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| Kropotkin Thinks | ... that a change is as good as a rest |
Submitted by Jared Earle on
Jules Cluzel held off a late challenge by Randy Krummenacher to repeat his morning's performance. Everyone in the top twenty improved on their earlier times as the sun came out, and less than a second covered the top nine.
Results:
Submitted by Jared Earle on
Tom Sykes ended the day quickest ahead of Alex Lowes and Toprak Razgatlioglu as everyone but Michael van der Mark improved on their mornings' times. Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam joined the quick men in the 1'27s while sixth-quickest Alvaro Bautista just missed out, over a quarter of a second off Sykes's quick lap.
Results:
Submitted by Jared Earle on
Jules Cluzel was quickest, ahead of Lucas Mahias and Randy Krummenacher. Federico Caricasulo was two thirds of a second off the quickest time, sixth quickest behind wildcard Jack Kennedy.
Results:
Submitted by Jared Earle on
In an unpredictable morning's session, Tom Sykes was the only rider with a 1'27 lap, leading Toprak Razgatlioglu and Alex Lowes. The championship front runners did not have a good morning, with Alvaro Bautista the quickest Ducati in eleventh place, two places behind BMW replacement rider Peter Hickman. Michael van der Mark was declared fit after qualifying but Eugene Laverty will have to wait until after Free Practice two.
Results:
Submitted by David Emmett on
The FIM has announced the provisional WorldSBK calendar for the 2019 season. The calendar as it stands has 13 rounds, 12 of which have been confirmed. Brno and Laguna Seca are out, while Jerez makes a comeback, with a midsummer round still to be announced. That round could be Kyalami.
The season starts out in a similar vein to previous years, kicking off proceedings at Phillip Island on 24th February, before heading to Buriram in Thailand three weeks later. Three weeks after that, the series lands in Europe, racing first at Aragon in Spain, where WorldSBK and WorldSSP are joined by the WorldSSP300 class, before heading north to Assen for the Dutch round. Four weeks after Assen, the WorldSBK paddock heads south to Italy for the round at Imola.
Submitted by David Emmett on
We are a week away from being able to book (provisionally, with free cancellation) to see a race in 2019. The provisional MotoGP calendar for 2019 is due to be published at the Misano round in just under 10 days' time.
As the official MotoGP.com website revealed over the weekend, there will only be 19 rounds in 2019. The numerical symmetry of that may be pleasing, but there were plans to have 20 races next season. The debut of the Kymiring in Finland has been delayed by a year to 2020, as the circuit will not be ready in time for a 2019 date. And the planned round in Mexico at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in Mexico City has been dropped, unless the circuit is prepared to make changes.
Submitted by Steve English on
It was a case of double delight for Michael van der Mark at the UK Round of WorldSBK, and the Dutchman is only getting started
Last weekend's racing at Donington Park was exactly the shot in the arm that WorldSBK needed. A new rider on the top step of the podium, a new bike as the center of attention in Parc Ferme, and most importantly: Jonathan Rea being beaten in a straight up fight by Michael van der Mark.
Rea and Kawasaki have dominated the championship over the last three years and even for Yamaha's Van der Mark it was a surprise to finally break his duck in such style with a double.
Submitted by Steve English on
Round 6 of the 2018 Superbike World Championship saw Michael van der Mark make history and Toprak Razgatlıoglu claim a first career podium. It was the shot in the arm the series needed, and after great racing across all four classes there is a renewed optimism within the paddock.
Double Dutch
Michael van der Mark made history by becoming the first ever Dutchman to win a WorldSBK race and the Yamaha rider followed it up by doing the double. It was a stunning weekend from the 25 year old and both race victories were emphatic. On Saturday he beat Jonathan Rea in a straight fight and on Sunday he rode a calm and collected race to claim a further 25 points and move into third in the standings. The 2014 WorldSSP champion has been one of the coming men of WorldSBK in recent years, but to get over the line with such style for a first victory was hugely impressive.
Turkish Delight
The talent of Toprak Razgatlıoglu has never been in doubt and on Sunday he showed exactly why by standing on the rostrum. Turkey may have lost their racing hero when Kenan Sofuoglu retired, but they didn't need to wait long for a replacement. Razgatlıoglu was superb in chasing down Alex Lowes and Jonathan Rea in the final quarter of the race and when he made moves he made them stick. It was a smart performance from a talented rider to watch out for in the second half of the season.
What's gone wrong at Ducati?
Submitted by Press Release on
Press releases from the organizers and some of the teams after the races at Donington Park:
Submitted by David Emmett on
WorldSBK standings after the British round at Donington Park:
