JONATHAN PALMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE , MOTORSPORT VISION
Welcome to Donington Park for our showpiece international event of the year , the only UK round of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship .
We ’ re immensely proud that Donington Park remains very much the spiritual home of World Superbikes , having hosted the first ever races back in 1988 . And the circuit is in better health than ever before , with a layout that delivers stunning racing time and again .
Much at Donington Park has changed in recent times and I hope that all of you visiting this weekend will notice and enjoy the constant refinement that has taken place since MSV ’ s takeover in 2017 , including last year ’ s wholescale resurfacing project which generated record lap times .
WorldSBK is also in rude health and series organiser Dorna has helped create a brilliant show both on and off the track - this year ’ s action has been nothing short of sensational ! The brewing title fight between the BMW of 2021 champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and the Ducati duo of Nicolò Bulega and double champion Alvaro Bautista is one for the ages , and this weekend ’ s action could well define the rest of the season . I ’ m sure the home fans will be a big influence for the six leading British riders too , with Alex Lowes still in championship contention with Kawasaki !
We ’ ve got many superb events still to come this year , including the Classic Motorcycle Festival in two weeks ’ time ( 27 / 28 July ) and the return of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship on 27-29 September .
Major four wheel events include a busy August with Masters Historic Racing ( 3 / 4 August ), the family-friendly Convoy in the Park truck racing festival ( 10 / 11 August ) and British Touring Cars ( 24 / 25 ) taking place in quick succession , as well as the penultimate round of the British GT Championship on 7 / 8 September .
I hope you enjoy your visit this weekend , and that you return very soon .
OFFICIAL PROGRAMME 6
WELCOME TO WORLDSBK