WSB: History in the making?

30 years ago the first World Superbike race blasted into action at a chilly Donington Park. The format consisted two heat races, the event winner declared at the end of the second. Davide Tardozzi won the first but crashed out of the second, handing overall victory to Marco Lucchinelli.

Fast-forward from 1988 to 2018. It’s still two races, still the premier production-based World Championship motorcycle category and the same Donington Park. After that inaugural round ‘Donny’ would remain on the calendar until 2001, returning for three years from 2007 and back again from 2011 onwards. The track has witnessed 50 WSB races, including Carl Fogarty’s first of 59 when his Ducati triumphed in 1992. Jonathan Rea now returns with as many victories. Should he take another, the Kawasaki rider becomes the first man in history to claim 60. Team-mate Tom Sykes is looking to establish a new pole position record of 44; how ironic would it be if new records were set for both poles and wins on the same weekend?

Any trip to Donington should include a visit to the adjacent museum. The collection of some of the most iconic motorsport vehicles in the world is a sight to behold; visitors are reminded of the historic Donington Grand Prix of the 1930s and iconic moments like Ayrton Senna blasting through the rain to his F1 victory of 1993.

A unique feature of the UK World Superbike Round is the Two Wheels for Life charity auction as well as the PTR Rider concert, staged at the Paddock Show on Saturday evening and featuring songs from various riders. Access to the paddock is included for anybody in possession of a race ticket. Tickets are available through Donington-Park.co.uk and MSV.com, this being the first WSB round since MSV acquired the circuit and made numerous upgrades including a new circuit restaurant.

Live coverage with commentary from James Whitham and Freddie Spencer comes across the weekend on both Eurosport 2 and the free-to-air Quest channel. Friday’s practices will be shown on the Eurosport Player, with FP1 also on Eurosport 1.

FRIDAY 25^th MAY

09:00 British Talent Cup – Free Practice 1
09:45 World Superbike – Free Practice 1
10:40 World Supersport – Free Practice 1
11:45 Supersport 300 – Free Practice 1
12:30 World Superbike – Free Practice 2
13:25 Superstock 1000 – Free Practice 1
14:15 British Talent Cup – Free Practice 2
15:00 World Supersport – Free Practice 2
16:05 World Superbike – Free Practice 3
17:00 Supersport 300 – Free Practice 2
17:45 Superstock 1000 – Free Practice 2
18:30 British Talent Cup – Qualifying
19:10 National Superstock 600 – Free Practice

SATURDAY 26^th MAY

09:00 World Superbike – Free Practice 4
09:30 World Supersport – Free Practice 3
10:00 Superstock 1000 – Free Practice 3
10:45 World Superbike – Superpole 1
11:10 World Superbike – Superpole 2
11:45 Supersport 300 – Superpole 1
12:10 Supersport 300 – Superpole 2
13:15 World Superbike – RACE 1
14:15 World Supersport – Superpole 1
14:40 World Supersport – Superpole 2
15:15 Superstock 1000 – Qualifying
16:15 British Talent Cup – RACE 1
17:00 National Superstock 600 – Qualifying

SUNDAY 27^th MAY

09:00 Supersport 300 – Warm-Up
09:20 World Supersport – Warm-Up
09:45 World Superbike – Warm-Up
10:10 Superstock 1000 – Warm-Up
11:30 World Supersport – RACE
13:00 World Superbike – RACE 2
14:20 Supersport 300 – RACE
15:15 Superstock 1000 – RACE
16:15 British Talent Cup – RACE
17:00 National Superstock 600 – RACE