Donington Park hosts the first Bennetts British Superbike Championship action of the year on UK soil as the teams descend upon the Grand Prix circuit for the R&G Official Test this weekend (25/26 March).
With Easter’s opening round at Silverstone rapidly approaching, the test in the East Midlands will prove crucial for the teams’ final pre-season preparations. Following the visit to Donington Park, this year’s Bennetts BSB contenders will only have two more days to prepare on track with another R&G Official Test at Silverstone next week (28/29 March).
OMG Racing Yamaha topped the times at Circuito de Navarra and the reigning champions will be keen to carry the momentum with local contender Kyle Ryde, whilst Ryan Vickers will also return to action after his crash in Spain.
Leon Haslam was rapidly on the pace, testing a BSB-specification BMW and the 2018 Champion is back on track this Saturday and Sunday at his beloved local circuit.
PBM Ducati’s Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell were both inside the top five on the times in Spain, but the team will not be present at the test here this weekend as they continue preparations back at their base ahead of travelling to Silverstone.
Honda Racing UK returns to a track that has been a happy hunting ground in the past, particularly for Andrew Irwin. He was inside the top five in Spain and Tom Neave is back to join Irwin on track this weekend.
Ducati fans will have the Oxford Products Racing Ducati to look out for this weekend as Christian Iddon continues building up to the new season. Testing also continues for TAG Racing Honda’s Héctor Barberá and Rapid CDH Racing Kawasaki’s Liam Delves and reigning Quattro Group British GP2 Champion Jack Scott.
The test at Donington Park will be the first opportunity in 2023 to see McAMS Yamaha in action; the team unveiled its colours earlier this week and Jason O'Halloran and rookie Tim Neave will get their season underway in earnest on Saturday.
BMW will also be represented; the FHO Racing BMWs will break cover this weekend with double Champion Josh Brookes lining up alongside Peter Hickman. Danny Buchan meanwhile returns with the SYNETIQ BMW team for his first Superbike track time of the season. The new-look Tactix by Lloyd & Jones BMW will also debut with Luke Mossey.
‘Team Green’ will be out in force as Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki’s Lee Jackson and reigning Pirelli Junior Superstock Champion Max Cook are back on track, whilst DAO Racing Kawasaki’s Dean Harrison will also feature. Luke Hopkins will appear too, making his first outing with the NP Motorcycles Kawasaki team.
Hawk Racing’s Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac by Hawk Racing Honda) and Josh Owens (Crendon by Hawk Racing Honda) also will be bidding to continue their positive start to the season in Spain as will Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles Honda’s Davey Todd.
This test will also feature Supersport World Championship contenders as Ten Kate Racing Yamaha’s Jorge Navarro and Stefano Manzi, plus Dynavolt Triumph’s Harry Truelove and Niki Tuuli will be getting vital experience ahead of the World Championship event in July.
A full support class line-up of Quattro Group British Supersport, Pirelli National and Junior Superstock Championship contenders plus riders from the much anticipated BMW F 900 R Cup will also be on track throughout the weekend.
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