British Talent Cup: Donington Déjà Vu: Sparks and Frost share the spoils

British Talent Cup: Sparks secures a super Saturday as the title fight tightens.
The R&G British Talent Cup returned to Donington Park for Round 6 of the 2025 season, with fans treated to three races across the weekend. Ethan Sparks (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) set the tone in Race 1, converting pole position into a sensational victory by just 0.332s at the chequered flag following a last-lap showdown with Ryan Frost (Fibretec Honda by Mlav Racing). Frost edged out Filip Surowiak (City Lifting Team) for second, with the #75’s lead being reduced to 20 points following a P3 finish.

Sparks made a blistering start from pole, holding firm at Redgate, with Surowiak and Frost in chase. There was drama from the start, with George Bowes (GB | 67 / Edwards Racing) crashing out at Turn 1 and ending hopes of a strong result immediately. The lead group formed quickly, with Harrison Mackay (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) joining the scrap in true British Talent Cup fashion. On Lap 2, Sparks ran wide, opening the door to Frost, who slipped into the lead. Meanwhile, there was extra work to do for Jack Burrows (Burows Engineering / RK Racing), with the #16 being handed a Long Lap.

Peter Willis (WM Racing) began carving his way forward, working his way from the edge of the top 10 towards the leaders. Up front, Sparks regrouped, launching his attack on Lap 5 – regaining control of Race 1. There would soon be further drama, with Joshua Raymond Jnr (Fibretec Honda by Mlav Racing) crashing out at the final corner, setting sights on Race 2 redemption. The tension continued to brew, with positions continuing to shuffle as Mackay slipped from second to fourth in the space of two corners.

Frost briefly snatched the lead again, with Sparks searching for his opportunity to attack. The chance arrived on Lap 12, with Sparks reclaiming the advantage, setting the stage for a dramatic fight for the podium places. Meanwhile, Surowiak was beginning to show incredible pace, firing in the last lap of the race. It was elbows out action as Frost sent a sensational move at the penultimate corner, slotting into second position at the chequered flag.

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Sparks held firm at the line, clinching victory by just 0.332s and banking further championship points. Frost followed closely in second, edging out Surowiak as the title battle tightened once again. Mackay took fourth, narrowly missing out on the podium, while Willis capped off a brilliant ride to complete the top five. Mason Foster (Mortimer Racing) claimed sixth, finishing ahead of Jack Dunabie (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) and Clayton Edmunds (City Lifting Team). Further back, Burrows fought his way to ninth, with the experienced Julian Correa (Mortimer Racing) closing out Race1’s top 10!

British Talent Cup: Sparks clinches the Donington double
Ethan Sparks made it two from two at Donington Park, storming to another stunning victory in another 14-lap dash on Saturday. The #62 held his nerve, scoring a crucial 25 points, closing the gap to his title rival Filip Surowiak, who continues to head the standings and is in search of his seventh victory of the season. Behind them, Jack Dunabie capitalised on late drama, earning his first podium since Brands Hatch.

Harrison Mackay grabbed the holeshot at Turn 1, but it wasn’t long before Surowiak responded as he entered P1 following an impressive start. The opening lap delivered classic British Talent Cup action, with Ethan Sparks working his way from the second row to slot into second. Another fierce scrap was unfolding further down the field, with Mason Foster determined for a strong result, and Clayton Edmunds lighting up the timing screens, clocking purple times.

Further back, Blake Wilson led the second group of riders in an intense battle for the remaining places inside the top 10. Meanwhile, there was drama on Lap 6 for Lily Rhodes (Wilson Racing), who crashed out and ended her Race 2 early. Up front, five riders went head-to-head as the BTC provided sensational action once again for the Donington Park crowd. Sparks faced relentless pressure, showing maturity and holding firm in P1 as the #62 soaked up the pressure.

Ryan Frost launched several attacks throughout Race 2, unable to find a way past Sparks and was eventually shuffled back to third by Surowiak. The race built to a classic BTC finale, with Sparks leading the field onto the pivotal 14th lap. Surowiak initially pounced at McLeans, bringing final lap fireworks before everything changed at the Fogarty Esses when both Frost and Mackay crashed out, costing them vital championship points.

Sparks sealed his second win of the weekend with a decisive move at the penultimate corner, while Surowiak chased behind. Meanwhile, Dunabie earned a late podium in another strong day for the Kovara Projects / RS Racing squad. Edmunds took fourth, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process, edging Peter Willis, who completed the top five. Julian Correa took the flag in sixth ahead of Joshua Raymond Jnr, Scott McPhee (SMP Racing) and Blake Wilson (BWR Racing), with Jack Burrows rounding out the top 10. There was also late heartbreak for Mason Foster, who crashed out at the Melbourne Hairpin.

British Talent Cup: Frost ends Sparks’ reign in Race 3
The R&G British Talent Cup served up a thrilling finale at Donington Park, with Ryan Frost striking back on Sunday, claiming victory by just 0.251s. Frost worked hard in Race 3, clawing back some crucial championship points which were lost earlier in the weekend. Ethan Sparks charged to second, narrowly missing out on his third victory of the weekend at Donington Park. Elsewhere, Filip Surowiak stood on another podium as the #75’s championship lead comes down to just 18 points.

Although Clayton Edmunds started from pole on Sunday, it was Ryan Frost who grabbed the holeshot in Race 3, leading the pack through Turn 1. The opening laps were electric, with Sparks clawing his way through the order, soon entering the podium places after a third-row start. The #62 was on the attack, stunning the field to enter the lead for the first time on Lap 2. Title leader Surowiak had a lot of work to do in the opening stages, defending from a star-studded group in third position.

Sparks and Frost edged into the distance, extending their cushion to one second over the rest of the field. However, the cards remained in Sparks’ hands, holding a sixth-tenth gap over Frost behind. Further back, there was drama for Aeziah Divine (Fibretec Honda by Mlav Racing), who brought an early end to the weekend following a crash at the end of Lap 11. Things soon began to change in the closing laps, with Frost chipping away, as he began to close the gap to under half a second – setting up a grand finale on Sunday.

After several attempts, Frost entered the headlines, launching his decisive move at the Fogarty Esses on the final lap. It was a brave move to steal P1, and after navigating some traffic, the Fibretec Honda by Mlav Racing rider secured his first victory of the weekend, at Donington Park in dramatic fashion – ending Sparks’ dominance this weekend.

It was a crucial moment in Frost’s title race, bringing home the maximum 25 points available. Sparks and Surowiak completed the podium, with the #75’s lead in the standings being reduced to just 18 points, leaving Donington. Mason Foster and Harrison Mackay rounded out the top five, leaving Jack Burrows to finish P6 on Sunday. Jack Dunabie ended his weekend in seventh, while Scott McPhee, Clayton Edmunds and Joshua Raymond Jnr completed the top 10.

With just two rounds remaining in 2025, the R&G British Talent Cup now prepares to head to the iconic TT Circuit Assen. The championship battle shows no signs of stopping, and with 50 points in store, make sure you join us for Round 7 of the season from September 19-21 in the Netherlands!

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