2011 Donington Superbike: Friday Report

World Superbike

The first timed World Superbike sessions of the Donington Park weekend (60 minutes each) got underway Friday with two riders up top: Althea Ducati’s Carlos Checa in Free Practice 1, and then the reigning Champion Max Biaggi taking the provisional pole in the first qualifying session.

Donington Park returns to the World Superbike calendar after a year hiatus due to some updates. Over 2010, the Donington circuit was improved. The Leicestershire, England, track improved spectator areas at Redgate and Hollywood bank, and a new section of the infield is now open to the public.

Donington World Superbike: Free Practice 1

Picking up where he left Phillip Island, Checa finished FP1 on the top of the time sheets with a 1:29.978. The Spaniard was the only rider to post under the 1:30 mark.

Following Checa’s Ducati 1198 was the Yamaha World Superbike YZF-R1 ridden by Marco Melandri. The Italian has much luck at Donington, doubling there in 2009.

Third fastest was Jonathan Rea aboard the Castrol Honda CBR1000RR; the Northern Ireland rider was 0.3 faster than Leon Haslam on the BMW Motorrad Italia S1000RR and Joan Lascorz on the Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R Ninja.

The following two spots were filled by three different manufacturers, making for seven different motorcycle brands in the top seven spots: Michel Fabrizio (Suzuki Alstar GSX-R1000), Max Biaggi (Alitalia Aprilia RSV4).

Donington World Superbike: Qualifying Practice 1

When Biaggi returned to the track at Donington Friday afternoon for the first qualifying practice, he laid down the fastest time of the day, a 1:28.794, which was over a second faster than Checa’s FP1 time.

Following a tenth of a second behind was Melandri; him and Biaggi were the only riders to post under the 1:29 mark on Friday. Third fastest was Melandri, followed by Eugene Laverty on the other Yamaha World Superbike YZF-R1.

WSBK: Donington FP1 Results:

1. Carlos Checa, Spain (Ducati 1198R), 1:29.978

2. Marco Melandri, Italy (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:30.134

3. Jonathan Rea, GB (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:30.184

4. Leon Haslam, GB (BMW S1000RR), 1:30.566

5. Joan Lascorz, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:30.687

6. Michel Fabrizio, Italy (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:30.789

7. Max Biaggi, Italy (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:30.797

8. Ayrton Badvoni, Italy (BMW S1000RR), 1:30.827

9. Tom Sykes, GB (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:30.842

10. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Ducati 1098R), 1:30.868

11. Troy Corser, Australia (BMW S1000RR), 1:30.970

12. Eugene Laverty, Ireland (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:30.985

13. Leon Camier, GB (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:31.022

14. Ruben Xaus, Spain (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:31.112

15. Maxime Berger, France (Ducati 1098R), 1:31.337

16. Noriyuki Haga, Japan (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:31.387

17. Sylvain Guintoli, France (Ducati 1098R), 1:31.782

18. Roberto Rolfo, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:32.159

19. Chris Vermeulen, Australia (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:32.670

20. Mark Aichitson, Australia (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:33.295, crash

WSBK: Donington QP1 Results:

1. Max Biaggi, Italy (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:28.794

2. Marco Melandri, Italy (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:28.841

3. Carlos Checa, Spain (Ducati 1098R), 1:29.194

4. Eugene Laverty, Ireland (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:29.379

5. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Ducati 1098R), 1:29.397

6. Leon Haslam, GB (BMW S1000RR), 1:29.472

7. Troy Corser, Australia (BMW S1000RR), 1:29.476

8. Ruben Xaus, Spain (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:29.613

9. Joan Lascorz, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:29.637

10. Leon Camier, GB (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:29.639

11. Noriyuki Haga, Japan (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:29.814

12. Maxime Berger, France (Ducati 1098R), 1:29.851

13. Tom Sykes, GB (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:29.860

14. Sylvain Guintoli, France (Ducati 1098R), 1:30.008

15. Ayrton Badovini, Italy (BMW S1000RR), 1:30.169, crash

16. Jonathan Rea, GB(Honda CBR1000RR), 1:30.348

17. Michel Fabrizio, Italy (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:30.383, crash

18. Roberto Rolfo, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:30.680

19. Mark Aitchison, Australia (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:31.117

20. Chris Vermeulen, Australia (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:31.485