Michael Jordan Motorsports announced today that Canadian Brett McCormick will fill in for Aaron Yates on the No. 23 Jordan Suzuki while Yates recovers from a broken leg suffered at the previous round at Auto Club Speedway.

The 18-year-old had a tryout for the MJM crew in Sonoma, California at the recent AMA test and impressed the team enough to get the gig, no doubt the biggest of his young career.

McCormick has had an impressive upbringing in Canada, starting professionally at only 14 years old and progressing to be one of the top Superbike and Supersport riders the past few seasons. He nearly won both championships last year for Picotte Racing Suzuki, taking several pole positions and wins along the way. Though that would normally lead to a good-paying factory or factory-supported ride, the young racer was left without much due to the economy, opting to gamble and spend his own money to come racing in the U.S. for 2010. And it has already started to pay off.

Riding for the privateer Celtic Racing team, the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan rider showed enough promise in the opening two rounds to catch the eye of MJM. And with Yates now out for six-to-12 weeks after his recent leg surgery, the likable racer has landed a dream ride, one which could be a massive stepping stone in his racing career.

“The opportunity is amazing,” said McCormick in a team video. “I obviously feel awful for Aaron, that’s terrible luck. But for me it’s a dream. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime to be able to ride those bikes. I’ve had factory rides in Canada but it’s a lot different down here and a lot more serious. I just really want to thank the team for this opportunity and I’m going to give them everything I can.”

McCormick’s best finishes this season have been a seventh and an eighth, and he currently sits 10th in the American Superbike Series points standings. His first outing for the MJM team will be April 16-18 at Road Atlanta.