Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes invigorates his 2015 season by taking the Donington double and equalling the great Carl Fogarty’s record of six wins at the English circuit. Team mate, Jonathan Rea came home for second in both battles, while Ducati’s Chaz Davies took third in each encounter to deliver carbon copy UK podiums at Britain’s world superbike event of the year.
“A full set this weekend – two race wins, pole position and a new lap record. After some battles in race one I had a clean start in race two and I went a little bit faster down Craner and into the Old Hairpin to stop any passes, and away we went. When I saw that the gap was increasing I just had to be careful in how to manage the race. I was really happy with the race performance because Marcel my crew chief and all the boys have been working really well. It is good to win all the last six races here at Donington. We are getting there now and I am able to do a little bit more of what I want to with the bike.”
Tom Sykes #66 – Kawasaki Racing Team
Race 1 – 1st Race 2 – 1st
“I did not accept defeat before the races but if there is one place where my team-mate was going to really excel it was here. I had a big moment in race two and I was really lucky. When I found a rhythm I realised that Tom was on a different racetrack today but I could finish second because I knew the pace of the Kawasaki in the second part would be strong. The points gap is now in three figures, which I cannot believe. It is incredible, so we just need to keep doing the same.”
Jonathan Rea #65 – Kawasaki Racing Team
Race 1 – 2nd Race 2 – 2nd
“I’m really pleased with today’s results. The weekend wasn’t easy but we worked hard and to finish both races on the podium here is very positive. Today we simply weren’t on the same level as the Kawasakis and doing any better than third was difficult. In race two I had a small problem off the line that fortunately sorted itself out right away. We can only be happy, especially considering the fact that this has always been something of a bogey track for me. Thanks to my whole team for their great work this weekend and now we’ll focus on the next races.”
Chaz Davies #7 – Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team
Race 1 – 3rd Race 2 – 3rd
Race One: Sykes takes the Donington opener
Sykes has won the opening 23 lap WorldSBK race at Donington Park in dry but cold and overcast conditions after a race long fight with his KRT team mate Jonathan Rea. The pair swapped positions for virtually the whole race after getting the better of early leader Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils).
The final podium place went to Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) who also passed Haslam, who finished 4th, with six laps to go.
Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) showed incredible pace in the closing stages to snatch 5th at the flag from Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) who was a solid 6th.
Jordi Torres (Apriilia Racing Team – Red Devils) finished 7th on his Donington race debut ahead of reigning champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team), Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and David Salom (Team Pedercini) who were 8th, 9th and 10th respectively.
The final point scorers were Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing), Nico Terol (Althea Racing), Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven), Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), and Niccolo Canepa (Grillini SBK Team).
Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) crashed out early on while Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) made an unscheduled pit stop to change tyres, the Italian, who started on the front row finished 17th and out of the points.
Race One results: 1. Tom Sykes – Kawasaki 2. Jonathan Rea – Kawasaki 3. Chaz Davies – Ducati
Race Two: Lap Records tumble as Sykes dominates race 2, to take 24th career win
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) made it two wins from two starts as he dominated WorldSBK race 2 to equal Carl Fogarty’s six race wins. The former champion has now won every race at the 2.5 mile circuit for the last three years. He made it a clean sweep, adding the fastest lap in race two to the Tissot-Superpole that he secured Saturday, winning by over nine seconds.
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) saved what could have been a huge crash as rounded Coppice Corner on lap two, the championship leader lucky not to fall. He regrouped with some great overtaking moves to salvage 2nd ahead of Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) who finished 3rd for the second time today.
Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) was 5th after being passed by Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) on the penultimate lap. The British rider overcoming the pain and discomfort of cracked ribs to finish 4th.
Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) claimed another strong 6th after running 3rd in the early stages.
The top ten riders were rounded out by Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) and Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) who battled race long, as they had in the opening encounter. Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) was in the top ten again in 9th with Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing) 10th.
Roman Ramos (Team GO Eleven), David Salom (Team Pedercini), Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing), Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) and Santiago Barragan (Grillini SBK Team) were 11th to 15th respectively.
Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) crashed out of 6th at the Esses, while Nico Terol (Althea Racing) crashed out a potential 11th at the half way point. Both riders were unhurt.
Round 7 of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship will take place in Portugal at the Portimao circuit in two weeks.
Race Two results: 1. Tom Sykes – Kawasaki 2. Jonathan Rea – Kawasaki 3. Chaz Davies – Ducati
WSBK Championship Leader Board after Donington round six:
1. Jonathan Rea – 280 points (Kawasaki) 2. Leon Haslam – 179 points (Aprilia) 3. Tom Sykes – 178 points (Kawasaki) 4. Chaz Davies – 155 points (Ducati) 5. Jordi Torres – 117 points (Aprila)
World Supersport – Sofuoglu Takes Donington – Fourth Win Of Season
British wildcard, 17 year old Kyle Ryde, snatches 3rd
The 6th round of the World Supersport championship has been won after 20 hard fought laps by Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), as cooler temperatures descended at Donington Park.
Starting from pole, the Turk was initially overhauled by rival Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) before regrouping and retaking the lead to win for the 4th time in 2015, extending his championship lead in the process.
Despite piling on the pressure Cluzel would eventually finish 2nd, taking the lap record in his efforts to chase down the Kawasaki mounted Sofuoglu.
17 year old British wildcard Kyle Ryde (Pacedayz European Trackdays) had the huge crowd on their feet with his aggressive riding, the youngster climbing onto the last step of the podium in 3rd ahead of Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse). Ryde fighting until the end with the hard charging Italian.
PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) finished a lonely 5th ahead of the second British wildcard Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing) who was 6th.
Sam Hornsey (Profile Racing), Gino Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda), Niki Tuuli (Kallio Racing) and Andy Reid (CORE Motorsport Thailand) completed the top ten.
The next round of the World Supersport championship takes place at Portimao in a fortnight.
Race Results: 1. Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 2. Jules Clluzel (MV Agusta) 3. Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
Australian Results At Donington
World Supersport
Glenn Scott (AUS) AARK Honda – 16th
Aiden Wagner (AUS) Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres – DNF (retired lap 17)
Superstock 1000
Bryan Staring (AUS) Team Pedercini – 12th
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