Embarking on the summer chapter of the 2023 season, the Prosecco DOC UK Round will be held at Donington Park, the historic venue that witnessed the inaugural WorldSBK event 35 years ago. It will mark the first of three rounds scheduled for July.
What to look out for in Donington Park
All eyes will be on Alvaro Bautista, the current Championship leader with an impressive 298 points. Bautista will be eager to extend his lead and continue his dominant form at Donington Park, a track where Ducati has not won since 2011. The 2022 WorldSBK Champion made the most out of the three-week break after Misano to ride the Desmosedici GP at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” during a two-day test in Italy as a reward for his 2022 WorldSBK title success.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, with just one win under his belt in the 2023 season, will be aiming to regain his form. Having won five of the last six races at Donington Park, the Turkish sensation will be eager to add more victories to his name in his final season with Yamaha.
Six-time WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea has yet to secure a victory this year. Racing on familiar territory with his Kawasaki ZX-10RR, Rea will be determined to put an end to his winless streak and make a statement in front of his home crowd. He participated in a private test at MotorLand Aragon prior to the UK Round.
Currently third in the Championship standings, Andrea Locatelli will be eager to overcome his previous struggles at Donington Park and secure a top 3 finish, with his last podium achieved at the Catalunya Round.
Donington Park has undergone significant work since last year. The resurfacing of the 2.5-mile circuit, the first in over 20 years, aimed to eliminate undulations, improve drainage, and enhance corner camber, while also promoting sustainability by repurposing materials for other areas of the circuit.
WSBK Press office