Imola weekend did not turn out exactly how the Pata Yamaha team expected: no top-5 finishes, a first non-finish of the season, and just 26 points by the end of Race 2, their worst tally for 2018. But Donington Park has been kind to the Yamaha riders in recent years, so a return to form could be on the cards. With Round 6 of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship some mere hours away, the Pata Yamaha team will be mounting a three-pronged attack ahead of the Prosecco DOC UK Round.

Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) will be looking to bounce back after a rough Imola experience. Crashing out in Race 2, the flying Dutchman saw both Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team) overtake him in the championship standings. Nonetheless, van der Mark has recorded good performances at Donington before – with a competitive bike this year, the combative rider should have the rostrum in his sights.

Van der Mark is ready for the challenge: "It is always special to race in the UK and I am hoping to continue the progress we have made so far this season. After the double podium at Assen, we had good pace in Imola and I feel we can build on that at Donington, a track that suits the characteristics of the R1 and where I have won in the past in WorldSSP. Even the weather doesn't look too bad, so I am looking forward to hitting the track on Friday morning for FP1!"

After a tough weekend around Assen, Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) set his season back on track last round at Imola, with two top-10 finishes and renewed sensations on the Yamaha, particularly in Race 2. Lowes has two third-place finishes to his name at Donington Park.

The rider from Lincoln lives just 5 minutes away from this weekend’s track – a home race if there ever was one. "It's such a fun track to ride, especially the section from Redgate down to Hollywood, Craner Curves, the Old Hairpin and through to Schwantz, it is one of the best sections of track anywhere in the world”, he says, eager to jump out on Friday. “It's an added bonus that it's so close to home for me and I love racing in front of the British fans as they're always amazing. I can't wait to get started!"

At Donington, the two main team riders will be joined by Pata Yamaha Official Test Rider Niccolò Canepa (Yamaha Motor Europe). The 2017 FIM Endurance World Champion is a WorldSBK veteran, making his debut in 2008 and racing 75 times in the championship, as well as a former European Superstock 1000 champion (2007).

Canepa – who is also scheduled to race at Magny-Cours later this year – is relishing the challenge: "I'm really proud that they have given me the opportunity to race. The target for the weekend will be to help the team with the development of the bike for the next races, but I think that we can fight for a good result. Donington is a circuit that I really like and the atmosphere in England is always amazing!”

Follow the Pata Yamaha team’s progress throughout Donington weekend, with all the action available thanks to the WorldSBK VideoPass.