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Razgatlioglu pips Rea and Rinaldi in WorldSBK FP1 at Donington Park

Friday, 15 July 2022 10:29 GMT

    • Under sunny skies as the United Kingdom swelters in a heatwave, Razgatlioglu was the one who put down a hot pace in FP1

    The opening track action of what promises to be a Great British weekend of racing in the 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has concluded at Donington Park. The Prosecco DOC UK Round is set to be one of the hottest weekends of the year and the Friday morning order suggests that the on-track drama will be no different. Topping the session, reigning World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) got his British weekend off to a great start at a circuit at which he loves with a 1’27.805s.

    With the sun beating down at Donington Park, it was Razgatlioglu who got the advantage on Friday morning, leaving it late to beat Jonathan Rea to the top of the standings. Razgatlioglu, a double winner in 2021 at Donington Park, will hope to close in the 79-point deficit to the Championship lead. Home-hero Rea, 36 points down in the Championship standings, hopes that his Friday morning form is just the start of a successful weekend in which he hopes to capitalise and claw back the Championship lead. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was next up in third place and top Ducati, making it three different manufacturers inside the top three. Rinaldi picked up from where he left off after a double Misano podium and an unofficial Superbike lap record in a test at the track. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) took fourth after being second for most of the session, ahead of Championship leader Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati).

    Sixth place went to Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), with the British rider making progress on the BMW M1000RR with a new swingarm. BMW’s new swingarm has Redding and Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) sporting it this weekend. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) was seventh, one place ahead of Donington Park debutant Iker Lecuona (Team HRC), who makes his competitive debut this weekend at the British venue. Baz came home ninth ahead of Philipp Oettl (Team Goeleven).

    Home star Leon Haslam (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) was 12th ahead of wildcard Peter Hickman (FHO BMW), whilst it was a difficult session for Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK), both of whom finished 14th and 15th, with Locatelli suffering a crash at Goddard’s.

    Top six after WorldSBK FP1 at Donington Park, full results here

    1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) 1’27.805s

    2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.134s

    3. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.241s

    4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.282s

    5. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.356s

    6. Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.651s

    Watch all the drama and excitement from Donington Park LIVE with the WorldSBK VideoPass!