The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship resumes at Donington Park, the 5th of 12 rounds of the World SBK, and Thursday's media interviews made a few important points. Whether it's the future, new parts, drivers taking a beating or more, we've rounded up the best quotes from drivers ahead of the Prosecco DOC UK Round.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I have one year left on my contract and I will stay here in 2025.”
Number 54 arrives at Donington at the top of the general classification, but slightly injured. He responded to rumors regarding his future. Toprak Razgatlioglu said : “I feel better, I'm very lucky and happy that nothing is broken. I feel a little pain, but when I start riding the bike I don't think I will feel it. When it's warmer, I feel better. My foot moves and it's easy to walk. It's not easy to do some movements, but it's enough for this weekend. When I fell, I felt severe pain in my foot and immediately began to have it examined to see if it was broken or not. I feel normal, not 100% but 99%. My goal is to achieve a hat-trick. This circuit is my favorite, but it's the first time I've come here with BMW. I love this circuit and my bike gets better every weekend. After Misano I saw a lot of news regarding MotoGP™. We are talking with some MotoGP™ teams, but people don't understand that if BMW says: “Toprak, for next year it is possible that you will go to MotoGP™”, we are saying that it is simply possible. I still have one year left with BMW and if they don't say it, I'll stay at BMW because I'm very happy. I have one year left on my contract and I will stay here in 2025. We will see for 2026 because we are still in contact with teams. This year is more important, I am not focused on the MotoGP™ side. I'm very happy with Mickey, he's a good guy. He is getting better and better after the big injuries. He pushes hard, especially in trials; thanks for helping me, because he's always trying new pieces! »
Nicholas Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “He’s a great guy… I hope to have Alvaro next year!” »
Nicholas Bulega, 2nd in the championship, did a one-day test at Misano between the two rounds, and he also expressed his desire to see Alvaro Bautista stay for 2025: “It was a very good test in Misano. We tried something different on the bike. Especially in hot conditions, my sensations improved compared to running. Donington is a circuit that I like. Last year in WorldSSP I won both races and got pole position. This year it will be a different story. We can take the positives from the tests, even if the conditions are not the same. I'm in a very good period with my team and my bike. We are still in the top five. It's incredible for me because I didn't expect to get to this level so soon. It is a surprise. I am very happy with Alvaro. He's a great guy and we have a good relationship. I hope to be able to count on Alvaro next year. »
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “I know they are preparing for every possible scenario, so when I make my decision, they will be ready”
Alvaro Bautista, 3rd in the general classification, gave a little update on his future: “In the past this circuit was a bit difficult for Ducati, but in 2022 and 2023 we were competitive. Especially last year we won two races. But every year is different. This season we are not in our best moment with the bike, we don't have the same feedback as last year and we are struggling to get that feeling. During the last race in Misano we had a lot of difficulty. This year I don't expect to dominate like last season. Our goal is to rediscover the good sensations with the motorcycle. If I can enjoy the bike and ride the way I want, we can be competitive. The objective is not to return to the fight for the title, but to regain our sensations, to have fun, and then we will see. It's not an easy circuit, it's very tricky, with a lot of ups and downs, but we will do our best. I have no news from Misano. Right now, I don't feel like I'm enjoying the bike like I used to. I know Ducati is talking to my manager, but my decision is not clear. At the moment I'm not very happy with the feeling I have on the bike, so let's see. I know they are preparing for every possible scenario so that when I make my decision, they will be ready. I know they are talking, just in case I make a decision, but the priority is to get the feeling with the bike that will allow me to continue racing. »
alex lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “Let's try to get at least one Lowes, hopefully it's me, but if Sam and I could get on the podium, that would be a big dream for us. »
There could be double reason to celebrate in the Lowes family this weekend if Alex has his way. He stated : “I’m looking forward to my home race, it’ll be a great weekend having more friends and family around us.” We hope to continue our momentum, fight for the podium and have fun. I want to fight for the podium, but the reality is we're going to work hard on Friday, and the reality is it's very close in WorldSBK, you can't take anything for granted. If we manage to get on the podium here, it will be even more special because there will be a few more friends and family members. Every podium is special, but let's try to get at least one Lowes on it, hopefully it's me, but if Sam and I could get on the podium it would be a big dream for us. »
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “When everything comes together, we should be able to fight for the podium every week”
Having just renewed his contract, Michael van der Mark shared his goals on the M 1000 RR as he sits 8th in the championship: “I'm very happy, it's always nice to have this confirmation at the start of the season. Fortunately, BMW came to me quite early. The deal was pretty easy to make. As we have shown, we have a good team now, the results are improving and it is good to keep the same team. I still have the same goal as every weekend, I want to get on the podium, I want to win races and Toprak showed that the bike is capable of doing that. I think my results were decent, but when everything comes together we should be able to fight for the podium every week. It's nice to be here, I haven't ridden here in a few years. It's a circuit that I really enjoy. With the package we have now, we know we can be strong. We have to put everything together, we know we have good pace and we should fight for the podium. »
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team): “Local support, racing at home, knowing the conditions will be a good key”
12th in the general classification, Sam Lowes is taking part in his first home race in WorldSBK and hopes to be competitive. He stated : “It’s definitely a home race; I live 10 minutes from the circuit, so it's wonderful to race here again. My last race here was 2013, so that's quite a while ago, so it's going to be a great weekend. I think the first session will be just a few laps, but it's a track I grew up at and know well, so it's not like I don't know where to go! This weekend, local support, racing at home, knowing the conditions will be a good key. I think the Ducati can work anywhere. The highlights of our bike are the last sector and the first half, fast and fluid, where you will see my style. »
Jonathan Rhea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha): “The most important thing I want to work on this weekend is my feeling and my confidence, try to strengthen them…”
The start of 2024 was difficult for Jonathan Rea, and the one who is P14 in the championship gave a preview of his home race by saying: “Donington is a good circuit for me; I grew up here, so every time you walk in the door you feel like you grew up with the commissioners, the fans from the BSB days, so there's a certain familiarity. Many families and friends make the trip across the Irish Sea. I hope the fans come out in force. There are a lot of strong British riders, so hopefully we can give them something to be excited about on Saturday and Sunday. Misano was a very difficult weekend, but through difficult moments you learn something and feel stronger. I think we can start building a good foundation now, after everything we've learned. We still need to work on my confidence on the R1, in order to improve my riding sensations at the limit. Confidence in the electronics and chassis really comes step by step. Assen was a strange weekend weather-wise for everyone. Donington is a clean slate. It's a circuit on which I have good experience, the Yamaha R1 has performed very well there in the past. I'm expecting a tough weekend, there's a lot of competition ahead and we have to walk before we run. The most important thing I want to work on this weekend is my feeling and my confidence, try to strengthen them, because the last few races have been tough on confidence. »
