Tissot Superpole for the 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s fifth round at Donington Park was intense and intriguing from the start. The Prosecco DOC UK Round is already one of the most unpredictable rounds and with three races in prospect, that looks like it could well continue. Starting from a second pole of the season and making it a homecoming to remember, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) will see his quest for Donington Park victory and Kawasaki’s 500^th podium start from pole position, as he smashed the previous lap record out of the park.

SESSION STARTS: drama from the start

It was a disastrous start to the session for Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW), who after finishing second in FP3, crashed at the start of his first flying lap at Turn 1. However, the times were absolutely electric from the first runs, with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) lapping together and getting down into the 1’26s, the best laps of their weekend so far. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) were also right on the pace, whilst Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) completed the top six. There were big names down the field, with Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who topped FP3, only ninth.

With seven minutes to go, the riders came into the pits to take a quick break before putting the SCQ tyres on and getting back out for their second and final runs with six minutes to go. Rea and Redding once again left the pits together with Redding’s teammate, Illia Mykhalchyk (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) likewise aiming to improve his time with the two home-heroes laying down the pace. Both of them completed their flying lap and were under the old lap record, both pushing to the limit. Behind, Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) came up the order into the top six, whilst it was Lowes and Razgatlioglu who also got themselves onto the provisional front row.

FRONT ROW: fresh rubber brings a new lap record

Come the chequered flag at the end of the session, it was Rea who obliterated the lap record with a 1’26.080s, a new outright motorcycle lap record at the Donington Park circuit. With over a quarter of a second advantage and with strong race pace, Rea is the favourite going into the races as one of the favourites and chases Kawasaki’s 500^th podium in WorldSBK. Joining him on the front row in second place is teammate Alex Lowes, who will want to get a first podium of the season and his third podium at Donington Park. Third place went the way of Toprak Razgatlioglu, who made it 11 straight front rows – a record for a single Yamaha rider.

A SURPRISE ON THE HORIZON: Redding set for home charge from row two

Heading up row two going into the races is Scott Redding, who is enjoying one of his best weekends since his tenure aboard the BMW M1000RR began. Just 0.434s from pole and under the lap record, Redding’s race pace is strong and he’ll be looking to put the bike on the podium for the first time this season. Championship leader Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) could only claim fifth position on his return to Donington Park and was top Ducati again, as the Italian manufacturer continue to struggle to get to the top of the timesheets. Bautista’s teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi rounds out the second row, nearly a second adrift of Rea.

ROW THREE: big names trying to come through

The third row features Iker Lecuona (Team HRC), who had a solid first Tissot Superpole session at a circuit at which he’s never raced at before. He managed to get ahead of Garrett Gerloff, who will go from the middle of the third row and didn’t improve on his time from FP3 as the track temperatures came up. Ninth place went to Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK), with the Italian having a quieter time of things at Donington Park, whilst Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), who is top Independent in the Championship, completed the top ten.

REST OF THE ORDER: wildcard sensation and factory disappointment

Elsewhere, Philipp Oettl (Team Goeleven) was 11^th but will drop three places on the grid for Race 1 after irresponsible riding in FP2, meaning Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) will start 11^th ahead of a mighty wildcard showing from Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha). After his crash, Loris Baz finished 14^th, whilst home-hero Leon Haslam (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) finished 15^th, giving Lucio Pedercini’s team their best Superpole of the season. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) could only manage 16^th, ahead of fellow Honda rider Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team), Illia Mykhalchyk, Roberto Tamburini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) and Eugene Laverty (Bonovo Action BMW).

Outside of the top 20, Hafizh Syahrin’s (MIE Racing Honda Team) first visit to Donington Park will see him start 21^st, with wildcard Peter Hickman (FHO Racing) one place behind him in 22^nd. Kohta Nozane (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) is 23^rd, ahead of Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport – Yamaha), Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) and Luca Bernardi (BARNI Spark Racing Team), who brought up the rear of the field, of which all 26 riders were covered by less than three seconds.

Top six after WorldSBK Superpole, full results here:

1 Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’26.080s

2. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.273s

3. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) +0.426s

4. Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.434s

5. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.656s

6. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.931s

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