The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship visited Donington Park at the weekend, and it was a dramatic weekend of action in the Prosecco DOC UK Round. A new name claimed victory, there were big fights up and down the grid and plenty of highs and lows to look back on following the trip to the UK.
LECUONA WINS AT LAST…
Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) had competed in 140 races prior to Race 1 at Donington Park, when he stepped onto the top step of the podium. In doing so, he became the rider with the second-longest wait for a victory in WorldSBK, behind only Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha). Crucially for the #7, it was a fair fight with teammate Nicolo Bulega. After getting the jump on the #11 at the start, Lecuona was able to resist the Italian throughout the 23-lap race as he came home for his first World Superbike win.
…BUT CRASHES FROM THE LEAD ON SUNDAY
In the Tissot Superpole Race, Lecuona once again got a good start and leapfrogged Bulega into Turn 1 with Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) between the two factory Ducati riders. It looked like Lecuona would be able to build a gap to the #5 and the #11, but he fell at Turn 12 at the end of Lap 2, ending his hopes of a second win in as many races.
EMOTIONAL PODIUM FOR SAM LOWES
British rider Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) headed into his home round hoping to claim podiums or even a victory, and he was able to stand on the rostrum in the Tissot Superpole Race. It was an emotional one as his Marc VDS Ducati squad were mourning the loss of founder Marc van der Straten. The P3 finish was the highlight of the weekend for the #14, who took P4 in Race 1 and finished P7 in Race 2 despite challenging for the podium in the early stages.
BMW STRUGGLE AT DONINGTON PARK
BMW would’ve had high hopes for Donington Park. Even before Toprak Razgatlioglu’s arrival, it was generally a good circuit for the German manufacturer as they challenged for the podium, and with ‘El Turco’, they won all six races in 2024 and 2025. Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) made his return from injury at the British venue and took two 15th place finishes in Race 1 and Race 2. Teammate Miguel Oliveira, racing at Donington Park for the first time in WorldSBK, was a few places up the road, finishing P11 in Race 1 and P12 in Race 2, but he was around 29 seconds off the winner in both races. It was a tough weekend for BMW who will look to regroup over the summer break for the next round.
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