#ukworldsbk

Το Σάββάτο ξεκίνησε 6ος στο grid, και κατάφερε σταδιακά να ανέβει θέσεις, μέχρι στον 15ο γύρο πήρε το προβάδισμα και καταφέρνοντας να εξασφαλίσει την πρώτη του νίκη στην κατηγορία, αλλά και η πρώτη νίκη της Yamaha από την επιστροφή της στο WorldSBK το 2016.

Χάρη στις καλύτερες καιρικές συνθήκες του Σαββάτου ο Ολλανδός κατάφερε και βελτίωσε αμέσως το ρυθμό του. Στη αρχή έδωσε μια ωραία μάχη με τον συμπαίκτη του Lowes, όπυ κατάφερε και τον πέρασε πριν ξεκινήσουν τον δεύτερο γύρο.

Μπροστά του ήταν οι Jonathan Rea και Tom Sykes. Στον 13ο γυρο, ένα μικρό λάθος του Rea άφησε ένα μικρό κενό το οποίο ο Ολλανδός εκμεταλευτικε. Δύο γύρους μετά ήταν η σειρά του Sykes να υποκύψει στην υπεροχή του van der Mark, και έτσι ο Ολλανδός πήρε την καρό σημαία μπροστά απο τα δύο Kawasaki, με τον Rea να περνάει τον ομόσταυλο του και να τερματίζοντας στην δεύτερη θέση.

Oι Lowes, Savadori και Laverty ολοκλήρωσαν την κορυφαία εξάδα του Σαββάτου.

Ο Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) κέρδισε την Superpole στο Donington Park και γίνεται ο καλύτερος superpoleman στην ιστορία του Superbike World Championship, ξεπερνώντας το θρυλικό ρεκόρ του Troy Corser με τον 44 pole.

Ο Michael van der Mark εξασφάλισε τη δεύτερη νίκη του σε δύο μέρες στο Donington.

O Rea ήταν μπροστά για επτά γύρους πριν ο Ολλανδός κάνει την αποφασιστική του κίνηση δύο γύρους αργότερα και κέρδισε άνετα στο Yamaha του για δεύτερη συνεχόμενη φορά.

Ο Τούρκος αναβάτης Toprak Razgatlioglu πέρασε τoν Rea στον τελικό γύρο για να πάρει τη δεύτερη θέση. Ο Rea προσπάθησε να πιέσει την Kawasaki του, προσπαθώντας να κατακτήσει μια ακόμη νίκη για να φτάσει το ρεκόρ στις 60.

Αλλά το Σαββατοκύριακο ανήκε στον 25χρονο Van der Mark, ο οποίος αυτό το Σαββατοκύριακο έκανε δυο στα δυο!

Ο Rea ήταν απογοητευμένος παρά το γεγονός ότι μεγάλωσε το προβάδισμα του στην βαθμολογία του πρωταθλήματος.

Ο Razgatlioglu έγινε ο πρώτος Τούρκος αναβάτης που ανέβηκε στο βάθρο στην κατηγορία Superbike καθώς πέρασε τον Rea στον τελευταίο γύρο.

Ο Lowes έπρεπε να αρκεστεί στην τέταρτη θέση, ενώ ο Chaz Davies και ο Tom Sykes ολοκλήρωσαν την κορυφαία εξάδα.

“Δεν μπορώ να το πιστέψω – Το η νίκη του Σαββάτου ήταν σαν όνειρο, ενώ ή διπλή νίκη ήταν κάτι που φοβόμουν και να το σκεφτώ, αλλά τα καταφέραμε”, δήλωσε ο Van der Mark.

“Έμεινα ήρεμος, έβαλα το κεφάλι μου κάτω και κατάφερα να περάσω τον Jonathan και να κερδίσω”.

Ο Van der Mark είναι πλέον τρίτος στην γενική κατάταξη, 18 βαθμούς πίσω από τον Davies, ενώ ο Rea κατέχει ένα άνετο προβάδισμα, καθώς κυνηγάει τον τέταρτο τίτλο του.

“Ήταν πραγματικά δύσκολο μείνω μπροστά. Η ομάδα μου έδωσε μια μοτοσυκλέτα η οποία ήταν έτοιμη να κερδίσει, αλλά δεν ήμουν “, δήλωσε ο Rea.

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Double Dutch delight for Michael van der Mark

The floodgates were opened on Saturday, and now there’s no stopping Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team). The Dutchman closed an extraordinary weekend at Donington for the Pata Yamaha team with the second win of his MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship career, a win against oll-odds in another fascinating race at the Prosecco DOC UK Round. A first double for van der Mark, and a first podium for Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), beating none other than Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in the closing stages.

A poor start from Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) saw him gobbled up in the mix at the first turn, ceding two places to Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) and Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). The Yamaha managed to pick both off in short order however, Haslam at the Fogarty Esses (before the wildcard crashed at Melbourne), and the Italian in lap 2. Meanwhile, the two KRTs held a surprisingly aggressive battle, while the other Yamaha quietly made it through to the leading group from ninth on the grid.

Quickly, one third in, the battle for the race turned into a three-way fight, with Lowes sticking strong but Rea taking ghost shots around Craner and Melbourne. Meanwhile, van der Mark, much like he did on Saturday, stalked the front two, biding his time. At the back, Razgatlioglu and Savadori fought nail and tooth for fourth, a few seconds back on the leading group.

After two perfect thirds to the race, it all came apart for Lowes at the end. On lap 17, Rea found a spot at the Melbourne loop, where so many moves have been made this weekend, and pushed in front from the inside of Lowes, with van der Mark picking off the scraps at Redgate and moving to second. And just like yesterday, one lap later, van der Mark made his race-winning move at that same turn 11. The Ductchman shot off from there, giving his pursuers no option to take away his incredible double.

There was one more surprise left at Donington, however. Amidst the front group bickering, Razgatlioglu found himself with the gap now non-existent. Showing an impressive late-race pace, the Turkish rider picked off Lowes with ease, before setting his sights on the three-time WorldSBK champion. And with one lap to go, he moved up to second. A fitting epilogue to Kenan Sofuoglu’s retirement in the last Round: Turkey has a new hero for years to come.

With Rea finally in third, his worst result since the Thai Round, and Alex Lowes repeating his Saturday performance in fourth, there was another comeback behind. Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) found his way all the way back to twelfth at the start, but a neat ride from the Welshman pushed him back to fifth, ahead of Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), who couldn’t continue his incredible Donington streak and leaves with his first finish outside the podium since 2011.

Savadori made it to the checkered flag in seventh, just ahead of Leon Camier (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team), who pipped Jordi Torres (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) to eighth at the final turns, and leaves the UK Round with two top-ten finishes on his return. Closing the top ten was Loris Baz (GULF Althea BMW Racing Team), with Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) ending a weekend to forget down in eleventh.

P1 – Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) “It just incredible, I can’t believe it, I had quite a good race, I struggled a bit but I didn’t feel as good as yesterday. So I followed Alex and Jonny, just used my head and in the last few laps they had a battle and I managed to pull away. To take the first win yesterday and now the double, its just incredible.”

P2 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) “Today is my team bosses birthday, so a big happy birthday to him! But this position is very good, I am really happy: It’s my first podium so I am really happy, thank you!”

P3 – Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) “It was a huge battle, I really enjoyed it and it was quiet close, I hope everyone out in the crowd and at home enjoyed it. But unfortunately I am disappointed with myself, I ran into arm pump issues which meant I found it hard to change direction and, I had to back off. Third was all we could manage, I’m sorry to my team as they gave me a bike that could win but that as all I could do.”

#UKWorldSBK at Donington Park: Race 2 1. Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) 2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) +2.328 3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +2.614

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Sandro Cortese blows open WorldSSP title race with stunning UK win

Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing) took the second win of his FIM Supersport World Championship career with a cool, controlled ride in his first venture to Donington Park in nine years. The German shot up to second at the start, and after taking the lead one third into the race managed to defend his lead professionally to the checkered flag in a three-way battle with Jules Cluzel (NRT) and Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse by Vamag), second and third.

The race start saw Cluzel shoot off into the lead from pole, building a 0.7 gap with Cortese by lap 1. Defending champion Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) fell to fourth, with De Rosa making the best of the inside line and climbing to third.

After Hiraki Okubo (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) crashed out 5 laps in, two packs of three led the race action. Cortese found the moment to attack in lap 8, his one aggressive move through all 20 laps. The German found a gap at Coppice Corner with Cluzel going wide, and sliced in like a hot knife through butter, taking the inside line and rubbing shoulders with the NRT rider. Pushing forward, there was no stopping Cortese with an open track ahead.

De Rosa took advantage of the pair’s squabbles, closing the small gap and setting up a thrilling second half of the race. His moment to push came with five laps to go, pushing up to second over Cluzel after a mistake from the Frenchman. But with one to go, Cluzel struck back, taking another 20 points and confirming that he’s a hot favourite for the title. De Rosa, meanwhile, scores his third consecutive third-place finish, an astonishing feat for the MV Agusta in a Yamaha-heavy top end.

The two WorldSSP leaders up to this point led another stunning battle, but not quite as high up the field as they might have preferred. Randy Krummenacher (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) won this duel the hard way, passing Mahias first at the Old Hairpin, falling back 10 laps later after a huge, race-threatening wobble, before pushing behind the Frenchman again with a lap to go. Fourth and fifth for the pair, respectively, who now fall to third and fourth in the championship, behind the Donington top-2.

Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) struggled to keep up with the leading pace from a seventh position start, and with his sixth place at Donington falls behind in the championship standings.

Ayrton Badovini (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was the best of the rest at the UK Round, meeting the flag in seventh position, with Thomas Gradinger (NRT) in eighth. Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), returning to racing action at Donington, also made it into the top-ten in ninth, with Andrew Irwin (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) the first of the home riders here at Donington, in tenth. P1 – Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing) “It was a really rough and hard race, its so physically hard at this track. But from the beginning onwards I felt quote good and the pace was very high from Jules. After five laps I thought I had to overtake and get my pace because in the last few races I waited and missed my chance. After I overtook Jules and it took some laps but i got my rhythm and I felt great, so a big thanks to my team after the changes we made over night, its a great feeling.”

#UKWorldSBK WorldSSP at Donington Park – Race 1. Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing) 2. Jules Cluzel (NRT) +1.377 3. Rafaelle de Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse by Vamag) +2.676

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Ana Carrasco flies to UK WorldSSP300 victory

Ana Carrasco (DS Junior Team) held and extended her lead in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship with a dominant display at Donington Park. The Spaniard was unstoppable at the Prosecco DOC UK Round, taking the first-ever Grand Slam in WorldSSP300 – pole, win, fastest lap and all laps led. Behind, another frantic last lap dash saw her teammate Dorren Loureiro (DS Junior Team) taking his first podium finish in WorldSSP300.

Carrasco knew that, just as at Imola, her pace with an open track ahead was nearly unbeatable. All she needed was a good start, which Carrasco nailed down, shooting ahead while Koen Meuffels (KTM Fortron Junior Team) and Mika Pérez (Kawasaki ParkinGO Team) got caught up in the podium tussle.

With the Murcian, who now leads the championship by 22 points, racing off into the distance, a thrilling battle for second emerged into the final lap. Scott Deroue (Motoport Kawasaki) had managed to open a gap and controlled his return to the podium midway through the race, but late mistakes, including a last-lap journey through the Fogarty Esses, meant that he dropped all the way back to sixth.

With Deroue out of contention, it was finally Loureiro edging ahead at the flag, with Borja Sánchez (ETG Racing) scoring a second successive podium in third. Enzo De La Vega (GP Project Team) managed his best result of the season in fourth, with Meuffels in fifth.

Jan-Ole Jahnig (Freudenberg KTM Junior Team) made his way to the flag in seventh, with Pérez down to eighth, Galang Hendra Pratama (BIBLION YAMAHA MOTOXRACING) in ninth, and Luca Grunwald (Freudenberg KTM WorldSSP Team), still second in the championship, finishing his Donington weekend in tenth.

P1 – Ana Carrasco (DS Junior Team) “Its incredible for us, we did a really good job this weekend. The race was difficult, it was a bit more windy than yesterday and I could not make the lap times so easily. It’s really good for us and for the championship, I want to say thanks to my team, and everyone who supports me.”

#UKWorldSBK WorldSSP300 at Donington Park – Race 1. Ana Carrasco (DS Junior Team) 2. Dorren Loureiro (DS Junior Team) 4.602 3. Borja Sanchez (ETG Racing) +4.965

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Jules Cluzel takes 20th career Superpole at Donington

Jules Cluzel (NRT) took his first pole position of the year and twentieth of his FIM Supersport World Championship career, leading a French one-two at the Prosecco DOC UK Round. A very strong performance from Cluzel, fighting at the front for the entire Superpole session, and one that puts him in a perfect position to score his third win of the year.

Behind Cluzel, Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) confirmed yet another first row start with the second fastest time of the Saturday session. Mahias, trailing the championship lead by one point, has started in first or second in every race this year so far.

Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing) closes the front row with the third fastest time, after leading the early stages. The German went through the grass at the Fogarty Esses in the closing minutes and was unable to improve his previous time. He starts ahead of WorldSSP leader Randy Krummenacher (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team), who will have to fight back tomorrow if he’s to keep his championship lead.

Hikari Okubo (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) flew straight from the Superpole 1 to fifth on the grid tomorrow, despite a last-lap fall. Closing row two is Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse by Vamag) in sixth, looking for his third consecutive podium finish.

Starting seventh tomorrow, Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) faces a tough challenge to remain near the top of the standings, with Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing) pushing his new Yamaha onto the grid in eighth. Ayrton Badovini (MV Agusta Reparto Corse by Vamag) and Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), substituting Kenan Sofuoglu following his retirement from WorldSSP, close the top-10 in ninth and tenth, respectively.

Pole Position: Jules Cluzel (NRT) “I am really happy because its been a long time since I’ve secured a pole position and its good to have one pole position, and for sure its better to start on the front row. Tomorrow is the most important day, we must enjoy and I am happy about today.”

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Michael van der Mark shocks Donington with first WorldSBK win

No non-British rider had won at Donington Park since 2012, and from the Free Practice sessions and Superpole, few would have predicted that would change today in Race 1. But Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) threw out the script for the Prosecco DOC UK Round with a sensational ride, flying from sixth on the grid to his first ever win in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship.

Van der Mark is the first Dutch rider to win in the top class, and the first win for a Yamaha rider since Algarve 2011, Race 2. The Dutchman left both Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) shocked and fighting for the remaining podium places, with the Northern Irishman in second and ‘Superpoleman’ in third.

The psychological battle between the KRTs, leading the first row, started right from the start. Rea made it ahead at the lights, with the pair squabbling through sector 1. Sykes struck back three laps later at the Old Hairpin, but went wide at the Melbourne loop. Two laps later, an aggressive Sykes made it back in front, same move, same spot.

The Kawasakis were poised – and had been widely predicted – to dominate Donington weekend, but van der Mark threw a spanner in the works immediately, the only rider able to keep up with Rea and Sykes after passing his teammate Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team). But stalking the KRTs was not enough for the flying Dutchman – Rea went wide at Melbourne in lap 13, the same he’d done a few laps earlier, and van der Mark shot ahead into second.

A couple of laps later, he attacked again. Van der Mark stuck the nose in at Melbourne, yet again, closed the line over Sykes, and blasted away in the lead. But the battle was far from over here: Rea picked his teammate’s pocket around Schwartz with 6 laps to go, and shot after van der Mark, smelling blood. Yet today it was not to be for the defending champion, the Yamaha rider making no mistakes and meeting the flag.

Behind the sensational podium battle, Lowes finished in fourth, behind his teammate but scoring a fantastic finish at his home race. He will also have the consolation prize of leading the line at Race 2. Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) finally translated his great qualifying and free practice performances into a great race finish, making it in at Donington in fifth, ahead of his teammate, Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia), in sixth.

With the Kawasaki, Yamaha and Aprilia bikes all phenomenal ahead, it was a sorry day for Ducati, with just Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) making it into the top ten, in eighth position. Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) crashed with five laps to go, and goes into Race 2 with no points.

Loris Baz (GULF Althea BMW Racing Team) made it in in seventh, with Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) finishing ninth following a thrilling battle with his teammate at Donington, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), who went to the floor on the final lap. Closing the top ten was Leon Camier (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) on his full WorldSBK return after injury.

P1 – Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) “Its amazing feeling, we’ve been working for this for a long time, last year I came close and finally after four years we’ve done it. I can’t thank the team enough. The bike was working really good this morning and I was pushing so hard, so a big thank you to the team. Its been three ears on this project and we’ve finally got the victory.”

P2 – Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) “I could see all race that Mikey wasn’t dropping off the pace and when Tom missed a gear I made a mistake and Mikey came through. I could see he had a lot more pace than Tom, so I tried to get past. He pulled a good gap and had a lot more rubber, I tried to pull it back, but I couldn’t beat him. He was unbelievable today and congratulations to him.”

P3 – Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) “Its not what we need but a great race from all of the top three, Micheal rode exceptionally well and there was no substitute. I was out the seat a couple of times, I had some issues I tried to ride around. I had a good battle with Jonathan, I enjoyed the race and tomorrow we can give more. I’m disappointed with our overall performance but happy with a podium.”

#UKWorldSBK at Donington Park: Race 1 1. Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) 2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +1.136 3. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +2.193