World Superbikes: UK Round – The Unmissable Event of the Year

With the 2019 World Superbike race calendar finalised, tickets for almost all the rounds have gone on sale this week. The UK round was the most notable inclusion – scheduled for Friday 5th-Sunday 7th July. Many vicious rumours had circulated that the circuit would fall off the calendar, reasons varied from financial costs to a disagreement over scheduling. Thankfully those rumours came to naught and the show, as they say, will go on.

The UK round of WorldSBK is always an unmissable event, as the best riders on the fastest production bikes lock horns around the beautiful two-and-a-half mile Donington Park circuit . It is also the only chance of the year to see the world championship contenders race on these shores.

As such, it should be at the top of everyone’s ‘Go-to’ list of UK based sporting events and here are some reasons why you should return to Donington Park’s World Superbike call!

The first reason why this should be is that Donington is the spiritual home of the championship. The inaugural round of the series was held at the circuit back in 1988 and, apart from 2002 – 2006 and 2010 – when the tarmac had been dug up following the ill-fated attempt to bring Formula 1 to the circuit, the venue has hosted a round every year the championship has been running.

For 2019 there will be more racing than ever at the WorldSBK meeting. Much has been made over the decision to run three Superbike races each weekend – with one being a shortened 10-lap sprint race. It’s official name is the “Superpole Race” and the results of the top nine will be used to set the grid for the final SBK race on Sunday. Though with the added incentive for riders to score championship points in the sprint organisers expect three hotly contested races. A staggering 50-rider entry list for the World Supersport 300 series will certainly leave nobody in doubt as to who the stars of tomorrow are once the weekend is done, whilst World Supersport is once again expected to produce the thrilling racing we’ve come to expect from the leading middleweight class in world racing.  

Donington Park is also the premier venue to watch motorcycle racing in the UK (top 10 in the world). The famous Craner Curves section is one of the most iconic in the world, as the bikes weave down the hill to the old hairpin, whilst the Fogarty Esses and the Melbourne loop frequently produce nail biting overtakes as the riders brake at the last possible moment in an attempt to block each other. All three sections are revered as places where the greats of this sport have both won and lost races, or even careers.

Since buying the circuit in late 2017, Motorsport Vision (MSV) have been continuously developing spectator facilities. In 2018, new grandstands were built – the first on the infield overlooking the start-finish straight, whilst a much larger stand overlooks Hollywood, giving views all the way down to Starkey’s Bridge. Over the winter several grass viewing banks are being reprofiled to improve the views spectators have of the track, whilst in some places the old steel fencing has been replaced by smaller wooden constructs where safe to do so. Encouraging spectators to roam freely around the circuit, a new footbridge and a new tunnel under the circuit are all expected to be completed in time for when WorldSBK rumbles into town.

The top British circuit racers will be there in force this year, and if winter testing is any guide to go by, all of them will be fighting for victory – good odds then for an all-British podium. Jonathan Rea and Chaz Davies will, in all likelihood, be locked together in yet another duel for the championship so that is unmissable it its own right. Local hero Leon Haslam will have the home crowd right behind him across the weekend whilst 2013 BSB champ Alex Lowes, Donington Park specialist Tom Sykes and Mr.Unlucky Leon Camier will be hungry to take the glory for themselves. All this before mentioning the season regulars will almost certainly be joined once again by the top riders from British Superbikes all eager to win the attention of the top teams, and earn a ride in the World Championship for 2020.  

There is one elephant in the room which needs addressing when trying to build up any UK sport event in summer. Camping. It’s fair to say that the weather is unpredictable and, for the past few years, has been somewhat at the poor end of the scale. Coupled with the previous scheduling of holding the UK round in May and the campsite at Donington has ended up resembling the mudflats of the Hoylake to New Brighton coast. However, unlike previous years the UK round has been rescheduled for the middle of summer (July 5th-7th) – and if the met office boffins are right, we’re expecting another glorious heatwave in July. A totally foolproof piece of planning by Dorna and MSV*.   

Whilst we’re mentioning the option of camping, the Donington Park campsite is located slap bang in the middle of the circuit – and not the best part of a mile away (yes Silverstone, we’re looking at you here). For a small additional fee prospective campers can ensure they book a pitch with a view of the track – so you can breakfast at your leisure whilst taking in the Sunday morning warm up.

Of course, if camping is not your thing there are a host of brilliant Bed and Breakfast options you can take up, and all within easy reach of the circuit. An obvious choice would be to book in at the East Midlands Airport hotel – which is literally just over the fence from Donington Park. Alternatively, there are numerous accommodation options located in the villages around the circuit. If budget is no option and you want to build your trip to the Superbikes into a city-break, Leicester and Nottingham are little more than 20 minutes away by car – both are cracking cities and well worth a visit anyway, whether that’s for some of the UK’s oldest pubs in Nottingham, or the National Space Centre in Leicester.

Whether you’re planning on attending multiple sporting events this year, or can only afford to make it to one event – the UK round of the FIM Motul Superbike World Championship should be at the top of your list.

*Motorsport.Radio bear no responsibility for the inevitable deluge on the Saturday night.