The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship resumes at Donington Park and there were some key talking points from Thursdayâs media interviews. From talk about the future, new parts, riders carrying knocks and more, weâve gathered all the best quotes from riders ahead of the Prosecco DOC UK Round.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha): âThe biggest thing I want to work on this weekend is my feeling and confidence, try to build thatâŚâ
A difficult start to 2024 so far for Rea, and he previewed his home round by saying: âDoningtonâs a good circuit for me; I grew up here, so every time you come through the gate, you feel like youâve grown up with the marshals, fans from BSB days, so thereâs a certain familiarity. A lot of family and friends make the trip across the Irish Sea. Hopefully the fans come out in force. Thereâs a lot of strong British riders, so hopefully we can give them something to cheer about on Saturday and Sunday. Misano was a really tough weekend, but through tough moments you learn something and makes you feel stronger. I feel we can start building a good foundation now after all our learnings. We still need to work on my confidence on the R1, to improve the feeling riding on the limit. The trust in the electronics and chassis is really step by step. Assen was a strange weekend weather-wise for everybody. Doningtonâs a clean slate. Itâs a track Iâve had good history at, the Yamaha R1âs been very strong here in the past. I expect it to be a tough weekend, itâs so competitive at the front and we have to walk before we can run. The biggest thing I want to work on this weekend is my feeling and confidence, try to build that, because the last races have been confidence-sapping.â
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): âI have one year left on my contract and Iâll stay here for 2025â
The #54 is coming into Donington slightly injured, while he also addressed rumours about his future. Razgatlioglu said: âIâm feeling better, Iâm very lucky and happy that nothingâs broken. I feel a bit of pain but when I start to ride the bike, I donât think Iâll feel it. When it gets warmer, I feel better. My foot is moving and itâs easy to walk. Itâs not easy to move in some areas but itâs enough for this weekend. When I crashed, I felt a lot of pain in my foot and immediately I started to get it checked out as I needed to understand if it was broken or not. Iâm feeling normal; not 100% but 99%. A hat-trick is my goal. This track is my favourite track but itâs my first time here with BMW. I like this circuit and my bike is getting better every weekend. After Misano, I saw many news stories about MotoGPâ˘. We are talking to some MotoGP⢠teams, but people donât understand that if BMW say, âToprak, for next year, itâs possible you go to MotoGPâ˘â, we say itâs possible. I have one more year left with BMW. If they donât say this, Iâm staying with BMW because Iâm very happy. I have one year left on my contract and Iâll stay here for 2025. Weâll see for 2026 because we are still in contact with teams. This year is more important, Iâm not focused on MotoGP⢠side. Iâm very happy with Mickey, heâs a good guy. Heâs getting better after the big injuries. Heâs pushing hard, especially in testing; thanks for helping because heâs always trying new parts!â
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): âI know they are preparing for all possible scenarios so when I make my decision, they are preparedâ
Providing a small update on his future, Bautista said: âIn the past this track was a bit tough 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 donât have the same feedback as last year and we are struggling to get that feeling. Last race in Misano, we struggled a lot. This year I donât expect to dominate like last season. Our target is to get back the good feeling with the bike. If I can enjoy the bike and ride how I want, we can be competitive. The target is not to get back in the fight for the title, itâs to get our feeling back, have fun, and then weâll see. Itâs not an easy track to do it, itâs very tricky, with a lot of uphill and downhill, but we will try and do our best. I donât have any news from Misano. Right now, I donât feel Iâm enjoying the bike like in the past. I know Ducati is speaking to my manager, but my decision is not clear. At the moment Iâm not very happy with the feeling I have on the bike, so letâs see. I know they are preparing for all possible scenarios so when I make my decision, they are prepared. I know they are speaking, just in case I decide, but the priority is to get the feeling with the bike that would allow me to keep racing.â
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): âLetâs try to get at least one Lowes, hopefully me, but if me and Sam could be on the podium, it could be a big dream for usâ
There could be a double reason to celebrate in the Lowes family this weekend if Alex has his way. He said: âLooking forward to my home round, itâs going to be a nice weekend to have a few more friends and family around. Weâre hoping to keep our good run of form going, challenge for the podium and enjoy ourselves. I want to fight for the podium, but the reality is weâll work hard on Friday, and the reality is itâs so tight in WorldSBK, you canât take anything for granted. If we can pull of a podium here, itâs more special because a few more of your friends and family. Any podium is special, but letâs try to get at least one Lowes on there, hopefully me, but if me and Sam could be on the podium, it could be a big dream for us.â
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): âWhen everything comes together, we should be fighting for the podium every weekâ
Fresh off the back of a contract renewal, van der Mark outlined his goals on the M 1000 RR: âVery happy, itâs always nice to have this confirmation early in the season. Luckily BMW came to me quite early. It was quite an easy deal. As weâve shown, we have a good team now, results are getting better and itâs good to keep the same team. I still have the same goal as every weekend, I want to be on the podium, I want to win races and Toprak has shown the bike is capable of doing it. I think my results have been okay, but when everything comes together, we should be fighting for the podium every week. Itâs nice to be here, I havenât ridden here since a couple of years ago. Itâs a track I really enjoy. With the package we have now, we know we can be strong. We need to get everything together; we know we have a good pace, and we should be fighting for the podium.â
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): âHeâs a great guy⌠I hope to have Alvaro next year!â
Bulega had a one-day test at Misano between rounds, while he also expressed his desire for Bautista to stay for 2025: âIt was a very good test at Misano. We tried something different on the bike. Especially in hot conditions, my feelings improved compared to the race. Donington is a track that I like. Last year in WorldSSP, I won both races and got pole position. This year will be another story. We can bring the positives from the test even if the conditions arenât the same. Iâm in a very good moment with my team and bike. Weâre always in the top five. Itâs incredible for me because I didnât expect to arrive at this level this soon. Itâs a surprise. Iâm really happy with Alvaro. Heâs a great guy and we have a good relationship. I hope to have Alvaro next year.â
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team): âThe home support, the home race, knowing the conditions is going to be a good keyâ
A first home round in WorldSBK for Sam Lowes, who expects to be competitive. He said: âIt really is a home race; I live 10 minutes down the road so itâs beautiful to be racing here again. 2013 was my last race here so quite a while ago so itâs going to be a great weekend. I think the first session, itâll just take a few laps, but itâs a track I grew up riding and know well, so itâs not like I donât know where to go! This weekend, the home support, the home race, knowing the conditions is going to be a good key. I think the Ducati can work fine everywhere. The points of our bike that are strong are the last sector and the fast, flowing first half youâll see my style.â
