Summer’s well and truly here and nothing signifies it more than the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship arriving in the UK at Donington Park, where it all began back in 1988. You could say, then, that it’s coming home – something plenty of people in the paddock will be hoping for in a different sport. The Prosecco DOC UK Round has always provided plenty of drama and historic moments and expect more of the same in 2026.
TITLES UP FOR GRABS…
Italy’s focus during this summer of sport is very much fixed on motorsport, and perhaps tennis at Wimbledon, and Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) has been unstoppable this season, winning 21 races out of 21 and is on a streak of 25 in total. If he wins Race 1, he’ll be on 26 in a row – double the previous record set by Toprak Razgatlioglu. However, Ducati have struggled at Donington compared to other tracks, with just three victories since 2011, so perhaps this is a chance for the streak to come to a halt. Teammate Iker Lecuona will go in search of a first WorldSBK win, and the pair of them could help Ducati wrap up two titles: the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ Championships could be won on Sunday at Donington. It’s worth nothing that Lecuona heads to Donington after the birth of his daughter, and what a special moment it would be for the #7 if his first win followed immediately after.
HOME HEROES ON THE CHARGE
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) heads into his home round, having grown up just a stone’s throw away from the circuit, searching for a first victory with Bimota. He led last year at Donington and the project has only developed further, so expect the #22 to be in the mix once again. The same goes for twin brother Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), who’s still searching for his first WorldSBK victory but knows Donington like the back of his hand. Of course, it will be an emotional weekend for the Independent Ducati team, following the sad news about founder Marc van der Straten’s passing on Sunday. Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) and Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) have both hit form and will look to replicate that on home soil. For ‘Taz’, it’s his first WorldSBK race on home soil since 2024, while for Bridewell, he will be running a special Union Flag-based livery on his Panigale V4R. Elsewhere, Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) will look to make his return from injury after completing one race at Aragon. He will need to pass a pre-round medical check. Jonathan Rea (Honda HRC) will be back in action too as a wildcard for Honda, looking to utilise his experience of the circuit and WorldSBK in general to keep pushing the project along. To get ready for Rea’s return to action, why not watch the six-part docuseries, ‘The Greatest’, about his incredible WorldSBK career?
CHALLENGING FOR THE ROSTRUM
A handful of riders will be looking for a potential podium in the UK. Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) has four this season and, with an extra month’s rest and recovery, will be looking to challenge for the podium. He and teammate Danilo Petrucci tested at this circuit at the end of June to get up to speed, and ‘Petrux’ has been a podium finisher at Donington before. However, he will need to pass a pre-round medical check to determine whether he can race or not after he fractured his coccyx in his Most crash. Yamaha have had good results in the past in the UK, and both Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) and teammate Xavi Vierge are going in search of a first rostrum of the season, as are GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team duo Remy Gardner and Stefano Manzi. Locatelli will be boosted by his Suzuka 8 Hours rostrum after finishing in second. Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) has won two races at Donington previously and will look to return to that sort of form, while teammate Yari Montella has been a consistent force in the podium battle, and heads into the UK Round on the back of a contract renewal to keep him at Barni Ducati for 2027. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) challenged for a podium at the last round and will look to do the same again, while Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) will aim to add to his rostrum tally.
SURPRISES IN STORE?
Aside from a tough Misano weekend, not aided by a Tissot Superpole crash, Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) has been in strong form lately – and Donington was one of his best rounds in a challenging 2025 campaign, with three top-eight finishes. He also claimed a podium in 2021 when with Yamaha, so can he take a first rostrum in green this weekend? Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) is on a 12-race scoring streak but heads to a venue he doesn’t know, perhaps with the aim of keeping that run going. It’s been a tough start to life in WorldSBK for Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC), but the Thai rider is finding his feet and fighting for the points-paying positions in full-length races more and more. Chantra and Rea both had to Donington on the back of their Suzuka 8 Hours victory at the weekend. He, along with Dixon and BMW, took part in a one-day test at Donington. Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) and teammate Mattia Rato will be looking for the points throughout the weekend.
Watch the 51-minute highlights show from Misano HERE, read the Official Programme for Donington HERE and watch every moment from the UK using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now HALF PRICE!