FIM World Superbike Round 5: Donington Park

Here are the highlights of round five of the FIM World Superbike Championship from Donington Park in Leicestershire, England.  Two races will be run as always.

This is the 25th anniversary of the World Superbike Championship which began in 1988.  Tom Sykes has pole position.  The championship is wide open, much like Formula One has been.  This should be a dry race even though it's cloudy.  There are dark clouds.  However, no rain should fall.  It is very windy at Donington which will affect the handling of the bikes.  The hot temperatures will affect bikes and riders, too.  Pirelli has three compound options for the tires.

The bikes are on their warmup lap.  Max Biaggi has just a two point lead in the championship, as the bikes set off on their warmup lap.  The green flag is up.  At the start, Tom Sykes and Marco Melandri get a good start.  Melandri passes Sykes going through Redgate and into the Craner Curves.  Into McLeans, the bikes are really moving around.  Bikes are on cold tires into Coppice.  Into the esses, Melandri is opening a lead as Johnny Rea passes going into Goddards  Eugene Laverty passes Michele Fabrizio as Leon Haslam takes the lead.  This is a 22 lap race.  Carlos Checa has to dig back through the field.  Leon Haslam's dad Ron (a former Superbike racer) has a motorcycle racing school at Donington.

There is a big bump in the braking zone for the last corner at Goddard's.  Davide Giugliano in tenth sets fastest lap so far.  Eugene Laverty has Checa breathing down his rear tire.  Biaggi on the inside of another bike.  Johnny Ray, maybe.  He's also real close.  Biaggi ran wide as there's nothing between the top three right now.  They're right together.  Carlos Checa and Davide Giugliano are catching up to Laverty, so, the Ducati's are real quick.  Tom Sykes continues battling Eugene Laverty into the Melbourne hairpin.  Haslam runs wide and Tom Sykes retakes the lead.  Sykes' best lap is a 1:29.2.

Sylvain Guintoli is sixth now with Laverty and Checa following.  Checa passes Laverty even though he's running a shade slower lap time.  Giugliano sweeps past Laverty.  Leon Camier will be Giugliano's next victim.  Max Biaggi runs an equal pace to Sykes.  This is a long race (23 laps).  The tire degradation is going to be key.  Sykes wiggles and holds on. Max Biaggi goes even quicker at 1:28.9.  Checa is moving up, fast.  Three Ducati's battle each other.  Like the AMA, there is also a Super Sport class in FIM competition.  Haven't covered that.  But, go to the SBK website to find out more.

Sykes, Melandri and others are now running their fast laps.  Guintoli holds off Checa through Redgate.  Badovini, Canepa, Smrz and others are languishing.  How did Jakub Smrz sink so far?  Hmmm.  Sykes and Haslam continue their scrap.  It's Kawasaki vs. BMW.  Eight laps are now complete.  The Kawasaki's are improving, making the position where the rider sits, and the fly-by-wire throttle, better.  Sykes MUST open a gap over Haslam.  But Biaggi and others are coming.  The Melbourne corner is a haunting one.  Former Superbike champs Noriyuki Haga and Troy Bayliss both had trouble there during their careers.

Marco Melandri is catching up on his BMW.  There used to be a Dunlop tires bridge in one of the corners at Donington, but it's gone now.  Sykes continues to lead.  Johnny Rea is still languishing in fifth.  Max Biaggi is carving through the field, but Eugene Laverty doesn't want to give up.  Biaggi's third with Melandri is his next target.  Haslam slides down the inside of Sykes, into the lead!  Marco Melandri gets around Biaggi.  But, Biaggi can get him back at Redgate.  Well, not now, as they go through the sweepers in Craner Curves and through the Old Hairpin.

Into Coppice, Melandri wants by Sykes.  The race is at halfway as Melandri bobbles.  The top three are running identical lap times.  Can Johnny Rea and Carlos Checa catch up?  Melandri slides down inside Sykes.  He can just nip inside someone at the last second.  It's a BMW 1-2.  Marco Melandri had his first WSBK win at Donington, on a Yamaha.  Back into the esses, it's still a close battle between the top four.  Haslam passes into Redgate.  The two BMW's scrap.  The Kawasaki and the Aprilia are still there.  Checa and Rea are also close by.  Melandri passes Haslam into Redgate.  Leon Haslam will attack ASAP.  Where does he make his move?

It's a four way race to the finish.  Sykes wants by Biaggi and nearly gets it.  But no way.  They're side-by-side.  Jeez!  Johnny Rey dispenses with Checa.  This is a very close race.  Melandri takes the lead into Redgate.  How many times have we seen this in this race?  Haslam slides through esses into the gravel trap.  He cut the corner.  Melandri has the lead.  Can Sykes chase him down now?  Biaggi also went off the road.  Haslam is hounding Sykes now, even after that mistake.  It's into the esses as the gap increases to a second and a half for Melandri.  Checa and Ray are still in this thing.

Haslam tried to get by Sykes and almost crashed!  Melandri is still leading.  Johnny Rea has to get by Max Biaggi.  Leon Haslam passes and then, Sykes goes back.  I give up.  I can't say anything.  This race changes all over, in every corner!  Into Schwantz corner, there's still a battle.  It's the last lap.  Melandri could win and BMW could get a 1-2.  Marco Melandri and BMW are going to win at Donington Park!  Phew!  What a race!

Race 1: #33 Marco Melandri     ITA      BMW S1000RR

Race two is next.

Tom Sykes has pole for the second race.  The formation lap is taking place, just before the race starts.  At the start, Michele Fabrizio creeps foirward as Biagi takes the lead over Sykes.  Carlos Checa crashes right on the first turn at Redgate.  He's out of it.  Sykes swings around Max Biaggi.  Carlos Checa runs into the back of Eugene Laverty and Jakub Smrz also falls down.  Melandri is on top of Biaggi.  Sylvain Guintoli and Eugene Laverty follow as Laverty runs wide.  The Biaggi/Sykes battle continues from race one.  Both got better starts this time.

Michele Fabrizio actually jumped the start.  He's down in eleventh place.  Marco Melandri is being hounded by Jonathan Rea.  Leon Camier runs right with Eugene Laverty.  Laverty tries passing Sylvain Guintoli.  Johnny Rea hits Melandri!  Ugh!  Well, Rea was on the inside line.  Meanwhile, Chaz Davies and Ayrton Badovini battle as well.  Sylvain Guintoli and Eugene Laverty are the targets for Johnny Rea.  Melandri wants to pass Ray and be done with him.  Into Goddard's, not much happens.  Sykes dominates this race.  But Biaggi is setting the lap record at 1:28.9.  Melandri still on Rea through Craner Curves.

Johnny Rea shuts the door on Melnadri and then Melnadri gets him back.  Whoever wins race two will lead the championship.  Carlos Checa will score zero points.  Leon Haslam runs a 1:29.2.  A wildcard rider ditches his bike, but, gets back up and races on.  Sykes runs a 1:29.3.  It's going to be ANOTHER four way race.  Not sure which tires are being used.  Pirelli, please let us know.  New rider Lawrence Baaz is running well.  Leon Haslam wants to pass Max Biaggi.

Johnny Rea hangs on in fifth spot.  Biaggi really closes up on Sykes through a long right hander.  Melnadri makes up time into Melbourne corner.  Tom Sykes runs a 1:29.7.  Rea is quickest at 1:29.4.  All riders are using the semi soft Pirelli tire.  Haslam tries passing Biaggi, but can't quite do it.  However, no, Marco Melandri drives around Rey coming out of nowhere!  The race is half over.  Johnny Rea passes Melandri back.  Eugene Laverty drops his bike and is out.  Laverty's crash was HUGE!  But, he'll be OK.

Kawasaki has not really been as consistent in WSBK competition since 1993 when American Scott Russell rode for them.  Marco Melandri wants by Biaggi.  Biaggi slams the door.  The race is half over.  Tom Sykes can now pull out a gap.  Biaggi looks at Sykes.  Now, Melandri wants to move.  This is some battle!  Melandri successfully passes Biaggi.  He'll get the lead soon, maybe.  Max Biaggi is trying to hold it into the Schwantz corner.  Leon Haslam tries a move and can't quite stick it.

Into Goddard's, it's five bikes going for a win.  Maxime Berger retires from the race with mechanical issues.  Less than nine laps left.  Leon Haslam and Johnny Rea pass.  Sykes leads both of the BMW's.  Cover the top five with a blanket.  There's nothing in it.  Biaggi tries to pass but then gets dropped off by Johnny Rea.  Rea slides way wide and loses places out of Goddard's.  Twenty-five years ago, the racing in Superbike was very different, obviously.  Leon Haslam passes Marco Melandri and looks to pass Sykes, too.

Seven laps left.  Leon Haslam gets the lead with Melandri following.  Sykes is demoted to third having to deal with Biaggi.  Sykes is struggling.  Max Biaggi gets third.  Johnny Rea is back into contention running a 1:29.7.  Four laps to go.  Marco Melandri passes at Redgate.  But, he needs to close the door instead of leaving a spot for Haslam.  Marco Melandri takes over the lead, but Haslam and Biaggi are still at it.  Haslam now leads.  Biaggi gets second.  Rea is fourth.  Four laps to go.  Sykes is fading.

Biaggi looks inside Haslam.  Melandri passes Rea again.  Now, Biaggi is really pushing through Redgate.  Haslam can outbrake Biaggi.  Rea is third as the bikes plunge into Coppice.  Rea passes Biaggi.  Rea slides wide and holds second.  Two laps left.  Marco Melandri runs wide.  Rea runs fastest lap.  Through Craner Curves again.  Johnny Rea runs wide.  Wind up the motor, put on full power into the straight.  Max Biaggi gets second, passing Rea.  Marco Melandri is not done either.  He's third.  This is the last lap.  This is the race of Haslam's life.  It's anyone's really.

Marco Melandri passes for second.  Haslam opens a gap.  Melandri passes, runs wide and then passes again going wide taking the BMWs out!  Johnny Rea wins!

Race 2: #65 Johnny Rea     GBR     Honda CBR 1000 RR

BMW team management will be livid with that wreck between Melandri and Haslam.

Next race: U.S.A. (Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah)