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As the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship gets ready for a return to the historic Donington Park circuit next week, we’re gearing up for the Prosecco DOC UK Round by looking back at some incredible moments. After a wildcard masterclass in 2000, a final lap showdown in 2007 and teammates going head-to-head in 2014, now it’s time to look at Race 2 in 2018 with first victories and podiums celebrated in the United Kingdom.

The 2018 WorldSBK Championship had enjoyed an open start to the season, with four different winners from the first five rounds and whilst reigning triple Champion Jonathan Rea had the lead of the Championship by 47 points, it wasn’t a clear-cut certainty that he’d sweep to a home double at Donington Park. Ducati’s Chaz Davies would be doing all he could to chase the Kawasaki down, whilst double winner from Round 1 at Phillip Island, Marco Melandri, also aimed to get back to winning ways at a circuit he knew well. Donington Park specialist Tom Sykes had nine wins there and was aiming to make it ten – or perhaps someone new could come to the fore?

In a hectic Race 1, someone new did come to the fore in 2014 World Supersport Champion, Michael van der Mark. The Dutchman rode a fantastic first race to clinch a first WorldSBK win and the first for the Netherlands. It was likewise the first for Yamaha since 2011, with Paul Denning’s team ending the Japanese manufacturer’s win drought. Surely though, they couldn’t do it all again on Sunday during Race 2, could they?

As lights went out for Race 2, van der Mark, having won Race 1, was having to come through from ninth on the grid. He was already fifth by the end of the first lap as the leading group began to form. Van der Mark’s Pata Yamaha teammate Alex Lowes was the long-time race leader as he chased a first win, whilst Jonathan Rea, Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori and rookie sensation Toprak Razgatlioglu on the Puccetti Kawasaki all got in the mix, with van der Mark working his way to through the group. On Lap 18, it was time for van der Mark to bolt as a lap after Rea hit the front, he cleared teammate Lowes at Turn 1 at Redgate, before diving through at the Melbourne hairpin to lead.

However, with all the battling, Toprak Razgatlioglu had brought his Puccetti Kawasaki ZX-10RR into contention and closed in by over a second, as he eyed up a first podium in the WorldSBK class. On Lap 20, van der Mark began to edge clear whilst Razgatlioglu attacked Lowes at the Old Hairpin and sliced his way into third, but he wasn’t done there. Eight tenths behind Rea with three to go, Toprak closed by two tenths a lap before attacking Rea on the last lap, passing the factory Kawasaki rider and Championship leader at the Old Hairpin. Van der Mark went on to seal a magical double whilst it was Razgatlioglu who announced himself in a big way by toppling Rea on the final lap.

Watch more classic duels as well as the duels of 2023 LIVE with the WorldSBK VideoPass!