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Donington Park hosted the first ever races in the FIM Superbike World Championship back in 1988, again over a bank holiday weekend with Italian riders Davide Tardozzi (Bimota) and Marco Lucchinelli (Ducati) taking the victories. Since then the circuit has hosted 44 races.

A former military vehicle depot during World War 2, the circuit was originally built in 1931 and is referred to as the oldest and newest Grand Prix venue courtesy of three distinct eras in its long pedigree.

After the war, racing resumed in 1977, with permanent garages, race control towers and the addition of the Melbourne Loop in 1982 bringing the circuit to its current 2.5 mile length.

Carl Fogarty became the first British rider to win at home, taking the spoils in race 2 of the 1992 encounter aboard a privately entered Ducati. He went on to become the most successful WorldSBK racer to date, claiming 4 World Championship crowns, amassing 59 wins and 104 podiums along the way.

The last 5 races held at Donington Park have all been won by British riders, Jonathan Rea in Race 2 (2012) and Tom Sykes doing the double for the past 2 years. Both riders will start looking to extend the run of British winners at home.

Ducati have won at Donington Park a total of 17 times, while at the other end of the spectrum Aprilia never have. Suzuki last won here in 2001 with Pier-Francesco Chili at the helm.

After another convincing double in Imola, Jonathan Rea increased his advantage in the overall Championship standings and he now enjoys the third largest lead after ten races in the history of WorldSBK. His current points tally of 240, is second only to Neil Hodgson's who scored 245 after the opening ten races in 2003.

With 5 British riders entered in this weekend’s 6^th round, WorldSBK could easily see the Brits ruling at home again. There are also a number of British riders in World Supersport that could well trouble the usual front runners. Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team), may be British but has never raced in the UK, he was on the podium in the season opener in Australia.

Kyle Ryde (Pacedayz European Trackdays) will be the youngest ever British WSS wildcard, the youngster already a double National champion in the UK. He is joined on track this weekend by the Profile Racing pair of Luke Stapleford and Sam Hornsey whilst Andrew Reid replaces Ratthapark Wilairot at CORE Motorsport Thailand.

Can they add to the previous British WSS winners at Donington, or will Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils), Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) and Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) add to the 14 British wins at Donington Park? Stay tuned to worldsbk.com and keep following us on Twitter: @WorldSBK to find out.