Round Eight. Home Again. Donington Park Leicestershire.

Back to the team’s ‘home’ circuit and scene of first world superbike championship round which was held at Donington Park all the way back in 1988. It’s a real racers circuit with a bit of everything, fast sweeping sections and the so called ‘car park’ section around the Melbourne Loop with its heavy braking zones, one after the other. Most of the riders cut their racing teeth here so we knew we were in for a very close and competitive weekend. Add to that that there were to be four races over the weekend to make up for the race cancellation at round one - all to be in the shorter 12 lap sprint format. It was going to be a hectic weekend.

Free practice and qualifying

In near perfect weather conditions on the Friday, Christian and Max were soon up to speed in the first free practice session. Max was delayed by a small electrical gremlin but ended the session P8, just 0.6 from the fastest time. Christian P12 and working on his race set up. FP2 was less critical than usual as qualifying the following day was to be a single session with all the riders on track, rather than the usual fastest 12 straight through to Q2 format. Blame TV scheduling having to fit in a busy weekend of motorsport. Christian was fully up to speed and ended the session P5 only 0.3 off Redding’s time. Max P8, a further 0.3 back.

No dramas in the 10-minute FP3 in preparation for the 20-minute qualifying run which would be more critical than usual with the times so close. Overtaking is never easy and especially so at a track that suits the fast Ducatis ridden by Redding, Haslam and Skinner. Defending champion Ryde and his main challenger Ray on their Yamahas were also bound to be in the mix. To give our AJN Steelstock Kawasaki ZX10-RR Ninjas the best opportunity, starting from the first two rows – six places – would be ideal and row three just about okay. In the event, having run in the top ten throughout practice, Christian and Max fell just short and were pushed back to row four. Max P10 Christian P11, 0.75 off Redding’s pole time but just 0.3 from the P4 time – it really was that close.

Race one

Christian got away well, making up a couple of places. He raced with Bridewell and Haslam for most of the race before getting pipped by Ray on lap 9 for P10, just before the race was red flagged with two laps to go. McPhee crashing out on water leaking from his own bike. It was a different story for Max losing a place off the start and then having to take the escape route at the Foggy Esses second time around when a tiny technical moment wrong-footed him. Dropping back to P15, he fought his way back to P11, within 0.3 of Christian and a couple of seconds shy of the P6 time. Overall, a disappointing start to our weekend but there were still three more races to run.

Race two

The Sunday morning ten-minute warm up on used tyres went off without any hitches. For the race, one plus for Max was catching up to the pack in clear air during race one had enabled him to set the sixth fastest lap time so he’d be staring from the second row with Christian just behind P10.

Max didn’t get the start he’d hoped for and in his efforts to make up for lost places he ended up going through the Foggys escape route again, dropping him to P15 on lap five. Another recovery ride only got a very disappointed Max back to P13 on the back of the main pack. Christian on the other hand made one of his trademark good starts and moved up three places to P7 on lap one. Max’s mistake on lap two promoted Christian a further place to P6 which is where he stayed despite crossing the line almost alongside Andrew Irwin.

Race three

Grid positions reversed this time - Christian P6, Max P10. Another good start and first lap enabled Christian to complete lap one in P3, only for Ray to repass him on lap three. Max had moved up a place early on - P9 - before the race was neutralised behind the safety car on lap four. Underway again, Christian held onto his P4 all the way to the flag – his eighth finish in that position - and only 3.4 behind winner Ryde. Max had a solid race to P8, two seconds behind Christian and hard on the heels of Bridewell and Haslam at the line. 

Race four

Everyone was getting a bit fatigued by now! Max lining up P8 with Christian just ahead P6. After another good start making up places, Christian was picked off and dropped back to P8 by lap six, stuck behind Bridewell, Max just behind. A safety car period closed up the field on lap 7 before a final frantic five lap sprint to the line. Lap nine and Christian eventually found a way past Bridewell at the Melbourne Loop only to be attacked back at the next corner, taking them both wide. Thank you very much thought Max as he passed them both on the inside and headed off after a slowing Ray who he passed on the last lap. A hard earned P6 for Max to finish off a frustrating weekend. If Max was frustrated, Christian was fuming about how his race had worked out as he ended up P9, still stuck behind Bridewell….

Championship standings

Christian’s Donington points haul has moved him up to P5 in the overall standings with Max P8. Our AJN Steelstock Kawasaki team is in a close battle with five other teams for P3 in the team’s standings. All to play for as we go into the final three rounds where the points allocation changes to make things more interesting.

Next time

We’re off to Holland next as Assen returns to the calendar after a five-year break over the Covid period. A super high-speed challenge and certainly something different from the UK circuits we’re used to. It’s a very popular event with teams, riders and spectators.

Hope to see you there.

Regards. Nigel. Team Principal.