Razgatlioglu takes first full-race win of 2022 in Race 1, Bautista crashes from second
Toprak Razgatlioglu (1). Photo courtesy Pirelli.
Starting from third on the grid, Razgatlioglu was able to claim his first full-length race win of the 2022 season while Kawasaki claimed their 500th WorldSBK podium
The opening MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship race of the Prosecco DOC UK Round was a dramatic affair full of battles up and down the grid at Donington Park as reigning Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK Team) claimed victory by 6.3 seconds to claim his first full-length race win of the 2022 season. It means Razgatlioglu is now 54 points behind Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in the Championship standings following the latter’s retirement.
HOLESHOT FOR RAZGATLIOGLU: getting the jump at the start
It’s a move that has been seen a lot throughout 2022 as Razgatlioglu got the holeshot at the start to take the lead of the race and he was able to take advantage of the battling between Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and teammate Alex Lowes in the early stages, before Rea and Bautista fought each other for second place in the middle stage of the race.
Rea initially got swamped on Lap 1 and dropped to as low as fifth place before fighting his way back up to second place. He first fell behind Bautista on Lap 7 as the pair battled, with Rea making a move on Bautista on Lap 8. Bautista then re-passed Rea on Lap 12 at Turn 9 before Rea responded immediately before making the move stick on Lap 14 at Turn 12. Two laps later, however, Bautista crashed at the same corner and retired from the race; ending his run of 12 consecutive podium.
Razgatlioglu’s victory gave him the 20th of his career and his 64th podium finish in WorldSBK, while it was also Yamaha’s 97th win. Rea claimed his 226th podium and claimed Kawasaki’s 500th podium placement in WorldSBK. In the Championship standings, Rea took 20 points out of Bautista’s lead with the gap now only 16 points, with Razgatlioglu 54 points back.
BATTLING BRITS: Lowes and Redding fight for third
The battle for third place came down to a shootout between two home heroes as Lowes fought with Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team). Redding was ahead until the final handful of laps as the pair battled through the final sector of the race, racing hard through Turns 11 and 12 and into Turn 1 on the next lap, before Lowes got the move done on the exit of Turn 1 and into Turn 2 to secure his first podium of the 2022 season. Lowes ensured Kawasaki immediately moved onto their 501st podium; Lowes’ third place was the 30th podium finish of his career. It was also his first podium since the Superpole Race in the 2021 French Round at Magny-Cours.
STRONG RESULTS: rounding out the top ten
Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) finished as the best Independent rider in Race 1 as he claimed fifth place in Race 1, his sixth consecutive top-seven finish in 2022. Bassani finished as the lead Ducati rider following Bautista’s crash as he finished a second clear of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in sixth place.
American star Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) performed another customary late-race surge as he finished in seventh place, equalling his best result of the season so far. Gerloff passed Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) on the final lap with the Spanish rookie finishing in eighth place, almost 7.5 seconds clear of Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) in ninth and Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) in tenth.
TAKING HOME POINTS: completing the top 15
Philipp Oettl (Team Goeleven) was 11th on his first race at Donington Park, finishing two seconds clear of Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in 12th; Mahias securing points on his return from injury. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) was just a tenth back from Mahias while he was one second clear of wildcard Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) in 14th with the reigning British champion taking points on his WorldSBK debut. British rider Leon Haslam (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) rounded out the points with 15th place.
HOUSEKEEPING: to note from Race 1
Stand-in rider Illia Mykhalchyk (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) made a good start to climb up the order but dropped down to 16th place at the end of the race, missing out on points by just 0.244s after the 23-lap race. He was more than seven seconds clear of Hafizh Syahrin (MIE Racing Honda Team) who was only half-a-second clear of fellow rookie Luca Bernardi (BARNI Spark Racing Team) in 18th.
Japanese rider Kohta Nozane (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 19th, just over a second clear of Eugene Laverty (Bonovo Action BMW) and Robert Tamburini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team), with Laverty and Tamburini separated by just 0.085s at the line. Wildcard Peter Hickman (FHO Racing) was 22nd ahead of Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) in 23rd; the last of the classified finishers.
Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team) was the first retirement of the race after he crashed at the Turn 12 hairpin, the final corner of the circuit, on Lap 8. Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha) was the second retirement of the race as he brought his Yamaha into the pits.
Motorcycle Racing Fans Show Up: MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest Attendance Increases 7.2% From 2021 Event
The GEICO Motorcycle MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca welcomed 35,717 fans for the third MotoAmerica exclusive event to be held at the historic track.
The 7.2 percent increase in attendance from 2021 shows strong growth for MotoAmerica and continued interest in the motorcycle racing heritage of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Bolstered by a persistent social media presence, manufacturer support and the endorsement of legendary motorcycle racing names like Wayne Rainey, fans of all ages and interests enjoyed beautiful weather and exciting racing all weekend long.
Festivities kicked off on Thursday evening with a Bike Night event held on Lighthouse Ave in the quaint local town of Pacific Grove. Hosted by the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the event drew dozens of unique motorcycles, while spectators enjoyed music from two live bands and local vendors. Fans could also check out Jameson’s Classic Motorcycle Museum for an up-close look at motorcycle history.
On-track action was split across three days of racing with multiple classes of motorcycles shrieking around the track. Medallia Superbike, the premier class for MotoAmerica, delivered exciting action as fans watched California-born Jake Gagne and the Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha team overtake Danilo Petrucci and Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC for the championship lead. Fan favorites Mission King Of The Baggers and Roland Sands Design Super Hooligans also provided some seriously entertaining thrills on the track.
The motorcycle parking area and one of the many camping areas as seen during the MotoAmerica event. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca remains one of the most iconic and spectator-friendly venues on the entire MotoAmerica calendar. From the up-close viewing at the iconic Corkscrew to the grandstands on the main straight and full paddock access, MotoAmerica fans had plenty to see and do throughout the race weekend.
“The success of the MotoAmerica weekend is a solid and steady indication of the growing interest in motorcycle racing,” said John Narigi, president and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. ”It is the largest and most important motorcycle race on the west coast and really appealed to entire families who were looking for an entertaining experience. We look forward to working with the MotoAmerica team on continuing to grow the event.”
Varese, July 15th, 2022 – F3, Dragster and Turismo Veloce: three unique ways of living one’s motorcycling passion, yet they all share the legendary MV Agusta brand and belong to the very special and eminently Italian RC racing breed.
The smell of fuel and burnt tarmac fills the quiet air. The sun reflects on the brilliant colour combinations of the tank and fairings. Light metal, technology, design. The rumble and roar of the inline-three-cylinder engine breaks the silence and becomes the soundtrack of a great day of riding.
The RC range represents the essence of MV Agusta’s racing DNA, designed for every minute detail to incarnate the highest point in the development of these truly exclusive models. The acronym stands for Reparto Corse as one can easily deduce from the colour scheme shared by the three models, and which emphasises their racing vocation. All three models are in limited series: 200 units for the F3 RC, 300 for the Dragster and the Turismo Veloce, with their production number on the steering plate and delivered with a certificate of authenticity. The racing kit, for the F3 RC and the Dragster RC, is made up of a rich collection of premium parts: exhaust, control unit, footrests, levers and everything needed to turn a plain motorcycle into a racetrack-ready machine.
A 2022 MV Agusta F3 RC. Photo courtesy MV Agusta.
F3 RC
Just think of the best Supersport of the moment, and dress it up in MV Agusta’s official racing colours. You’re ready to ride the F3 RC, the sportiest of the range, ready to burn the tarmac of the next racetrack. Engine, frame, aerodynamics: everything on this bike was designed for maximum performance without compromise. The front forks have an advanced titanium nitride (TiN) coating to reduce friction, wheels that are 10% lighter, resulting in a moment of inertia reduction of 7%. Whether it’s racetrack tarmac or that of a scenic country road, riding sensations remain the same. The racing kit includes an Akrapovič full titanium exhaust that pairs well with the control unit featuring special racing mappings, complete with an extensive carbon-fibre protective heat shield. The aluminum alloy clutch and brake levers are CNC machined. The new F3 RC 2022 is being produced in a 200 units limited series, all numbered and delivered with a certificate of authenticity.
The renewed graphic elements and the colour scheme, clearly remind of the bikes racing in the Moto2 and Supersport championships. The ample use of premium materials serves both aesthetics and function: for instance, the front forks have an advanced titanium nitride (TiN) coating to reduce friction, the forged wheels reduce unsprung mass and improve manoeuvrability; carbon fibre also enhances the design of the Dragster, making it unique among the medium capacity naked. The 800cc three-cylinder engine, already an absolute industry benchmark, is pushed even further the racing kit, which includes an SC Project titanium exhaust and a central unit with optimised mapping, as well as a sleek looking see-through clutch cover.
The new Dragster RC SCS 2022 is being produced in a 300 units limited series, all numbered and delivered with a certificate of authenticity.
The most eclectic MV Agusta, in its RC version, boasts a number of precious details that make it even more exclusive, also because it is being produced in a 300 units limited edition series, all numbered and certified. Many updates have been introduced on this model, from a newly designed exhaust to new suspension tuning, on top of an enlarged windscreen and an updated electronic shifting sensor for improved precision and reliability. The inertial platform is also brand new. The Turismo Veloce RC features the tested and proven Smart Clutch System, developed by MV Agusta together with Rekluse: it will allow for lightning take-offs without having to use the clutch lever to stop and go, making the whole riding experience even easier, more carefree and sportier.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
Rea topped Friday running with a half a second advantage over Razgatlioglu
The six-time WorldSBK Champion led Razgatlioglu and Redding in the combined results, with Bautista in fifth
Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Friday highlights – WorldSBK
P1 – Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
Rea topped Friday’s timesheets, finishing 0.551s clear of Razgatlioglu.
His fastest time of a 1’27.016s is under the race lap record.
He set an incredible 13 1’27s, more than the total of his competitors combined.
“You never expect such a big difference because half a second is a lot. During practice sessions, everyone is in different strategies. Today I tried to understand a couple of different weight balances with the bike, different wheel basis, some different electronic settings and then try to evaluate both front tyres and also all the rear tyres. We managed to do all that. This morning with the harder rear option, and this afternoon with both the softer options. We gained a lot of information today, now it’s about sitting down understanding what’s going to work for tomorrow. Just looking at the forecast, the temperatures are going to rise so maybe all that work would be in vain because when you have a 10 degrees difference on the asphalt it makes a big difference. The positive thing is that we have lot of info and today we were quite fast. So, it’s a good start to the weekend.”
P2 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK)
Fastest in FP1, Razgatlioglu concluded Friday in second place about half a second behind Rea.
Not matching Rea’s pace, he lapped two 1’27s and ten 1’28s.
“I’m very happy that we come back again to Donington Park, because I like this track a lot. Today we try for a good setup for the race, but we have to keep working because in FP2 I am not really happy – but P2 was not a bad lap time. We need more grip for the rear and after, I’m just riding because you know I enjoy this track! We will try also a new set-up, we will see. This is just the first day, tomorrow we have FP3 and after we will try again a good set-up for the race. Every race weekend this year we see big improvement, everybody is very fast. Important the race, not Friday – so we are just working for this and I hope tomorrow I am fighting for the victory.”
Scott Redding (45) leading Xavi Vierge (97) on track at Donington Park. Photo courtesy Dorna.
P3 – Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
With a new swingarm at his disposal, Redding completed Friday’s top three after two solid Free Practice sessions.
He finished 0.582s behind Rea’s best time, and 0.031s behind Razgatlioglu in second.
“I think we’ve also made some big steps with the BMW to bring it closer to the front. Different handlebars, different swingarm, different footpegs, I’m just feeling more that it’s my bike and riding with more of a clear mind of how to go fast. It’s definitely an improvement, that’s for sure. But it’s still the start of the evolution for me. I’ve worked with Kalex before; they’re very good technically and a very good way of achieving the goal and they understand that from a rider’s perspective. There will be more to come, which is very good. It’s just part of the puzzle. We have many, many things that we are pushing and working on. Slowly we start to see something coming.”
Alex Lowes (22). Photo courtesy Dorna.
P4 – Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
Lowes ended Friday in fourth place with a best time of 1’27.684s, having run second for most of the session and staying out on one tyre.
“It was a good Friday. It was really nice to get on the bike. I was a little bit nervous this week because it’s a real home race for me. It’s a track I enjoyed and to be honest I felt really good on the bike today. In FP1, I tried my 2022 standard setting and also somethings to watch of the years at Donington last year. In the afternoon, I tried to do a longer run with the SCX tyre just to gather some information for Race 1 tomorrow. I’ve felt quite good. There are some areas in the middle of the lap, the second sector, where I need to improve but in general, I was quite happy.”
Alvaro Bautista (19). Photo courtesy Dorna.
P5 – Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
Championship leader Bautista was fifth, as his best time of 1’27.730 is 0.714s slower than Rea’s time.
He lapped three 1’27s accompanied by 14 1’28s showing signs of good pace.
“I think today has been a positive day. I felt better than I expected; I didn’t expect anything before coming here because I remember three years ago, it was very tough for me. Today, I was feeling much better. The feeling with the bike wasn’t too bad especially with the race pace because I felt quite comfortable compared to three years. I think our pace today was acceptable. Anyway, we have some small details to improve for tomorrow that maybe can help me gain some tenths and especially be more consistent. I’m happy with today.”
P6 – Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
Despite a small crash at Turn 12 in FP2, Rinaldi completed Friday’s top six.
Just 0.005s separated him from his teammate in fifth.
“We used the base from Misano, and it worked really well here. I didn’t expect that. I spoke with the team to just make small adjustments and it paid off because, in FP2, I had a good race pace and consistent. This track is so demanding but with this setup and this work I can go fast every lap, so that means the base is really good. We still need a little bit. I think are on the path to try and fight for the podium, which is our goal.”
To note:
Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) was seventh, with the French rider also having a new swingarm on his BMW M1000RR.
Leon Haslam (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) completed the top 10 at a circuit where he’s famously gone strongly at.
The first Honda rider was Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) in 12th.
Wildcards Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) and Peter Hickman (FHO Racing) finished in 15th and 16th place respectively.
WorldSBK action resumes on Saturday from 09:00 (Local Time), followed by Tissot Superpole at 11:10 and Race 1 at 14:00.
More, from a press release issued by GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team:
SOLID OPENING DAY IN DONINGTON FOR GYTR GRT YAMAHA WORLDSBK TEAM
After a five-week break, the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team returned to action today at the iconic Donington Park, with Garrett Gerloff going ninth fastest on combined times, while Kohta Nozane was 22nd.
The American rider ended Free Practice 1 in 14th (1’29.559), while his Japanese teammate finished 20th (1’31.272), with both aiming to improve their speed in the hotter afternoon session.
GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team riders were eager to extract more potential in Free Practice 2 and so they did, despite mainly focusing on longer runs. Gerloff improved his lap times throughout the session, going ninth fastest on a 1’28.431, with Nozane making steps forward to go 1.520s faster than the morning.
Both riders will be back on track tomorrow, firstly with FP3 at 09:00 local time (GMT+1), before the Tissot Superpole qualifying at 11:10 and Race 1 at 14:00.
“It was an interesting day in a lot of different ways. We found something with the electronics which is positive. We finished the day running with used tyres but we still kept improving. This is what counts as we’re trying to be consistent at the end of the race. The overall position is not where I want to be, but there are a lot of positive things to take into tomorrow.” Kohta Nozane #3
Kohta Nozane (3). Photo courtesy GYTR GRT Yamaha.
“Not the easiest day, but we managed to find good things here in Donington. Firstly I tried to get confidence quickly on this track, then we kept working on improving lap by lap. We made a huge step between FP1 and FP2 and we’re looking forward to make more progress tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Rea Dominates First Day
The fifth round of the WorldSBK championship began in strong fashion for the KRT pairing of Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes, with Jonathan scoring the fastest lap of the day and Lowes finishing up fourth overall.
The predicted summer heatwave conditions did not quite show up at Donington Park, on day one of the action at least, but the early pace put in Rea proved to be red-hot. He is already under the race lap record with his 1’27.016 pace, which he set in FP2. He was more than half a second ahead of the next best rider, Toprak Razgatlioglu.
Lowes was happy with the good work he and his team completed on day one, as he makes preparations to take part in his literal home race weekend. Alex, the BSB Champion in 2013, lives just a few kilometres from the circuit and has always had a great affinity with the undulating 4.023km long Donington layout.
Air and track temperatures are expected to increase all weekend so the team and riders factored that probability into their pre-race preparations. This task was aided by useful data gathered from a recent high temperature test conducted at Motorland Aragon.
After the first two practice sessions on Friday the KRT duo will now face a final FP3 session, Superpole Qualifying and then a full distance Race One at 14.00 UK time, on Saturday 16th July.
Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “You can never just take a screenshot of the final lap times and understand all the stories. Everybody was on a different strategy today, trying to understand what’s what. But we did good work and we were able to analyse all the tyre options. Both front tyres and all the rears. Unlike Misano, where there were two extra solutions over the weekend, and it confused everything, I feel we have a handle on at least the tyres. In the morning I was really struggling with the front over the bumps, so we changed the weight balance of the bike, the wheelbase. In the beginning of the second session I was able to understand quite quickly the pros and cons of the changes.”
Alex Lowes (22). Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes, stated: “The first day went OK even though I had my best lap cancelled. I got a bit greedy on the entrance to the chicane and I think I touched the green track limits marker. It is nice to be back at Donington. The weather has been good and I think it is just going to get better all weekend. There are already quite a few fans here and I really enjoyed it today. The pace is pretty good so that’s nice. If the temperature rises I know which tyre I am going to use, as I did a long run with it in FP2. I am not sure about the front tyre yet.”
Frenchman Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was declared fit and ready to race at Donington, securing a very strong 11th place overall on day one. Twenty year old rookie rider Oliver König (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) was 26th on the timesheets as he learned his way around the Donington circuit for the first time.
Wildcard entrant Leon Haslam (TPR Pedercini Kawasaki) – recently a factory KRT rider himself – was a very creditable tenth at his home circuit.
More, from a press release issued by Team HRC:
Donington a learning curve for Lecuona and Vierge
Team HRC is out on track for the fifth round of the 2022 Superbike World Championship at the Donington Park circuit in the UK. Neither Iker Lecuona or Xavi Vierge has raced at the British track before, although Iker did benefit from a short one-day test last month. The Team HRC duo therefore spent Friday’s sessions getting to grips with the tricky layout and adapting their CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADES to suit, the day something of a learning experience for them both.
Working hard with his technicians, Lecuona set a best of 1’28.807 to place eighth by the end of the morning’s first free practice. Back on the bike for the first time since his Misano accident, Vierge closed in nineteenth position with a time of 1’30.566.
During the afternoon’s second practice both factory riders were soon able to lower their earlier times. Lecuona slightly improved over the course of the 45-minute session, his outright best of the day a 1’28.509, set in the final five minutes, which placed him twelfth in the combined standings. Vierge’s fastest time, a 1’29.336, saw him round out day one in eighteenth position. The Team HRC duo will continue with its work in tomorrow’s final practice, so as to be as prepared as possible for the weekend’s races.
Iker Lecuona 7
Iker Lecuona (7). Photo courtesy Team HRC.
“The day started very well, after which we got a little lost. A technical glitch this morning slowed things down a bit and then in FP2 I didn’t feel totally right on the bike. We have something to sort out with the set-up; it’s a bit of a slippery track and maybe the conditions are a bit colder compared to when we came testing here three weeks ago, either way I felt a little less comfortable than expected on the bike. I felt a bit tense while riding and that put a lot of strain on my arm, causing some arm-pump. We need to find something that helps us regain those good sensations we had in the test so that we can get back to a more ‘normal’ position, close to the top five”.
Xavi Vierge 97
Xavi Vierge (97). Photo courtesy Team HRC.
“The good thing is that I’m very happy to be back on track and am feeling good enough with my hand at what is a very physical track. I’ve felt OK so far and now just need some laps to adapt and to understand how to go fast here. It was a pity to have missed the tests, which would definitely have helped us a lot, but it is what it is and we just have to focus on the job in hand. We improved quite a lot between FP1 and FP2, especially in terms of race pace. We didn’t use any soft tyre and only worked with the race spec. We are not where we want to be of course, or where we know we can be, but we can be happy in that I can ride as usual, my hand is just fine, and we are doing a good job as a team”.
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi fifth and sixth respectively after Donington’s free practice. Bulega finishes third in WorldSSP
Prosecco DOC UK Round free practice ended with Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi in fifth and sixth respectively.
It was a positive Friday at the Donington Park circuit with the two Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team riders working hard on their Ducati Panigale V4R machines to gather useful information ahead of tomorrow and Sunday races.
After finishing third in FP1, Rinaldi ended in sixth position (1’27.735), 719 thousandths of a second off the fastest time of the day set by Rea (Kawasaki) and less than two tenths off the second place of Razgatlioglu (Yamaha).
Alvaro Bautista worked on details while also trying some tire solutions and ended both sessions in fifth position with the best time of 1’27.730.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #19)
Alvaro Bautista (19). Photo courtesy Ducati.
“It was a very positive day in which we did better than we expected. It’s clear: we still have to fix some details to get closer to Rea, who at the moment seems to be one step ahead of everyone. However, I am very satisfied with the sensations I felt today and I think we have all the chances to take a step forward tomorrow morning to fight for the podium.”
Michael Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #21)
Michael Rinaldi (21). Photo courtesy Ducati.
“I am satisfied because we did a really good job. The feeling with the bike is good, a confirm that since Misano we have been going in the right direction. Today’s goal was not to make too many changes to the bike and the good feelings in FP1 helped us. There is still something missing to be at the top but I think we are working well.”
WorldSSP
Very positive Friday for Nicolò Bulega, who rode the Ducati Panigale V2 for the first time at Donington Park, finishing third (1’31.164), two tenths off the best time of the day set by Aegerter (Yamaha).
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WSSP #11)
“I am happy with what we did today. In FP2 we managed to improve a lot the feeling with the bike. After all, this was the first time for me on this circuit with the race bike. Despite this I felt comfortable right away. The feeling is good and I think we can have a good weekend.”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Razgatlıoğlu P2 as Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK get to work on Friday at Donington
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu was initially fastest overall this morning in Free Practice 1 at Donington Park, kicking off the fifth round of the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship in the UK today.
However, lap times tumbled across the board this afternoon as the temperature heated up, with championship rival Jonathan Rea going half a second quicker than the rest of the field in the closing stages of Free Practice 2. Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK stood by its tried and tested race simulation running plan, with defending champion Razgatlıoğlu focusing on race pace rather than outright speed. Despite improving on his lap time by nearly 0.25s, it wasn’t enough to retain the top spot.
The team hope to make a step overnight to find more rear grip for both Razgatlıoğlu and teammate Andrea Locatelli to enable them to fight at the front during the 23-lap feature tomorrow.
Locatelli, in just his second visit to the tricky UK circuit, made steps to recover lost track running in Free Practice 2 after an early crash at Goddard’s in Free Practice 1 reduced his available track time this morning while the team repaired his #55 R1 WorldSBK. The 25-year-old Italian recovered to eighth overall in the combined times this afternoon.
Saturday Race day begins with Free Practice 3 at 09:00 (BST) followed by Superpole qualifying at 11:10 and Race 1 “lights out” at 14:00.
Toprak Razgatlioğlu
Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK
Toprak Razgatlioglu (1). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“I’m very happy that we come back again to the UK and Donington Park, because I like this track a lot. Today we try for a good set-up for the race, but we have to keep working because in FP2 I am not really happy – but P2 was not a bad lap time. We need more grip for the rear and after, I’m just riding because you know I enjoy this track! We will try also a new set-up, we will see. This is just the first day, tomorrow we have FP3 and after we will try again a good set-up for the race. Every race weekend this year we see big improvement, everybody is very fast. Important the race, not Friday – so we are just working for this and I hope tomorrow I am fighting for the victory.”
Andrea Locatelli
Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK
Andrea Locatelli (55). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“The first day was not easy because in FP1 I crashed after five laps and we lost a lot of time. Also the feeling after I returned on track was not really good, but in the end, this afternoon we worked around the bike and the feeling was better and we improved on the lap time as well. In general, it’s a strange feeling here in Donington because I have a lot of problem with the rear grip but for sure, we understand something and tomorrow we can improve the bike so this is a great point for us. It’s not so bad to close day one here in P8 and now try to trust in myself to get some good here results tomorrow, to try to close the gap with the front group and to do a really good Superpole and also Race 1 because it’s important for the championship. So we need to continue our work, focus on the job and push to take some good results.”
Paul Denning
Team Principal, Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK
“A positive first day here at Donington: a dry race track, a big crowd for Friday and a great atmosphere around what looks like is going to be the biggest UK WorldSBK event for some years! Performance-wise, it was actually quite challenging. On the face of it, second on the time sheets for Toprak is not bad, and considering it’s only his second visit here, Andrea’s performance is also a solid start. But, to be honest, we’ve got work to do to find more rear grip for both riders and more consistency on the race pace. Jonathan has a clear advantage looking at today but we will be doing everything we can overnight to make a clear step for tomorrow.”
Marc Marquez set to begin physiotherapy after six-week check
Six weeks on from undergoing surgery on his right arm, Marc Marquez underwent the next scheduled post-operative check at the Ruber Internacional Hospital in Madrid. The medical team, consisting of Dr. Joaquin Sánchez Sotelo, Dr. Samuel Antuña and Dr. Angel Cotorro, were content with the development of the right humerus.
Subsequently, Marc Marquez has been cleared to enter the next stage of his recovery and begin physiotherapy with the right arm and cardio training.
Marc Marquez
“We have taken an important step in the recovery process. In this second check-up, the doctors have confirmed that the humerus is consolidating correctly, with this we can start physiotherapy on the right arm and cardio training. I am very excited to be able to recover mobility in my arm to continue advancing the recovery process and I want to thank the entire medical team for their treatment and attention.”
Dr. Sanchez Sotelo
MD PhD, Chair of the Division of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Mayo Clinic.
“In the medical check-up carried out on Marc Marquez, six weeks after surgery on his right humerus, a good clinical and radiological evolution has been confirmed that allows progress in the mobility and strength recovery program of the right arm. The patient will undergo a new review within the next six weeks.”
Razgatlioglu takes first full-race win of 2022 in Race 1, Bautista crashes from second
Toprak Razgatlioglu (1). Photo courtesy Pirelli.
Starting from third on the grid, Razgatlioglu was able to claim his first full-length race win of the 2022 season while Kawasaki claimed their 500th WorldSBK podium
The opening MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship race of the Prosecco DOC UK Round was a dramatic affair full of battles up and down the grid at Donington Park as reigning Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK Team) claimed victory by 6.3 seconds to claim his first full-length race win of the 2022 season. It means Razgatlioglu is now 54 points behind Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in the Championship standings following the latter’s retirement.
HOLESHOT FOR RAZGATLIOGLU: getting the jump at the start
It’s a move that has been seen a lot throughout 2022 as Razgatlioglu got the holeshot at the start to take the lead of the race and he was able to take advantage of the battling between Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and teammate Alex Lowes in the early stages, before Rea and Bautista fought each other for second place in the middle stage of the race.
Rea initially got swamped on Lap 1 and dropped to as low as fifth place before fighting his way back up to second place. He first fell behind Bautista on Lap 7 as the pair battled, with Rea making a move on Bautista on Lap 8. Bautista then re-passed Rea on Lap 12 at Turn 9 before Rea responded immediately before making the move stick on Lap 14 at Turn 12. Two laps later, however, Bautista crashed at the same corner and retired from the race; ending his run of 12 consecutive podium.
Razgatlioglu’s victory gave him the 20th of his career and his 64th podium finish in WorldSBK, while it was also Yamaha’s 97th win. Rea claimed his 226th podium and claimed Kawasaki’s 500th podium placement in WorldSBK. In the Championship standings, Rea took 20 points out of Bautista’s lead with the gap now only 16 points, with Razgatlioglu 54 points back.
BATTLING BRITS: Lowes and Redding fight for third
The battle for third place came down to a shootout between two home heroes as Lowes fought with Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team). Redding was ahead until the final handful of laps as the pair battled through the final sector of the race, racing hard through Turns 11 and 12 and into Turn 1 on the next lap, before Lowes got the move done on the exit of Turn 1 and into Turn 2 to secure his first podium of the 2022 season. Lowes ensured Kawasaki immediately moved onto their 501st podium; Lowes’ third place was the 30th podium finish of his career. It was also his first podium since the Superpole Race in the 2021 French Round at Magny-Cours.
STRONG RESULTS: rounding out the top ten
Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) finished as the best Independent rider in Race 1 as he claimed fifth place in Race 1, his sixth consecutive top-seven finish in 2022. Bassani finished as the lead Ducati rider following Bautista’s crash as he finished a second clear of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in sixth place.
American star Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) performed another customary late-race surge as he finished in seventh place, equalling his best result of the season so far. Gerloff passed Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) on the final lap with the Spanish rookie finishing in eighth place, almost 7.5 seconds clear of Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) in ninth and Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) in tenth.
TAKING HOME POINTS: completing the top 15
Philipp Oettl (Team Goeleven) was 11th on his first race at Donington Park, finishing two seconds clear of Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in 12th; Mahias securing points on his return from injury. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) was just a tenth back from Mahias while he was one second clear of wildcard Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) in 14th with the reigning British champion taking points on his WorldSBK debut. British rider Leon Haslam (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) rounded out the points with 15th place.
HOUSEKEEPING: to note from Race 1
Stand-in rider Illia Mykhalchyk (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) made a good start to climb up the order but dropped down to 16th place at the end of the race, missing out on points by just 0.244s after the 23-lap race. He was more than seven seconds clear of Hafizh Syahrin (MIE Racing Honda Team) who was only half-a-second clear of fellow rookie Luca Bernardi (BARNI Spark Racing Team) in 18th.
Japanese rider Kohta Nozane (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 19th, just over a second clear of Eugene Laverty (Bonovo Action BMW) and Robert Tamburini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team), with Laverty and Tamburini separated by just 0.085s at the line. Wildcard Peter Hickman (FHO Racing) was 22nd ahead of Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) in 23rd; the last of the classified finishers.
Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team) was the first retirement of the race after he crashed at the Turn 12 hairpin, the final corner of the circuit, on Lap 8. Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha) was the second retirement of the race as he brought his Yamaha into the pits.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as seen during the MotoAmerica event in 2022. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Motorcycle Racing Fans Show Up: MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest Attendance Increases 7.2% From 2021 Event
The GEICO Motorcycle MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca welcomed 35,717 fans for the third MotoAmerica exclusive event to be held at the historic track.
The 7.2 percent increase in attendance from 2021 shows strong growth for MotoAmerica and continued interest in the motorcycle racing heritage of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Bolstered by a persistent social media presence, manufacturer support and the endorsement of legendary motorcycle racing names like Wayne Rainey, fans of all ages and interests enjoyed beautiful weather and exciting racing all weekend long.
Festivities kicked off on Thursday evening with a Bike Night event held on Lighthouse Ave in the quaint local town of Pacific Grove. Hosted by the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the event drew dozens of unique motorcycles, while spectators enjoyed music from two live bands and local vendors. Fans could also check out Jameson’s Classic Motorcycle Museum for an up-close look at motorcycle history.
On-track action was split across three days of racing with multiple classes of motorcycles shrieking around the track. Medallia Superbike, the premier class for MotoAmerica, delivered exciting action as fans watched California-born Jake Gagne and the Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha team overtake Danilo Petrucci and Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC for the championship lead. Fan favorites Mission King Of The Baggers and Roland Sands Design Super Hooligans also provided some seriously entertaining thrills on the track.
The motorcycle parking area and one of the many camping areas as seen during the MotoAmerica event. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca remains one of the most iconic and spectator-friendly venues on the entire MotoAmerica calendar. From the up-close viewing at the iconic Corkscrew to the grandstands on the main straight and full paddock access, MotoAmerica fans had plenty to see and do throughout the race weekend.
“The success of the MotoAmerica weekend is a solid and steady indication of the growing interest in motorcycle racing,” said John Narigi, president and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. ”It is the largest and most important motorcycle race on the west coast and really appealed to entire families who were looking for an entertaining experience. We look forward to working with the MotoAmerica team on continuing to grow the event.”
Varese, July 15th, 2022 – F3, Dragster and Turismo Veloce: three unique ways of living one’s motorcycling passion, yet they all share the legendary MV Agusta brand and belong to the very special and eminently Italian RC racing breed.
The smell of fuel and burnt tarmac fills the quiet air. The sun reflects on the brilliant colour combinations of the tank and fairings. Light metal, technology, design. The rumble and roar of the inline-three-cylinder engine breaks the silence and becomes the soundtrack of a great day of riding.
The RC range represents the essence of MV Agusta’s racing DNA, designed for every minute detail to incarnate the highest point in the development of these truly exclusive models. The acronym stands for Reparto Corse as one can easily deduce from the colour scheme shared by the three models, and which emphasises their racing vocation. All three models are in limited series: 200 units for the F3 RC, 300 for the Dragster and the Turismo Veloce, with their production number on the steering plate and delivered with a certificate of authenticity. The racing kit, for the F3 RC and the Dragster RC, is made up of a rich collection of premium parts: exhaust, control unit, footrests, levers and everything needed to turn a plain motorcycle into a racetrack-ready machine.
A 2022 MV Agusta F3 RC. Photo courtesy MV Agusta.
F3 RC
Just think of the best Supersport of the moment, and dress it up in MV Agusta’s official racing colours. You’re ready to ride the F3 RC, the sportiest of the range, ready to burn the tarmac of the next racetrack. Engine, frame, aerodynamics: everything on this bike was designed for maximum performance without compromise. The front forks have an advanced titanium nitride (TiN) coating to reduce friction, wheels that are 10% lighter, resulting in a moment of inertia reduction of 7%. Whether it’s racetrack tarmac or that of a scenic country road, riding sensations remain the same. The racing kit includes an Akrapovič full titanium exhaust that pairs well with the control unit featuring special racing mappings, complete with an extensive carbon-fibre protective heat shield. The aluminum alloy clutch and brake levers are CNC machined. The new F3 RC 2022 is being produced in a 200 units limited series, all numbered and delivered with a certificate of authenticity.
The renewed graphic elements and the colour scheme, clearly remind of the bikes racing in the Moto2 and Supersport championships. The ample use of premium materials serves both aesthetics and function: for instance, the front forks have an advanced titanium nitride (TiN) coating to reduce friction, the forged wheels reduce unsprung mass and improve manoeuvrability; carbon fibre also enhances the design of the Dragster, making it unique among the medium capacity naked. The 800cc three-cylinder engine, already an absolute industry benchmark, is pushed even further the racing kit, which includes an SC Project titanium exhaust and a central unit with optimised mapping, as well as a sleek looking see-through clutch cover.
The new Dragster RC SCS 2022 is being produced in a 300 units limited series, all numbered and delivered with a certificate of authenticity.
The most eclectic MV Agusta, in its RC version, boasts a number of precious details that make it even more exclusive, also because it is being produced in a 300 units limited edition series, all numbered and certified. Many updates have been introduced on this model, from a newly designed exhaust to new suspension tuning, on top of an enlarged windscreen and an updated electronic shifting sensor for improved precision and reliability. The inertial platform is also brand new. The Turismo Veloce RC features the tested and proven Smart Clutch System, developed by MV Agusta together with Rekluse: it will allow for lightning take-offs without having to use the clutch lever to stop and go, making the whole riding experience even easier, more carefree and sportier.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
Rea topped Friday running with a half a second advantage over Razgatlioglu
The six-time WorldSBK Champion led Razgatlioglu and Redding in the combined results, with Bautista in fifth
Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Friday highlights – WorldSBK
P1 – Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
Rea topped Friday’s timesheets, finishing 0.551s clear of Razgatlioglu.
His fastest time of a 1’27.016s is under the race lap record.
He set an incredible 13 1’27s, more than the total of his competitors combined.
“You never expect such a big difference because half a second is a lot. During practice sessions, everyone is in different strategies. Today I tried to understand a couple of different weight balances with the bike, different wheel basis, some different electronic settings and then try to evaluate both front tyres and also all the rear tyres. We managed to do all that. This morning with the harder rear option, and this afternoon with both the softer options. We gained a lot of information today, now it’s about sitting down understanding what’s going to work for tomorrow. Just looking at the forecast, the temperatures are going to rise so maybe all that work would be in vain because when you have a 10 degrees difference on the asphalt it makes a big difference. The positive thing is that we have lot of info and today we were quite fast. So, it’s a good start to the weekend.”
P2 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK)
Fastest in FP1, Razgatlioglu concluded Friday in second place about half a second behind Rea.
Not matching Rea’s pace, he lapped two 1’27s and ten 1’28s.
“I’m very happy that we come back again to Donington Park, because I like this track a lot. Today we try for a good setup for the race, but we have to keep working because in FP2 I am not really happy – but P2 was not a bad lap time. We need more grip for the rear and after, I’m just riding because you know I enjoy this track! We will try also a new set-up, we will see. This is just the first day, tomorrow we have FP3 and after we will try again a good set-up for the race. Every race weekend this year we see big improvement, everybody is very fast. Important the race, not Friday – so we are just working for this and I hope tomorrow I am fighting for the victory.”
Scott Redding (45) leading Xavi Vierge (97) on track at Donington Park. Photo courtesy Dorna.
P3 – Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
With a new swingarm at his disposal, Redding completed Friday’s top three after two solid Free Practice sessions.
He finished 0.582s behind Rea’s best time, and 0.031s behind Razgatlioglu in second.
“I think we’ve also made some big steps with the BMW to bring it closer to the front. Different handlebars, different swingarm, different footpegs, I’m just feeling more that it’s my bike and riding with more of a clear mind of how to go fast. It’s definitely an improvement, that’s for sure. But it’s still the start of the evolution for me. I’ve worked with Kalex before; they’re very good technically and a very good way of achieving the goal and they understand that from a rider’s perspective. There will be more to come, which is very good. It’s just part of the puzzle. We have many, many things that we are pushing and working on. Slowly we start to see something coming.”
Alex Lowes (22). Photo courtesy Dorna.
P4 – Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
Lowes ended Friday in fourth place with a best time of 1’27.684s, having run second for most of the session and staying out on one tyre.
“It was a good Friday. It was really nice to get on the bike. I was a little bit nervous this week because it’s a real home race for me. It’s a track I enjoyed and to be honest I felt really good on the bike today. In FP1, I tried my 2022 standard setting and also somethings to watch of the years at Donington last year. In the afternoon, I tried to do a longer run with the SCX tyre just to gather some information for Race 1 tomorrow. I’ve felt quite good. There are some areas in the middle of the lap, the second sector, where I need to improve but in general, I was quite happy.”
Alvaro Bautista (19). Photo courtesy Dorna.
P5 – Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
Championship leader Bautista was fifth, as his best time of 1’27.730 is 0.714s slower than Rea’s time.
He lapped three 1’27s accompanied by 14 1’28s showing signs of good pace.
“I think today has been a positive day. I felt better than I expected; I didn’t expect anything before coming here because I remember three years ago, it was very tough for me. Today, I was feeling much better. The feeling with the bike wasn’t too bad especially with the race pace because I felt quite comfortable compared to three years. I think our pace today was acceptable. Anyway, we have some small details to improve for tomorrow that maybe can help me gain some tenths and especially be more consistent. I’m happy with today.”
P6 – Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
Despite a small crash at Turn 12 in FP2, Rinaldi completed Friday’s top six.
Just 0.005s separated him from his teammate in fifth.
“We used the base from Misano, and it worked really well here. I didn’t expect that. I spoke with the team to just make small adjustments and it paid off because, in FP2, I had a good race pace and consistent. This track is so demanding but with this setup and this work I can go fast every lap, so that means the base is really good. We still need a little bit. I think are on the path to try and fight for the podium, which is our goal.”
To note:
Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) was seventh, with the French rider also having a new swingarm on his BMW M1000RR.
Leon Haslam (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) completed the top 10 at a circuit where he’s famously gone strongly at.
The first Honda rider was Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) in 12th.
Wildcards Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) and Peter Hickman (FHO Racing) finished in 15th and 16th place respectively.
WorldSBK action resumes on Saturday from 09:00 (Local Time), followed by Tissot Superpole at 11:10 and Race 1 at 14:00.
More, from a press release issued by GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team:
SOLID OPENING DAY IN DONINGTON FOR GYTR GRT YAMAHA WORLDSBK TEAM
After a five-week break, the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team returned to action today at the iconic Donington Park, with Garrett Gerloff going ninth fastest on combined times, while Kohta Nozane was 22nd.
The American rider ended Free Practice 1 in 14th (1’29.559), while his Japanese teammate finished 20th (1’31.272), with both aiming to improve their speed in the hotter afternoon session.
GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team riders were eager to extract more potential in Free Practice 2 and so they did, despite mainly focusing on longer runs. Gerloff improved his lap times throughout the session, going ninth fastest on a 1’28.431, with Nozane making steps forward to go 1.520s faster than the morning.
Both riders will be back on track tomorrow, firstly with FP3 at 09:00 local time (GMT+1), before the Tissot Superpole qualifying at 11:10 and Race 1 at 14:00.
“It was an interesting day in a lot of different ways. We found something with the electronics which is positive. We finished the day running with used tyres but we still kept improving. This is what counts as we’re trying to be consistent at the end of the race. The overall position is not where I want to be, but there are a lot of positive things to take into tomorrow.” Kohta Nozane #3
Kohta Nozane (3). Photo courtesy GYTR GRT Yamaha.
“Not the easiest day, but we managed to find good things here in Donington. Firstly I tried to get confidence quickly on this track, then we kept working on improving lap by lap. We made a huge step between FP1 and FP2 and we’re looking forward to make more progress tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Rea Dominates First Day
The fifth round of the WorldSBK championship began in strong fashion for the KRT pairing of Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes, with Jonathan scoring the fastest lap of the day and Lowes finishing up fourth overall.
The predicted summer heatwave conditions did not quite show up at Donington Park, on day one of the action at least, but the early pace put in Rea proved to be red-hot. He is already under the race lap record with his 1’27.016 pace, which he set in FP2. He was more than half a second ahead of the next best rider, Toprak Razgatlioglu.
Lowes was happy with the good work he and his team completed on day one, as he makes preparations to take part in his literal home race weekend. Alex, the BSB Champion in 2013, lives just a few kilometres from the circuit and has always had a great affinity with the undulating 4.023km long Donington layout.
Air and track temperatures are expected to increase all weekend so the team and riders factored that probability into their pre-race preparations. This task was aided by useful data gathered from a recent high temperature test conducted at Motorland Aragon.
After the first two practice sessions on Friday the KRT duo will now face a final FP3 session, Superpole Qualifying and then a full distance Race One at 14.00 UK time, on Saturday 16th July.
Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “You can never just take a screenshot of the final lap times and understand all the stories. Everybody was on a different strategy today, trying to understand what’s what. But we did good work and we were able to analyse all the tyre options. Both front tyres and all the rears. Unlike Misano, where there were two extra solutions over the weekend, and it confused everything, I feel we have a handle on at least the tyres. In the morning I was really struggling with the front over the bumps, so we changed the weight balance of the bike, the wheelbase. In the beginning of the second session I was able to understand quite quickly the pros and cons of the changes.”
Alex Lowes (22). Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes, stated: “The first day went OK even though I had my best lap cancelled. I got a bit greedy on the entrance to the chicane and I think I touched the green track limits marker. It is nice to be back at Donington. The weather has been good and I think it is just going to get better all weekend. There are already quite a few fans here and I really enjoyed it today. The pace is pretty good so that’s nice. If the temperature rises I know which tyre I am going to use, as I did a long run with it in FP2. I am not sure about the front tyre yet.”
Frenchman Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was declared fit and ready to race at Donington, securing a very strong 11th place overall on day one. Twenty year old rookie rider Oliver König (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) was 26th on the timesheets as he learned his way around the Donington circuit for the first time.
Wildcard entrant Leon Haslam (TPR Pedercini Kawasaki) – recently a factory KRT rider himself – was a very creditable tenth at his home circuit.
More, from a press release issued by Team HRC:
Donington a learning curve for Lecuona and Vierge
Team HRC is out on track for the fifth round of the 2022 Superbike World Championship at the Donington Park circuit in the UK. Neither Iker Lecuona or Xavi Vierge has raced at the British track before, although Iker did benefit from a short one-day test last month. The Team HRC duo therefore spent Friday’s sessions getting to grips with the tricky layout and adapting their CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADES to suit, the day something of a learning experience for them both.
Working hard with his technicians, Lecuona set a best of 1’28.807 to place eighth by the end of the morning’s first free practice. Back on the bike for the first time since his Misano accident, Vierge closed in nineteenth position with a time of 1’30.566.
During the afternoon’s second practice both factory riders were soon able to lower their earlier times. Lecuona slightly improved over the course of the 45-minute session, his outright best of the day a 1’28.509, set in the final five minutes, which placed him twelfth in the combined standings. Vierge’s fastest time, a 1’29.336, saw him round out day one in eighteenth position. The Team HRC duo will continue with its work in tomorrow’s final practice, so as to be as prepared as possible for the weekend’s races.
Iker Lecuona 7
Iker Lecuona (7). Photo courtesy Team HRC.
“The day started very well, after which we got a little lost. A technical glitch this morning slowed things down a bit and then in FP2 I didn’t feel totally right on the bike. We have something to sort out with the set-up; it’s a bit of a slippery track and maybe the conditions are a bit colder compared to when we came testing here three weeks ago, either way I felt a little less comfortable than expected on the bike. I felt a bit tense while riding and that put a lot of strain on my arm, causing some arm-pump. We need to find something that helps us regain those good sensations we had in the test so that we can get back to a more ‘normal’ position, close to the top five”.
Xavi Vierge 97
Xavi Vierge (97). Photo courtesy Team HRC.
“The good thing is that I’m very happy to be back on track and am feeling good enough with my hand at what is a very physical track. I’ve felt OK so far and now just need some laps to adapt and to understand how to go fast here. It was a pity to have missed the tests, which would definitely have helped us a lot, but it is what it is and we just have to focus on the job in hand. We improved quite a lot between FP1 and FP2, especially in terms of race pace. We didn’t use any soft tyre and only worked with the race spec. We are not where we want to be of course, or where we know we can be, but we can be happy in that I can ride as usual, my hand is just fine, and we are doing a good job as a team”.
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi fifth and sixth respectively after Donington’s free practice. Bulega finishes third in WorldSSP
Prosecco DOC UK Round free practice ended with Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi in fifth and sixth respectively.
It was a positive Friday at the Donington Park circuit with the two Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team riders working hard on their Ducati Panigale V4R machines to gather useful information ahead of tomorrow and Sunday races.
After finishing third in FP1, Rinaldi ended in sixth position (1’27.735), 719 thousandths of a second off the fastest time of the day set by Rea (Kawasaki) and less than two tenths off the second place of Razgatlioglu (Yamaha).
Alvaro Bautista worked on details while also trying some tire solutions and ended both sessions in fifth position with the best time of 1’27.730.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #19)
Alvaro Bautista (19). Photo courtesy Ducati.
“It was a very positive day in which we did better than we expected. It’s clear: we still have to fix some details to get closer to Rea, who at the moment seems to be one step ahead of everyone. However, I am very satisfied with the sensations I felt today and I think we have all the chances to take a step forward tomorrow morning to fight for the podium.”
Michael Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #21)
Michael Rinaldi (21). Photo courtesy Ducati.
“I am satisfied because we did a really good job. The feeling with the bike is good, a confirm that since Misano we have been going in the right direction. Today’s goal was not to make too many changes to the bike and the good feelings in FP1 helped us. There is still something missing to be at the top but I think we are working well.”
WorldSSP
Very positive Friday for Nicolò Bulega, who rode the Ducati Panigale V2 for the first time at Donington Park, finishing third (1’31.164), two tenths off the best time of the day set by Aegerter (Yamaha).
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WSSP #11)
“I am happy with what we did today. In FP2 we managed to improve a lot the feeling with the bike. After all, this was the first time for me on this circuit with the race bike. Despite this I felt comfortable right away. The feeling is good and I think we can have a good weekend.”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Razgatlıoğlu P2 as Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK get to work on Friday at Donington
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu was initially fastest overall this morning in Free Practice 1 at Donington Park, kicking off the fifth round of the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship in the UK today.
However, lap times tumbled across the board this afternoon as the temperature heated up, with championship rival Jonathan Rea going half a second quicker than the rest of the field in the closing stages of Free Practice 2. Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK stood by its tried and tested race simulation running plan, with defending champion Razgatlıoğlu focusing on race pace rather than outright speed. Despite improving on his lap time by nearly 0.25s, it wasn’t enough to retain the top spot.
The team hope to make a step overnight to find more rear grip for both Razgatlıoğlu and teammate Andrea Locatelli to enable them to fight at the front during the 23-lap feature tomorrow.
Locatelli, in just his second visit to the tricky UK circuit, made steps to recover lost track running in Free Practice 2 after an early crash at Goddard’s in Free Practice 1 reduced his available track time this morning while the team repaired his #55 R1 WorldSBK. The 25-year-old Italian recovered to eighth overall in the combined times this afternoon.
Saturday Race day begins with Free Practice 3 at 09:00 (BST) followed by Superpole qualifying at 11:10 and Race 1 “lights out” at 14:00.
Toprak Razgatlioğlu
Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK
Toprak Razgatlioglu (1). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“I’m very happy that we come back again to the UK and Donington Park, because I like this track a lot. Today we try for a good set-up for the race, but we have to keep working because in FP2 I am not really happy – but P2 was not a bad lap time. We need more grip for the rear and after, I’m just riding because you know I enjoy this track! We will try also a new set-up, we will see. This is just the first day, tomorrow we have FP3 and after we will try again a good set-up for the race. Every race weekend this year we see big improvement, everybody is very fast. Important the race, not Friday – so we are just working for this and I hope tomorrow I am fighting for the victory.”
Andrea Locatelli
Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK
Andrea Locatelli (55). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“The first day was not easy because in FP1 I crashed after five laps and we lost a lot of time. Also the feeling after I returned on track was not really good, but in the end, this afternoon we worked around the bike and the feeling was better and we improved on the lap time as well. In general, it’s a strange feeling here in Donington because I have a lot of problem with the rear grip but for sure, we understand something and tomorrow we can improve the bike so this is a great point for us. It’s not so bad to close day one here in P8 and now try to trust in myself to get some good here results tomorrow, to try to close the gap with the front group and to do a really good Superpole and also Race 1 because it’s important for the championship. So we need to continue our work, focus on the job and push to take some good results.”
Paul Denning
Team Principal, Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK
“A positive first day here at Donington: a dry race track, a big crowd for Friday and a great atmosphere around what looks like is going to be the biggest UK WorldSBK event for some years! Performance-wise, it was actually quite challenging. On the face of it, second on the time sheets for Toprak is not bad, and considering it’s only his second visit here, Andrea’s performance is also a solid start. But, to be honest, we’ve got work to do to find more rear grip for both riders and more consistency on the race pace. Jonathan has a clear advantage looking at today but we will be doing everything we can overnight to make a clear step for tomorrow.”
Marc Marquez set to begin physiotherapy after six-week check
Six weeks on from undergoing surgery on his right arm, Marc Marquez underwent the next scheduled post-operative check at the Ruber Internacional Hospital in Madrid. The medical team, consisting of Dr. Joaquin Sánchez Sotelo, Dr. Samuel Antuña and Dr. Angel Cotorro, were content with the development of the right humerus.
Subsequently, Marc Marquez has been cleared to enter the next stage of his recovery and begin physiotherapy with the right arm and cardio training.
Marc Marquez
“We have taken an important step in the recovery process. In this second check-up, the doctors have confirmed that the humerus is consolidating correctly, with this we can start physiotherapy on the right arm and cardio training. I am very excited to be able to recover mobility in my arm to continue advancing the recovery process and I want to thank the entire medical team for their treatment and attention.”
Dr. Sanchez Sotelo
MD PhD, Chair of the Division of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Mayo Clinic.
“In the medical check-up carried out on Marc Marquez, six weeks after surgery on his right humerus, a good clinical and radiological evolution has been confirmed that allows progress in the mobility and strength recovery program of the right arm. The patient will undergo a new review within the next six weeks.”
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
November 11, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
