At Donington Park, in WorldSBK Rea does a hat trick to increase his championship lead over Bautista, Cluzel and Sabatucci win the WorldSSP and WorldSSP300 respectively; satisfaction in the Pirelli cam

Until a couple rounds ago, the MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship seemed to have taken a very clear direction with Álvaro Bautista winning the first 11 races, seemingly without any rivals able to make any trouble for him.
But from the Jerez round and then with the next round in Misano, the Spanish Ducati rider made a few mistakes, leaving his flank exposed, and four-time World Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) did not stand idly by.
After the fantastic double in Misano, winning both Race 1 and Race 2, at Donington Park, the Northern Irishman did the triple, winning all three races and taking the lead in the rider standings already on Saturday, then increasing his advantage to 24 points ahead of Bautista on Sunday. For his part, the Spaniard was unable to be as incisive as he had in the early part of the season, and on English soil he had to settle for a meagre bounty - third place in Race 2.

The Donington weekend, at least in the premier class, was certainly an important one for all the Akashi-based manufacturer’s riders who also took two second place finishes here with the skilled Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR), and two third place finishes with Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR).
If Kawasaki and Ducati seem to be the most incisive bikes in the World Championship for factory derivatives, in WorldSSP, it is a different story, because in this case, Yamaha is dominating, taking the top two positions on the podium, as well as fourth, thanks to the performances of Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6), first across the line, and teammates Federico Caricasulo and Randy Krummenacher (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6), second and fourth respectively.The Iwata-based manufacturer also dominated in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship race, won by Italian Kevin Sabatucci of Team Trasimeno Yamaha.

The weekend that just ended was also a very interesting one for Pirelli who was able to verify the performance of the new DIABLO™ Rain tyres in SCR1 compound on Saturday, whereas on Sunday, important feedback was gathered on the SCX pre-qualifier solution, which was chosen by all the riders on the grid for the Tissot Superpole^® Race, demonstrating this solution’s great popularity.

WORLDSBK TISSOT SUPERPOLE^® RACE:

For the Tissot Superpole^® Race, all the riders opted for the SCX rear solution, whereas on the front, with the exception of Kiyonari, the choice fell unanimously to the standard SC1. The race, which started at 11:00 a.m. local, lasted even less than the scheduled 10 laps, as it was red-flagged on the eighth lap due to an accident that involved no less than five riders.
At the start, pole man Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW S1000 RR) got off well, managing to stay ahead of Race 1 winner, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR), who had started from the second spot on the grid.Behind them was Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) who succeeded in moving up from seventh to third.
However, the four-time World Champion Kawasaki rider was not giving up easily, and on the fifth lap he was able to overtake his former teammate for the race lead. In the meantime, Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) and Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) moved respectively into fourth and fifth place.
It seemed like the race would end in that order, but during the eighth lap, Peter Hickman (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW S1000 RR) had a technical problem on turn 11 and leaked oil, ending up in the gravel. Unfortunately, the same fate awaited Sandro Cortese, Leandro Mercado, Alessandro Delbianco and Ryūichi Kiyonari, slipping on the oil left on the track by the British rider. Race direction was therefore forced to wave the red flag, which decreed the end of the race, but on the final lap to return to pit lane, Tom Sykes, who had been lying second in the race, also slipped on the oil left behind by Hickman, crashing out. Unable to get the bike to Parc Fermé, Tom Sykes lost his second place to the private Turkish Puccetti Racing team rider. This made it an all-green podium with Jonathan Rea, Toprak Razgatlioglu and Leon Haslam respectively on the first, second and third step.

1) J. Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
2) T. Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
3) L. Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
4) Á. Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
5) L. Baz (Ten Kate Racing – Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1)
6) A. Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
7) C. Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
8) M. Van Der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
9) J. Torres (Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
10) M. Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
11) M. Rinaldi (Barni Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
RT) T. Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW S1000 RR)
RT) P. Hickman (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW S1000 RR)
RT) S. Cortese (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
RT) L. Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
RT) A. Delbianco (Althea Mie Racing Team / Honda CBR1000RR)
RT) R. Kiyonari (Moriwaki Althea Honda Team / Honda CBR1000RR)

WORLDSBK RACE 2:

As for the tyres in Race 2, the riders made very different choices compared to the sprint race, obviously preferring the SC0 standard and development solutions, confirming their preferences for the standard SC1 on the front.
In this race, the Kawasaki riders were once again the undisputed protagonists, with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) going back and forth for the lead throughout the race, which was then won by the Northern Irishman.
Razgatlioglu managed to overtake Rea for the lead twice, first on the third lap and then on the eighth, but on the twelfth lap he was forced to relinquish the position to the four-time World Champion who had a slightly faster pace than his.
In any case, the Turkish rider was able to give Rea a run for his money all the way to the chequered flag, finishing just three tenths of a second behind the Championship leader.
The other Kawasaki rider, Leon Haslam, seemed to have third place in the bag, but on the thirteenth lap, Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) was able to overtake him, thereby taking the only podium finish of what was a difficult weekend for the Ducati riders.

1) J. Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
2) T. Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
3) Á. Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
4) A. Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
5) L. Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
6) L. Baz (Ten Kate Racing – Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1)
7) T. Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW S1000 RR)
8) M. Van Der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
9) C. Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
10) M. Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
11) P. Hickman (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW S1000 RR)
12) M. Rinaldi (Barni Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
13) S. Cortese (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
14) L. Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
15) A. Delbianco (Althea Mie Racing Team / Honda CBR1000RR)
16) R. Kiyonari (Moriwaki Althea Honda Team / Honda CBR1000RR)
RT) J. Torres (Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)

WORLDSSP RACE:

Before Race 2 of WorldSBK, at 12:15 local time, the FIM Supersport World Championship race was held, with Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6) in pole position. The Italian rode a good race, but was unable to prevail over Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6), who put in one of his best performances since the beginning of the year on this track, winning the race.
The Italian started well, managing to stay ahead of both Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R) and Jules Cluzel.
This lasted until the fourth lap, when the Kawasaki Racing Team rider succeeded in his efforts to take the lead, and shortly thereafter, Cluzel managed to get past Caricasulo.
In the meantime, Randy Krummenacher (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6), after starting from halfway back on the grid, clawed his way slowly back up through the positions until reaching fourth in the ninth lap.During the fourteenth lap, Jules Cluzel managed to take the lead from Mahias. The latter was also forced to yield his position to Federico Caricasulo on the following lap, sliding back into third.
In any case, the top four seemed to be riding their own race, creating a rather compact leading group and staying well ahead of the rest.
The positions in the final part of the race remained the same, and Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6) went on to finish first ahead of Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6), second,and Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R), third. Fourth place went to Randy Krummenacher (Bardahl Evan Bros.WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6).

1) J. Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6)
2) F. Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
3) L. Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
4) R. Krummenacher (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
5) R. De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse / MV Agusta F3 675)
6) T. Gradinger (Kallio Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
7) J. Kennedy (Appleyard Macadam Integro / Yamaha YZF R6)
8) C. Perolari (GMT94 YAMAHA / Yamaha YZF R6)
9) B. Jones (Appleyard Macadam Integro / Yamaha YZF R6)
10) A. Badovini (Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
11) P. Sebestyen (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda / Honda CBR600RR)
12) R. Hartog (Team Hartog - Against Cancer / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
13) H. Okubo (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
14) J. Van Sikkelerus (MPM WILSport Racedays / Honda CBR600RR)
15) H. Soomer (MPM WILSport Racedays / Honda CBR600RR)
16) G. Van Straalen (EAB Racing Team/ Kawasaki ZX-6R)
17) C. Stange (GEMAR - Ciociaria Corse WorldSSP Team / Honda CBR600RR)
18) F. Fuligni (MV Agusta Reparto Corse / MV Agusta F3 675)
19) N. Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
20) A. Toledo (MS Racing Yamaha YZF R6)
21) J. Danilo (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda / Honda CBR600RR)
22) I. Viñales (Kallio Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
23) G. Sconza (GEMAR - Ciociaria Corse WorldSSP Team / Honda CBR600RR)
RT) K. Smith (Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
RT) A. Gyorfi (Team Toth / Yamaha YZF R6)
RT) L. Cresson (Kallio Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)

WORLDSSP300 RACE:

The final event of the day was the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship race which, on this occasion, was characterised by various crashes and DNFs.In the end, victory went to Italian Kevin Sabatucci (Team Trasimeno Yamaha / Yamaha YZF-R3) who finished first ahead of Andy Verdoïa (BCD Yamaha MS Racing / Yamaha YZF-R3) and Russian Nikita Kalinin (Nutec - RT Motorsports by SKM - Kawasaki / Kawasaki Ninja 400). Due to a crash, defending champion Ana Carrasco finished only nineteenth.

The Pirelli solutions chosen by the riders for the WorldSBK and WorldSSP races:

In the Tissot Superpole^® Race, tyre selection by the riders was just about unanimous. On the rear, they all opted for the pre-qualifying SCX solution (option X), whereas for the front, no less than 16 out of the 17 riders on the grid used the standard 125/70 SC1 tyre (option A). The only rider making a different choice for the front was Ryūichi Kiyonari, who opted for the X1071 SC2 development solution (option B).

As for Race 2, the riders made very different choices from one another. On the rear, the standard 200/65 SC0 (option B) turned out to be the most used, but the Y0446 SC0 development tyre (option A) was the tyre chosen by the three Kawasaki riders who almost monopolised the podium as they had already done in the Tissot Superpole^® Race.
On the front, on the other hand, the standard 125/70 SC1 (option A)remained the most popular choice by far.

In the WorldSSP race, almost all the riders chose the Y0410 SC0 development solution in the larger 190/60 size (option B) for the rear, whereas on the front, 3/4 of them opted for the standard SC1 tyre (option A).

Pirelli statistics for WorldSBK Tissot Superpole® Race:

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR), in 1'27.166 in the 7^th lap
• Most used front solution: standard SC1 125/70 (16 out of 17 riders) 
• Most used rear solution: SCX (17 out of 17 riders) 
• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tyres: 280.1 km/h, achieved by Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) in the 7^th lap 
• Air temperature: 17° C 
• Asphalt temperature: 35° C

Pirelli statistics for WorldSBK Race 2:

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR), in 1'27.773 in the 3^rd lap 
• Most used front solution: standard SC1 125/70 (15 out of 17 riders) 
• Most used rear solution: Standard SC0 200/65 (11 su 17 riders) 
• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tyres: 277.9 km/h, achieved by Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) in the 14^th lap 
• Air temperature: 20° C 
• Asphalt temperature: 42° C

Pirelli statistics for WorldSSP race:

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6), in 1'30.850 in the 17^th lap 
• Most used front solution: Standard SC1 (20 out of 26 riders) 
• Most used rear solution: Development SC0 Y0410 190/60 (22 out of 26 riders) 
• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Supercorsa tyres: 240 km/h, achieved by Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6) in the 16^th and 17^th lap 
• Air temperature: 18° C 
• Asphalt temperature: 39° C