WSBK - Round 6 - Donington

[wull]

After the short break WSBK is finally back with round 6 at Donington Park.

Toprak dominated this round last year, usually Alvaro doesn’t go as well here but for some reason I think he will this time round purely because he’s riding the crest of a wave just now and doesn’t seem to do anything badly.

As always I’m hoping for some good close racing with everyone staying safe.

[tricol]

Half tempted to go to this actually, weather looks to be okay.

Yea, can't see the little guy getting anything other than a win(s), unless he bins it.

[wull]

Jonathan Rea made a great start to his home WorldSBK round after topping Free Practice 1 ahead of Yamaha's Toprak Razgatlioglu.

Light rain moments before FP1 resulted in a damp start to the British WorldSBK round at Donington Park, as Alex Lowes, fresh off a new deal with Kawasaki was the early pacesetter.

Although lap times weren’t that far off the expected race pace in dry conditions, more drops began to fall in sectors one and four, as Remy Gardner suffered an early fall at the final corner.

Lowes’ time at the top of the timingsheets was ended after ten minutes when Razgatlioglu, despite a wobble at the final corner, managed to overhaul the Kawasaki rider by -0.149s.

Razgatlioglu and Lowes were the only riders under the 1m 28s barrier, while reigning world champion Alvaro Bautista was the only other rider within a second of Razgatlioglu.

After sitting out the opening stages, Rea took to the track with just under the session gone.

Sixth after his first flying lap, Rea then began to challenge Razgatlioglu after a strong opening sector.

However, the six-time champion lost time as the lap went on before slotting into fourth behind Bautista.

Following a brief dry spell, more rain fell with 20 minutes remaining which led to the entire grid returning to pit lane.

After confirming he wants to stay with BMW in the lead up to his home round, Scott Redding was one of the first riders to head back out on circuit, alongside Razgatlioglu and Bautista.

As conditions changed once again, the end of FP1 resulted in Razgatlioglu bettering his top time.

Rea was next to set a personal best as he joined Razgatlioglu and Lowes by dipping underneath the 1m 28s barrier.

The factory Kawasaki rider then produced a brilliant final sector on his next lap around in order to narrowly jump ahead of Razgatlioglu.

Despite the tricky conditions, no other rider aside from Gardner suffered a crash during FP1.

[wull]

Friday Free Practice results for round six of the 2023 World Superbike championship at Donington Park in Great Britain.


Free practise 2 results




Worsening weather at Donington Park meant Jonathan Rea's 1m 27.627s morning time remained unbeaten in this afternoon's Free Practice 2, when only Toprak Razgatlioglu and Axel Bassani improved on their FP1 best and just seven riders recorded a lap time.

In a repeat of FP1, white and red flags were waved from the start of the afternoon session.

However, this time the rain spots soon intensified, sending all riders back to the pits, most without setting a flying lap, while Razgatlioglu had got to within a mere 0.012s of Rea's earlier best.

The continuing rain eventually soaked the track, prompting some riders to return on wet tyres in the closing stages.

Razgatlioglu's team-mate Andrea Locatelli was quickest on wets followed by Hafizh Syahrin, Lorenzo Baldassarri, Eric Granado and Dominique Aegerter.

The others elected to play safe and remain in the pits.

The short Free Practice 3 takes place on Saturday morning followed by the Superpole qualifying session and Race 1.


POS RIDER NAT TEAM TIME
1 Toprak Razgatlioglu TUR Pata Yamaha Prometeon 1:27.639s
2 Axel Bassani ITA Motocorsa Ducati +0.142s
3 Andrea Locatelli ITA Pata Yamaha Prometeon +13.100s
4 Hafizh Syahrin MAS PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team +14.781s
5 Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA GMT94 Yamaha +15.995s
6 Eric Granado BRA PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team +16.234s
7 Dominique Aegerter SUI GYTR GRT Yamaha Team +16.298s
Danilo Petrucci ITA Barni Spark Racing Team No Time
Philipp Oettl GER GoEleven Ducati No Time
Loris Baz FRA Bonovo Action BMW No Time
Garrett Gerloff USA Bonovo Action BMW No Time
Remy Gardner AUS GYTR GRT Yamaha Team No Time
Scott Redding GBR ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team No Time
Alvaro Bautista ESP Aruba.it - Ducati No Time
Iker Lecuona ESP Team HRC No Time
Xavi Vierge ESP Team HRC No Time
Tito Rabat ESP Kawasaki Puccetti No Time
Alex Lowes GBR Kawasaki Racing Team No Time
Oliver Konig CZE Orelac Racing MOVISIO No Time
Bradley Ray GBR Yamaha Motoxracing Team No Time
Michael Rinaldi ITA Aruba.it - Ducati No Time
Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing Team No Time
Isaac Vinales ESP Pedercini Racing No Time
Tom Sykes GBR ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team No Time

[wull]

I think it’s fair to say that if it had stayed dry the free practise 1 time would have been easily bettered, Toprak set that (FP2) time when it was wet in the last few sectors, in fact the lack of adhesion flags were out in every sector, I couldn’t believe it my heart was in my mouth. Bassani was following him allowing him to set a good time.

It’s to be dry today and tomorrow I believe, you never know though, it was meant to be dry yesterday.

[wull]

[ChrisW]

[wull]

It’s getting boring quick. The first 10 laps were awesome but then as usual Alvaro just fucked off, there is absolutely sweet fook all anyone can do about it. JR is done, he hasn’t won a race since PH at the tail end of last season and I can’t see him winning any time soon. I don’t even see Toprak winning any time soon unless Alvaro makes an arse of it.

[wull]

[Skub]

It’s getting boring quick. The first 10 laps were awesome but then as usual Alvaro just fucked off, there is absolutely sweet fook all anyone can do about it. JR is done, he hasn’t won a race since PH at the tail end of last season and I can’t see him winning any time soon. I don’t even see Toprak winning any time soon unless Alvaro makes an arse of it.

It's looking like Bautista will top Rea's win tally for the season when we are about halfway through this season. Everyone said it was boring back then,little did they know.

The little chap will break many a record if he keeps this up and it's looking like he will. Like Honda and Yamaha in Motogp,Kawasaki,Honda,Yamaha and BMW need to make a huge step. The Ducati is a good bike,but it's Alvaro making the difference,all the rest can do is aim to be a bit closer,so he doesn't make them look silly.

[wull]

Yeah absolutely, the combination of him and the Ducati is unreal, one without the other and they don’t win, he won’t win, together, unstoppable. I think Donington is the final nail in the coffin for the rest, a real kick in the teeth because he usually struggles or at least doesn’t go well there, but he’s on such a high this year, just that bit better than what he was last season.

Toprak is going to try a few things today as he was struggling with read end grip so we’ll have to wait and see, the sprint race will be his best chance albeit he’s starting from 4th so has to make that up first.

[Skub]

Yeah absolutely, the combination of him and the Ducati is unreal, one without the other and they don’t win, he won’t win, together, unstoppable. I think Donington is the final nail in the coffin for the rest, a real kick in the teeth because he usually struggles or at least doesn’t go well there, but he’s on such a high this year, just that bit better than what he was last season.

Toprak is going to try a few things today as he was struggling with read end grip so we’ll have to wait and see, the sprint race will be his best chance albeit he’s starting from 4th so has to make that up first.

Toprak will know all about struggling when he pops over to BMW next year.

Incidentally,matey's bike the same as yours is back in the dealers with another oil leak. They've had it for two weeks now!

[wull]

Oh dear. I know there was the issue with the clutch cover bolts which caused seeping from there, and then there was the oil/water pump seal failing causing the leak out of the weep hole. Mine isn’t affected but I had a look anyway, they’re all good.

I’ll be intrigued to see how he gets on but I am a little worried, when you see how far back Scott is it is a little worrying.

[weeksy]

Yeah absolutely, the combination of him and the Ducati is unreal, one without the other and they don’t win, he won’t win, together, unstoppable. I think Donington is the final nail in the coffin for the rest, a real kick in the teeth because he usually struggles or at least doesn’t go well there, but he’s on such a high this year, just that bit better than what he was last season.

Toprak is going to try a few things today as he was struggling with read end grip so we’ll have to wait and see, the sprint race will be his best chance albeit he’s starting from 4th so has to make that up first.

Yeah it's bonkers at the moment and is slightly spoiling the viewing, but that's been the case more than once with Rea for example, just complete and utter domination of the sport. The other slight problem is that all the rest are so spread out at the moment that you don't get much in the way of battles for that long now. Just when you think the battles are coming, someone clears.

[westers151]

Sykes has well and truly fucked himself - ten rib fractures, three of them being two in the same rib.

Donnington is fun to ride, but awful for watching racing - too much of a one line circuit. However, even taking that into account, it was dull racing.

[Skub]

Rinaldi looked the worst,but only mild concussion and an ankle injury.

Sykes maybe need to look at retiring.

[westers151]

Rinaldi looked the worst,but only mild concussion and an ankle injury.

Sykes maybe need to look at retiring.

I'll be impressed if he comes back from that injury, although speculation was that he might be heading to Moto America (for the cash). His ex missus must have taken him to the cleaners.