Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes both know what it feels like to climb onto the top step of the podium at Donington, and the Brits will be looking to repeat the feat in 2016 as the WorldSBK paddock gets back on European soil for Round 7 of the season. The Kawasaki Racing Team duo will be optimistic ahead of their home Round, with their eyes firmly set on the top step, as the only two riders on the current grid to have won at Donington.
Donington Park is the venue where WorldSBK began and is also the circuit to have hosted Sykes’ first WorldSBK podium, back in 2008. The Yorkshireman has since reigned supreme with six wins to his name at the track, equal to Carl Fogarty and with a chance to overtake his compatriot in the stats this weekend. Before Sykes’ six in a row, Jonathan Rea was the most recent winner at the track.
“It is always a pleasure to race at a home round and it is a fantastic circuit,” enthused Sykes. “Obviously we have some good history there and the plan is to continue that. If I think of previous events we are in a good position to make it all possible. I have no idea why Donington has been such a special place for me in the past few years. People always suggest that I am familiar with it, it is a home race, or something else like that. There is no particular reason for me. I try with the same effort at every circuit but I am grateful for my success at Donington.”
“Donington is a track that I really enjoy,” agreed Rea. “Watching the races back from last year it seems that the bike was really competitive for both Tom and myself, and that is positive. So far this season we have demonstrated the competitive nature of the new model already on some different circuit layouts, so it is clear that the package is strong. At Donington this weekend we will be aiming to improve the balance of the Ninja ZX-10R and build into two strong races. The British weather is always a huge factor. I hope for some consistent weather but either way I am excited to go back to the UK. I have got lots of fans coming from Northern Ireland so Castle Donington is going to feel like Belfast! I am really excited about that.”
Friday 27th May sees the KRT pairing join their rivals on track once again, as practice determines entry to Tissot-Superpole on Saturday. Race 1 will then begin at 15:00 local time (GMT +1), before Race 2 24 hours later in a one-off schedule for #UKWorldSBK.
Next Round Special for Rea and Sykes
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