October 1, 2022

Sykes Wins At Donington Park

Tom Sykes and the MCE Ducati team claimed their first Bennetts British Superbike Championship win of the season at Donington Park today with the 2013 World Superbike champion putting in a faultless ride for Paul Bird’s Cumbrian-based team.

Yorkshireman Sykes led from start to finish to take his first BSB victory since Brands Hatch in 2010 when he took the PBM Kawasaki to a hat-trick of victories whilst it was the team’s first win in the series since Christian Iddon took the win at Brands Hatch in July 2021.

 

Heavy rain yesterday had meant only one practice session was able to take place where Midlands-based Aussie Josh Brookes posted the tenth quickest time on the factory-backed and MCE Insurance-sponsored Ducati Panigale V4R with Tom further back in 19th. But with dry conditions today, albeit with a blustery wind, the duo were third and sixth in the final free practice session, with Sykes the quicker of the two teammates.

Sykes comfortably progressed from the opening Q1 session to join Brookes in Q2, and he continued with his good form, posting the third quickest time for his first front row start of the season. Brookes was slightly further back in tenth which was his first top ten qualifying position since Brands Hatch in July.

 

That put both riders in good stead for the afternoon’s 15-lap eBay Sprint Race and it was Sykes who grabbed the lead at the first corner, from where he never looked back and despite coming under pressure throughout, he controlled the race perfectly to eventually win by 1.4 seconds.

 

Teammate Brookes found the race a bit more difficult and although he held station in tenth for the first half of the race, the 2015 and 2020 BSB champion found himself back in 12th on lap eight. He regrouped in the closing stages to take 11th with the results seeing the two riders swap places in the championship table, Tom now in 12th overall and Josh 13th.

 

Tom Sykes: “I can’t thank the team enough and this win is for them. I was obviously hoping for more this season but Donington Park is more of a Superbike circuit than some of the others we’ve been to and although I still had a couple of limitations with the bike, I was able to ride round them and put the MCE Ducati where I wanted to, taking advantage of the strengths we had in other areas. I’ve a lot of experience around here and the two qualifying sessions was more beneficial as it enabled us to understand the bike a bit more. We made a slight change in between Q1 and Q2 and although I had to be conservative in some corners and lost a bit of time, it was good to be on the front row. I wanted a good, clean start and get away with the leaders and that is exactly what I did.”

 

Josh Brookes: “On the timesheets, it looks a bit better than where we’ve been of late but three leading riders were absent so it’s hard to see the real progress. I got away fine in the race, not losing any places, I just didn’t have the momentum to go forward. I lost two places mid-race eventually regaining one of them but with the limitations, I can’t perform. Tom and I have been pretty much glued together all year, in terms of pace and results, so I’m a bit mystified at his gains in performance this weekend although I’m obviously pleased for him and the team. I’d love to replicate what he’s doing here at Donington, so we’ll go again tomorrow.” 

 

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “If Tom was going to win anywhere, it was going to be here at Donington given what he’s done previously in the World Superbike Championship and he rode a superb race, controlling it perfectly. Leading from start to finish is no easy task in BSB but that’s what he did despite the pressure he was under, and it was awesome to see and brilliant for the MCE Ducati team to be back on the top step. Behind the scenes, it’s been doom and gloom at times but, like all teams, we’ve continued to work hard, week in, week out and there’s been no shortage of effort. Congratulations to all the lads and to everyone that’s stuck by us through thick and thin.”

 

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (15 laps)

1 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

2 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

3 Peter Hickman (BMW)

4 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

5 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

6 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

11 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

 

Championship Standings

1 Ray 1126

2 Bridewell 1081

3 Jackson 1075

4 Irwin 1073

5 O’Halloran 1068

6 Ryde 1036

12 Sykes 145

13 Brookes 138

 

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI WRAP-UP SUCCESSFUL TESTING PROGRAMME

April 24, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team and rider Glenn Irwin have completed another successful R&G Official test at Oulton Park, with the opening round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship now just over a week away. Irwin and the team have spent the last two days at the Cheshire track, grabbing as much track time as possible in the final days on track before the season begins. After ending last weekend’s Donington Park test on top, the team was keen to continue to push in the final two days, working through a busy schedule and trying a host of new components and ideas. Irwin ended the test second quickest overall after clocking the best lap of Thursday afternoon’s final session, banking a 1min 33.313s lap on his last run. He leaves feeling confident about next weekend’s opening round and can’t wait to get back out. Glenn Irwin: “That’s us finished pre-season testing and I’m feeling good. We’ve been working, working, working and the bike felt better today but we still have a bit of work to do. “It’s been really, really enjoyable, we’ve tried a number of different things and I think now we’re finding a bit of a balance. Today we unlocked something in that middle session, I did a good few 33s in that run so I think we’re strong. “It’s definitely been very productive. We haven’t gone for lap times, we’ve been focussed on getting the bike right and when that happens, the lap times come. That’s what we’re starting to see and I think we’re in a good place to come back next week and start the season.” Frank Bird Jnr, Team Co-owner: “It’s a mega way to finish, this puts us in really good stead for the season and we’ve got a lot of boxes ticked off with the bike. All the boys are working well, we’ve got everyone back into the swing of things and Glenn seems to be riding well, so we’re in a good window for the first round. “It’s been a long winter but all the hard work seems to be paying off and we’re right in the mix. It means we can come here for Round One and we’re in a great place to start from.” The opening round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship roars into action at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend, May 3-5.

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI END SUCCESSFUL SECOND TEST ON TOP

April 19, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team continued its strong testing form at Donington Park as rider Glenn Irwin once again ended the two days fastest overall. Although the team is still not concentrating on lap times, Irwin picked up where he left off at Circuito de Navarra earlier this month as he led the way on Friday before going even quicker on Day Two with an impressive fastest lap of 1min 27.015s in the final session. After a strong first test where he topped the timesheets at Navarra, the team headed to the second R&G Official test at Donington Park looking to work on a number of different things. Irwin was consistently quick across the opening day, ending Friday fastest overall with a 1:27.022sec lap in the final session to end the day at the top of the timesheets with what was the fastest ever BSB lap of the iconic track. Along with most of the pack, he opted to sit out of Saturday morning’s first session due to track conditions, heading out for the second to work through a few more things. He again shot to the top of the timesheets with a lap of 1:27.468, before later going one better in the final session to clock his new fastest ever lap. Glenn Irwin: “It’s been really good, like Navarra, we’ve continued with a plan. Yesterday we had a really, really strong bike here and conditions were a little better. Today conditions were tougher with the wind but everyone still finds a way to go fast. “We probably persevered with a bike which is suited to the final sector, perhaps Turn One as well. As the day went on I realised we were losing a bit in some places but we stuck with it. “It’s pleasing because I would say that isn’t the bike of choice for here, perhaps maybe yesterday's bike was better, but to top today feeling like that, to do a lot of laps in the 27s with improved pace on old tyres is good. The test has definitely been a success.” John Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “I think it’s been a positive test where we’ve confirmed a number of test items over the two days. We had slightly better conditions yesterday than today but I think we’ve ticked a lot of boxes, gone fairly quick so it’s all positive – roll on Oulton Park. “The plan there is more of the same, just keep trying to understand the new tyre, try and work with it. I think longevity is going to be the key now for Oulton Park, we’ll do a couple of race runs, see how the tyre lasts and then get ready for Round One.” The team will now prepare for the final test at Oulton Park next Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24 which will be the last chance to get everything ready ahead of the first round of the 2025 season at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
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