WSB: Sykes on top after mixed Donington Park FP1, Bautista outside top ten!

Shocks and surprises trail in Tom Sykes’ wake after FP1, with four Independent bikes in the top ten; but where are the Ducatis?

The 2019 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship visits Donington Park this weekend, with the opening Free Practice taking place under sunny skies. With the first 50-miute session complete, it was a mixed bag inside the top ten, with many riders fluctuating throughout the order. Come the end of the shocks and surprises, it was Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who took top spot.

British riders may have arrived at home, but it was from a dominant start. Tom Sykes, who has won nine times at the Donington Park circuit, blasted his way to the top early in the session and maintained his spot right through to the end. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) was in second place, ahead of Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who crashed at Craner Curves with just two minutes to go. Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing – Yamaha) placed fourth with a strong end to the session, whilst fellow Yamaha rider Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) started his comeback with fifth.

Jordi Torres (Team Pedercini Racing) surprised everyone and finished sixth, ahead of Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK pairing, Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam.Peter Hickman was a pleasant feature inside the top ten, with a ninth place to open his return to WorldSBK action for the first time in seven years. Marco Melandri concluded the session with a small crash at the final corner but finished in tenth.

With no Ducati riders inside the top ten, it looks set to be an incredible weekend at Donington Park, with Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) finishing only 11^th, one place better than teammate Chaz Davies. Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) was 13^th and improving steadily throughout, whilst Eugene Laverty (Team Goeleven) finished 16^th on his return.

1. Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’27.790
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) +0.377
3. Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.626
4. Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing – Yamaha) +0.692
5. Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.739
6. Jordi Torres (Team Pedercini Racing) +0.790