honda–left vacant by injured rider Ty Howard–at Brainerd International Raceway June 27-29 and Laguna Seca Raceway July 10-13.

Howard fractured his hip and suffered a deeply abraded arm, both of which required surgery, in a crash during the AMA Formula Xtreme race at Pikes Peak International Raceway May 31.

Rankin, a 30-year-old racer from Bastrop, Texas, was already a member of the Annandale Honda team, working as Howard’s Formula Xtreme mechanic.

“We’re real excited about Chris,” said Annandale Honda Team Manager Anna Johnston. “He was kind of like a natural fit, because he was already on our team. So he knew us, he’s from the area and he’s traveling with us anyway. Also we’re excited about it because he’s a really talented rider. He’s ridden on Ty’s big bike here (at the MotorSport Ranch in Cresson, Texas) a few times and was running really good lap times and was competent on the bike.

“This last weekend Chris went out on the CBR600RR for the first time. He went down to Texas World Speedway and participated in a few (CMRA/CCS) sprints there and a GTU race. He won the GTU race and got three seconds and a third (finishes) in the sprints he was in, and he was starting from the back of the grid. He said he loves the bike and loves the Michelin tires. I don’t know the official 600cc lap record, but I’m told it’s a low-1:45. And he did some 1:45.6s.”

Howard, who expects to return to action at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course July 25-27, not only approved of his replacement, he actually recommended Rankin.

“It was something I had in mind,” said Johnston, “but when I went to see Ty in the emergency room in Colorado Springs, one of the first things he said was, ‘Hey, I think Chris Rankin should fill in for me while I’m out.'”