planetearth
There Can Be Only One
Number of posts : 3271
Registration date : 2007-02-03
 |  Subject: Superbike World Championship returns to Donington Park on th  Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:11 am | |
| - Quote :
- The SBK Superbike World Championship returns to Donington Park on the 1st April this year, after a gap of five years.
Where is it?
Donington Park is located in England’s east midlands, not far from Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. The circuit is easily reached from the M1 and M42 motorways and the A50, and is around 120 miles from London and just over 200 miles from Dover and links to Europe. The closest airport is Nottingham East Midlands, which is next to the circuit.
A Short History
The track was opened in 1931, using the paths and parkland in front of Donington Hall. It hosted motorcycle and car races in the 1930s, before being put to military use during the second world war.
The circuit was reopened with a 1.9 mile track in 1977 and the Melbourne loop section was added in 1985, bringing the length of the track up to 2.5 miles. The British Motorcycle Grand Prix was held on the new circuit for the first time in 1987, and in 1988 the track hosted the first ever round of the SBK World Superbike Championship.
Donington Superbikes
That first 1988 race was won by Davide Tardozzi on a Bimota, with Marco Lucchinelli winning race 2 on a Ducati. Tardozzi is now team manager for Xerox Ducati, and is no doubt setting his sights on at least one more win when the championship returns this April.
The championship last visited Donington Park in 2001, with Neil Hodgson winning race 1 and Pierfrancesco Chili winning race 2. Of the current season’s competitors, both Nori Haga andTroy Corser have “done the double” in the past, winning race 1 and 2 at Donington.
This Year
The action starts on Friday 30th March with free practice and qualifying sessions. Saturday 31st March sees final qualifying and Superpole, with the races taking place on Sunday 1st April. World SBK | |
|
