The Donington race is a very important step to understand if the values on the field will take on more defined contours and if the ranking will suffer a shake
Massimo Falcioni
July 13
After a month or so from the last race in Misano, next weekend from 15-17 July the Sbk will be back on track at the Donington circuit for the fifth round of the 2022 World Championship. Historic mixed-fast circuit of 4,023 meters (7 curves to the right and 4 to the left and a straight of 564 meters) the one located in the East Midlands near the Sherwood forest that evokes the exploits of Robin Hood, among the most technically tough and among the most spectacular in a natural amphitheater which enhances the smooth and throttle driving of the drivers and the traction qualities of their vehicles in the downhill curves and in the three curves of the Melbourne ring the dead-end braking and violent acceleration, igniting the passion of the spectators, always present in mass even in case of bad weather, this time not foreseen. In Donington, great motorcycling has written pages of history: just think of Valentino Rossi’s five triumphs (Vale scored his first success on the English track in the 500 on a Honda in 2000, at the age of 21), Kevin Schwantz’s fours, Mick’s three Doohan, at the magical victory of Ducati with Casey Stoner in 2007. And it was in Donington, in 1988, that the Superbike world championship for “production-derived” bikes got underway with an extraordinary Italian double: Davide Tardozzi (Bimota) first in Race 1 and Marco Lucchinelli (Ducati) first in Race 2. To tell the truth, the “only” winner of that first WSBK GP was Lucchinelli because on that occasion the “combined” results were worth, a rule, however, never used by so. In the last edition of 2021, in Race 1 there was the solo victory of Razgatlioglu on Yamaha (who started thirteenth) ahead of Rea and Lowes. Then Rea took the Superpole Race in a great way, detaching the BMWs of Sykes and Van der Mark. Finally, the twist in Race 2 with Rea’s mistake in the lead, on the ground at the eleventh lap, with the triumph of Razgatlioglu who went first in the championship.
donington
–
In Donington, in his career, Rea stands out with his 5 first places, 5 second places, 2 third places. On the other hand, Alvaro Bautista, never on the podium in his two appearances in the WSBK and a victory in the 2006 world championship in 125 with Aprilia after second place in 2004 (always in the eighth of a liter with the bike from Noale) and a third place in 2008 in 250 on Aprilia. Razgatlioglu, as already mentioned, won both Race 1 and Race 2 here in 2021, with two second places in the 2019 Superpole and Race 2 and a second place in Race 2 in 2018. In 2019, when the season got off to a great start for the Bautista-Ducati duo with 14 first places in the first seven Grands Prix, it was the British GP at Donington that gave the turning point with the start of the debacle for the Spanish rider and Rea in a great comeback with 13 wins and 5 second places. Other times, it will be said. True, today Bautista seems to have matured, more solid and more convinced of his potential and that of his Ducati, a truly top bike, superior in power and speed, but with an opponent like Rea, “never say never”. The delicate issue of the drivers’ market also fits into this picture, with Rea at the center. Beyond new possible options, mostly used tactically by the staff of the Northern Irish ace (staying in Sbk but changing bikes, for example Honda but also Yamaha and BMW), in the end Rea will remain where he is, guaranteeing him the Kawasaki for at least another two years what Jonathan wants in terms of motorcycles and money also in the future post-racing projection, with Jonathan as the image (and not only) of the Japanese giant. The leap into MotoGP? Rea travels for 36 years, keeps a family, and knows that certain adventures are better not embarked on.
bautista
–
And Bautista? On the one hand, his reconfirmation until the end of 2023 with the official Ducati of the Aruba Team gives stability to the duo at the head of the world championship, offering the Spanish champion the serenity he aspired to, essential to aim for the title. In this context, the choice of the second driver to join Bautista in 2023 should not be a cause for concern in the team from Borgo Panigale. MotoGP rider who will make his debut in the wild card of the Portimao GP in October and who could even become – not without good reasons – Bautista’s companion with the official Ducati in the WSBK 2023. Razgatlioglu is the most undecided of the big three about his future. With the SBK world title won in 2021, this year with a less “superb” Yamaha, Toprak seems less determined up to now, or to put it better, less “concentrated” perhaps with his gaze and … heart towards MotoGP. It’s true, the Turkish champion’s contract with the Pata Yamaha Team expires at the end of 2023 but on the upper floors anything can happen, even if Yamaha, given what happens in MotoGP with only one rider at the top (Quartararo), can change the cards bringing Razgatlioglu to MotoGP since 2023, with Dorna’s ok. In this case, who in SBK on Yamaha instead of Toprak? Many riders are ready, not only today in the category, but also present (and uncertain) in Moto2 and even in MotoGP, very happy for a landing that could lead to the world title. Behind these there is a whole movement that defining “minor” is limiting even if we must take note that there is only a front row, very few champions, many supporting actors.
the fate of the championship
–
The Sbk championship is still long, with seven rounds after the British GP. The Donington race is, however, a very important step, to understand if the values on the field will take on more defined contours and if the ranking will suffer a shake. Today in front is Alvaro Bautista (220 points) followed by Rea (184) and Razgatlioglu (141) but nothing is taken for granted. And this is good for the championship and for this SBK which, despite having an undefined technical identity and still considered (unjustly) the “B series” in relation to the MotoGP premier class of motorcycling, has on the stands of the circuits and in front of their own vast and passionate audience of aficionados on TV because these races, with these riders and with these bikes, offer a great show.
July 13, 2022 – 08:20
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED