The iconic Donington Park circuit crackled with energy as the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship kicked off its UK Round with a riveting Free Practice 1 session. Despite nursing an ankle injury, Toprak Razgatlioglu of ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team sent a clear message to his rivals, dominating the timesheet with a blistering 1’26.419s lap.
As riders navigated the tricky transition from damp to dry conditions, the session unfolded like a high-stakes chess match. Danilo Petrucci, showing impressive form for Barni Spark Racing Team, claimed the second spot, while Garrett Gerloff rounded out an unexpected top three for Bonovo Action BMW.
Local hero Alex Lowes gave the home crowd something to cheer about, briefly leading the pack before settling for fourth. Meanwhile, reigning champion Alvaro Bautista found himself in unfamiliar territory, managing only fifth fastest.
The session wasn’t without its drama. Andrea Iannone, nicknamed ‘The Maniac’, lived up to his moniker with three off-track excursions, providing spectators with heart-stopping moments as he rediscovered the nuances of Donington’s challenging layout.
Perhaps the biggest surprise came from Jonathan Rea. The multiple world champion, now aboard Yamaha machinery, faced early setbacks, spending precious time in the pits before salvaging a 13th place finish.
As the dust settles on FP1, one thing is clear: the Prosecco DOC UK Round promises to be a thrilling affair. With Razgatlioglu looking to extend his championship lead and his competitors hungry to close the gap, fans are in for a weekend of world-class racing action.
Top 6 Results:
- Razgatlioglu (BMW) – 1’26.419s
- Petrucci (Ducati) – +0.416s
- Gerloff (BMW) – +0.633s
- Lowes (Kawasaki) – +0.706s
- Bautista (Ducati) – +0.738s
- Gardner (Yamaha) – +0.899s
As teams now analyse data and fine-tune their machines, the stage is set for an electrifying battle when the riders return to the track for FP2.