Double Dutch and Turkish Delight as WSBK witnesses revelations

Having taken his first WSBK win in race one, Michael van der Mark doubled up at Donington Park, winning a frenetic race two to give Yamaha their first double since Eugene Laverty at Monza in 2011. The Dutchman had a task on his hands to come through from ninth on the grid but after just one lap, was already 5th.

‘Magic Michael’ did not have it all his own way however, as it was actually his teammate, Alex Lowes, who was upholding the Pata Yamaha honours for the majority of the race. Lowes led from lap two ahead of Haslam, before the BSB wildcard crashed. Despite closing up, Jonny Rea and Michael van der Mark could not easily get through on the 2013 British Superbike champion.

However, a scuffle at the Melbourne Loop and then again at Goddard’s allowed Jonny Rea to break into the lead, whilst van der Mark waited until the Old Hairpin to make a move on his teammate, with just five laps to go. Later on the same lap, van der Mark forced his way past Jonathan Rea, to a surprising cheer from the partisan British crowd.

The Dutchman cleared off but the battle for second was heating up, with Turkish revelation Toprak Razgatlioglu storming up to join Jonny Rea and Alex Lowes for the podium battle. Kenan Sofuoglu’s protege soon passed not only the Yamaha but the Factory Kawasaki too, in a sensational last lap turn of events. With Michael van der Mark providing The Netherlands’ with their first win yesterday, Turkey got their first World Superbike podium in the shape of Razgatlioglu.

Michael van der Mark took the win against the odds to make it a double for himself and Yamaha, whilst Toprak Razgatlioglu produced ride of the day for second place, ahead of championship leader, Jonny Rea, who held off Alex Lowes.
Whilst Ducati struggled, Chaz Davies salvaged the Aruba.IT squad a fifth place, whilst Donington Park hero Tom Sykes came across the line a dejected sixth. Early race leader Lorenzo Savadori was seventh ahead of a mesmerising Leon Camier, who ploughed through the pain barrier to eighth place. Jordi Torres and Loris Baz completed the top 10.

Top wildcard honours went to Luke Mossey, although Brad Ray’s BSB spec Suzuki was just over two seconds behind him at the chequered flag, in 14th and 15th respectively.