News

Since the Championship started racing at Donington Park back in 1988 as the first-ever round to a brand-new paddock, the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has been enjoying some of its most remarkable hair-raising moments at the circuit. From first-time winners to last lap battles, WorldSBK has seen it all at Donington Park but there’s a common theme: many saw underdogs come out on top. Whether it’s Neil Hodgson as a wildcard in Race 2 in 2000 against Pierfrancesco Chili, Davide Tardozzi winning the first ever WorldSBK race or Michael van der Mark springing to a double in 2018, magic is always in the Donington Park air. So, will we see another surprise this weekend? We’ve picked five riders who could continue the unpredictability of Donington.

On form and keen to surprise: will Rinaldi make a charge to the rostrum?

Ducati’s recent history at Donington Park is a far cry from the manufacturer’s illustrious past at the track; no top two finish since 2016 and without a win since Carlos Checa in 2011, they need a big weekend here to maintain their advantage in the Championship. Whilst Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is certain to be in the mix, teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi arrives there after his first podiums of 2022 at home at Misano. Since then, the Italian has also had a successful WorldSBK test at the track, where he became the first WorldSBK rider to achieve a 1’32 bracket lap. Rinaldi is on a high and Italian’s have always enjoyed Donington Park – think back to Pierfrancesco Chili’s relationship with the British fans, Marco Melandri’s first win in 2011 and the first three winners in WorldSBK at Donington Park all being Italian. Rinaldi wants to add his name to the magic list.

Living up to the home crowd: Scott Redding thrives at home

Throughout most of his World Championship career, Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) has put on a good show at home. In 2008 in the 125cc World Championship, he became the then-youngest ever winner of a Grand Prix as aged 15, he stormed to victory at Donington Park. In 2012, he enjoyed a stunning final lap battle with Marc Marquez in Moto2™ for second place, whilst in 2013, he took a magnificent home win, both at Silverstone. Then, in three of his four MotoGP™ races, he bagged top ten finishes, including a sixth place in 2015 on an Independent Honda. In WorldSBK, tricky weather caught Redding out in 2021 but a fourth in Race 2 saw him come through good. Testing at Donington Park with the BMW M1000RR between rounds, can Redding shine again?

The place of the last podium: can Garrett Gerloff finally bounce back?

Ever since Assen Race 2, 2021, Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) hasn’t been able to showcase his race speed quite like he did before. Still picking up solid results throughout the top ten and right on the pace in Free Practice, the American hasn’t had a podium in WorldSBK since Donington Park last year, when he was second in Race 2. Coming back to a quirky circuit at which he was fast at on his debut at in 2021 may be the feeling and sensation Gerloff needs going forward. The last American winner at Donington Park was Ben Spies in 2009, also on a Yamaha, and perhaps this can be the round where Gerloff is back on the pace.

Another home hero: will there be magical highs for Alex Lowes?

He first led a WorldSBK race at Donington Park, he was close to victory in 2018 and he was on the podium in his first appearance for Kawasaki at the circuit in 2021. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) has had plenty of success at Donington and he’ll be hoping that a first podium of the year comes his way this weekend. Seventh in the standings and just 24 points behind fifth-placed rookie Iker Lecuona (Team HRC), the 31-year-old British rider will need a good haul of points this weekend. Perhaps we’ll see him fighting at the front, aiming to get in and amongst the titanic trio like we’ve seen him do at times, particularly at Assen and Estoril.

All bets are off: Iker Lecuona may be the biggest surprise

He’s never raced at Donington Park, in fact, he’d only completed a track day at the venue after Misano, but perhaps that Donington magic will be sprinkled over to Team HRC. Close to a podium last year and with Leon Camier now in his second season as team manager, don’t be surprised if the Leicestershire venue’s character levels the playing field out a bit throughout the course of the weekend and brings Iker Lecuona into play. It’ll be a big ask for someone who hasn’t raced at the track before, but he was in the mix at Estoril, and it was the same situation then.

Watch all the action from the Prosecco DOC UK Round with the WorldSBK VideoPass!