Donington Park plays host to the 2017 Superbike World Championship British Round this weekend, with three Britons leading the table before the weekend, including Jonathan Rea who has taken seven of the ten wins so far this season. Could he take his third successive title? The weekend is more emotional than most, coming just a few days after the tragic and untimely death of Nicky Hayden, the former MotoGP champion who was competing in the Superbike World Championship this year. Nicky’s passing was marked with on and off track events.
The weekend got off to a very hot and sunny start on Friday, but Saturday saw the occasional shower, and strong winds that meant, for example, some of the bouncy castles for the younger fans were packed away in case they were caught by the wind. Qualifying got under way, and championship leader Rea – who has led the championship since the start of the 2015 season – started second on the grid. Rea fought team mate and pole sitter Tom Sykes for the lead, and other than the inclusion of Leon Haslam for the British round, it seemed that Sykes and Rea might again be battling for the win. However, a dramatic tyre burst for Rea saw him out of the race with three laps to go. It happened right in front of me, and it was very dramatic, with sparks flying. In fact, it was so dramatic that I had no thoughts of pressing my camera into use and instead focused on what was happening on the track and hoping that Rea was not injured. It seemed that what was hurt most was his opportunity to extend his lead in the championship as he walked away.

Sykes took the win from Haslam, with Alex Lowes in third. Chaz Davies, who is third in the championship, finished eighth. The result keeps Rea at the top of the table, but with a much reduced lead.

The conditions for Sunday may have been predicted to have been broadly similar to Saturday, but although the rain stayed away and it was a little hotter, it was certainly much less windy, making it a more pleasant spectator experience, and the crowds were even larger than on the day before. The race got underway, and very soon it was Rea in the lead being chased by Sykes. Although Rea has led the championship for 27 months, no one in the series has beaten Sykes at Donington since before the London 2012 Olympics, an incredible nine race unbeaten run. Rea’s lead over Sykes was 4 seconds, then 3.6s, then 3.2, and as the laps went by, the gap closed, apparent not just from the timing screens but visible on the track. However, this was to be the race that ended Sykes fantastic run of form at the Leicestershire circuit and it was Rea who took the chequered flag, with Chaz Davies in third. Rea stopped near me with his team and with an Ulster flag bearing the initials “JR”.
Rea now takes a 55 point lead to Misano in the middle of June which marks the mid way point in the season.

World Superbikes, 27th May 2017

Alex Lowes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Ondřej Ježek in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leandro Mercado in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Raffaele De Rosa in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Marco Melandri in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonny Rea after his crash at Donington Park, May 2017

Lorenzo Savadori, Jordi Torres and Roman Ramos in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Alex de Angelis in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonny Rea after his crash at Donington Park, May 2017

Ayrton Badovini in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leandro Mercado in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Tom Sykes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Randy Krummenacher in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jake Dixon in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Ondřej Ježek in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jordi Torres in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea leads Tom Sykes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Marco Melandri in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonny Rea after his crash at Donington Park, May 2017

Tom Sykes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Ayrton Badovini in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Chaz Davies in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leon Haslam in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Marco Melandri in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonny Rea after his crash at Donington Park, May 2017

Leon Haslam in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Roman Ramos in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Tom Sykes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonny Rea after his crash at Donington Park, May 2017

Jordi Torres leads Roman Ramos in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Chaz Davies in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Michael van der Mark leads Eugene Laverty in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Alex Lowes and Javier Fores in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Michael van der Mark in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Marco Melandri in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonny Rea after his crash at Donington Park, May 2017

Michael van der Mark leads Leon Camier in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Chaz Davies leads Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leon Haslam in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jake Dixon in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Riccardo Russo in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Ondřej Ježek in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leon Haslam in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leon Camier in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Javier Fores in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Alex Lowes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonny Rea after his crash at Donington Park, May 2017

Leon Haslam in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Ayrton Badovini leads Riccardo Russo in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonny Rea after his crash at Donington Park, May 2017

Alex de Angelis in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leon Camier in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leandro Mercado in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Michael van der Mark in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Chaz Davies in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Alex Lowes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Tom Sykes leads Leon Haslam in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leandro Mercado leads Eugene Laverty in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Randy Krummenacher in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leandro Mercado leads Eugene Laverty in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Javier Fores in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jordi Torres in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Javier Fores in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Eugene Laverty in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Alex Lowes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Chaz Davies in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Chaz Davies in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Raffaele De Rosa leads Lorenzo Salvadori in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Chaz Davies in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Eugene Laverty leads Marco Melandri in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Chaz Davies in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Marco Melandri in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Alex de Angelis in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jake Dixon in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Javier Fores in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leon Haslam in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Eugene Laverty in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Raffaele De Rosa in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Alex Lowes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Tom Sykes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Tom Sykes leads Leon Haslam in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Tom Sykes leads Chaz Davies in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Roman Ramos in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leon Haslam in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Stefan Bradl in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leon Haslam in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Michael van der Mark in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Javier Fores in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Stefan Bradl in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Tom Sykes leads Leon Haslam in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017
World Superbikes, 28th May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Ayrton Badovini in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Chaz Davies in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leon Camier in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Michael van der Mark in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leon Camier in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Stefan Bradl in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leon Camier in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Tom Sykes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Roman Ramos in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Alex Lowes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning the second World Superbike race at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Jonathan Rea celebrates after winning at Donington Park, May 2017

Roman Ramos in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leon Camier in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Riccardo Russo in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Michael van der Mark in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Javier Fores in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Alex Lowes and Chaz Davies in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Riccardo Russo in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Michael van der Mark in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Stefan Bradl in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Chaz Davies in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Tom Sykes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Michael van der Mark in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Michael van der Mark in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Tom Sykes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Leandro Mercado in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Roman Ramos in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Roman Ramos in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jake Dixon in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Jake Dixon in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Lorenzo Savadori in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Lorenzo Savadori in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Alex Lowes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017

Alex Lowes in World Superbikes at Donington Park, May 2017
The Superbikes are, as normal, supported by various other series. Here are a few photos from the World Supersport 300 series who were also racing.
World Supersport 300, 27th May 2017

Renzo Ferreira in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Jacopo Facco in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Valentin Grimoux in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Jared Schultz in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Jared Schultz in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Ali Adriansyah Rusmiputro in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Paolo Giacomini in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Asrın Rodi Pak in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Renzo Ferreira in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Daniel Valle in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Paolo Giacomini in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Edoardo Rovelli in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Angelo Licciardi in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Kimi Patova in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Angelo Licciardi in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Jared Schultz in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Luke Hopkins in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Valentin Grimoux in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Asrın Rodi Pak in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Alex Triglia in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Jacopo Facco in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Avalon Biddle in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Nicola Settimo in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Paolo Grassia in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Manuel Bastianelli in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Nicolas Cupaioli leads Filippo Rovelli in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Filippo Rovelli in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Ali Adriansyah Rusmiputro in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Asrın Rodi Pak in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Asrın Rodi Pak in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017

Filippo Rovelli in World Supersport 300 at Donington Park, May 2017
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