October 1, 2022

Sykes Wins Again At Donington But Denied Treble Victory

Tom Sykes and the MCE Ducati team added another Bennetts British Superbike Championship win to their collection at Donington Park today with victory in the opening race following swiftly on from the inaugural success for Paul Bird’s Cumbrian-based team yesterday. But hopes of a career first treble win were scuppered when he was the innocent victim of a collision in the third and final race.

Sykes’ first victory of the season yesterday on the factory-backed MCE Insurance Ducati Panigale V4R put him on the front row for the opening 20-lap race today whilst teammate Josh Brookes had a lot more work to do from the fifth row of the grid.

 

A sluggish start saw Sykes drop back to fourth going into the first corner but by the end of the lap, he was into second and on lap three he hit the front for the first time, slipping up the inside of race and championship leader Bradley Ray. The two remained close for the rest of the race, with Tom’s lead hovering around the half second mark.

However, in the final four laps, he began to edge away and, aided by a new lap record, the Yorkshireman took his second win of the weekend by 1.4 seconds once more. Brookes, meanwhile, gained two places on the opening lap and on lap three he moved up another place to 11th. Locked in battle with Danny Buchan and Ryan Vickers, the 2015 and 2020 BSB champion overhauled both riders to take over ninth place which is where he finished.

 

Starting the final race of the weekend from pole position, both Tom and the team were hopeful of completing the treble but a red flag on just the second lap brought a halt to proceedings. Restarted over 18 laps, the 2013 World Superbike champion was running in third place when another rider collided with him going into the Melbourne Hairpin on the sixth lap and although he stayed on, damage to the bike forced him to retire.

 

Teammate Brookes made a good getaway in the first start and was up to eighth, but the restart didn’t go in the same way. Changes to the bike after the race earlier in the day didn’t work as he planned and after holding 13th in the early stages, he dropped back as the race progressed and just missed out on the points in 16th.

 

Tom Sykes: “It’s been great to take another race win today and I’m more pleased for the team than I am myself as they’ve not stopped working all year and deserve the success. I was in third place in the initial stages of today’s first race, but the bike was fantastic and once I’d got the lead, I felt really comfortable and was able to control the race very nicely. We made some small alterations to the bike, nothing major, but with the red flag, the performance with edge grip on the tyre dropped off. I still thought a good podium was on the cards but, unfortunately, another rider made a mistake and hit the back of me, which was obviously not their intention. It’s a shame to end with a DNF but we’ve got to be happy with two wins and have some smiles back in the garage.”

 

Josh Brookes: “We made some minimal changes to the bike overnight with ninth place the outcome and I ended up letting the team take responsibility for what we did in race three to try and get us further up the field. Unfortunately, the changes, which were quite substantial, were in the wrong direction and whilst the intentions were good to make the bike shorter to try and improve the rear grip, they were counterproductive. The more I tried, the more it felt like I was going to come off, so it was another difficult day at the office.”

 

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “All in all, it’s been a very good weekend and with two wins, it’s been great to see the PBM MCE Ducati team back on the winner’s step. It was good to back up Saturday’s victory with another win and it was another, controlled ride from Tom. We were hopeful of making it a treble, but the restart didn’t work out for us with the drop in tyre performance, but a podium finish was a strong possibility. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as Tom was hit from behind by another rider with damage to the bike making it impossible to continue. Josh had a tough day, and it won’t have been easy for him to have seen his teammate take two wins, but he’ll evaluate everything with his team and look to end the year strongly at Brands Hatch, a circuit that’s been good for him in the past.”

 

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (19 laps)

1 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

2 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

3 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

4 Andrew Irwin (BMW)

5 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

6 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

9 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

 

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (18 laps)

1 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

2 Andrew Irwin (BMW)

3 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

4 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

5 Danny Buchan (BMW)

6 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)

16 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

DNF Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

 

Championship Standings (after 10 rounds)

1 Ray 1171pts

2 Irwin 1105

3 Bridewell 1104

4 Jackson 1095

5 O’Halloran 1077

6 Ryde 1051

12 Sykes 170

13 Brookes 145

 

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

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.

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI READY FOR DONINGTON PARK TEST

April 17, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team and rider Glenn Irwin head to Donington Park this week for the second Bennetts British Superbike Championship R&G Official Test. After a strong run at Circuito de Navarra earlier this month, the team is looking forward to getting back on track in the UK, as the countdown to the start the 2025 season continues.  The iconic Donington Park will play host to the second pre-season test on Good Friday and Saturday, before the class of 2025 heads to Oulton Park next Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24, for the final test before the season begins over the May Bank Holiday weekend. The team is looking to build on the success of the Navarra test, where Irwin was consistently quick, setting the pace on the first day before topping the timesheets at the end of the event with a best lap of 1min 44:527s. But keen not to get caught up focusing on lap times yet, Irwin is more concerned about getting through as much work as possible during the two days and making sure the important boxes are ticked. Glenn Irwin: “We’re all looking forward to it. At Navarra, it was important we worked through a number of things which are different this year and it was a great test – but it’s important that we don’t get complacent. “At Donington we’ve more new items to try and we’ve got a list of work to get through, which will be our priority. Once we’ve done all that and have a good feeling, I think we can show up well on the timesheets, but more so in race rhythm than in one-off fast laps. “At Navarra, we found areas where I was weak last year but not this year so we were able to use this as a reference. At Donington, we know the track well and have an idea of where we need to be but for me it’s about continuing to evaluate what we have and understanding the feeling of everything rather than get too hung up on what the timesheet says. If it feels good and we’re good, we’re happy!” Jordan Bird, Team Co-owner: The whole Hager PBM Ducati team is looking forward to being back on home soil for the first time this year. Navarra was a really productive test for us so the team and Glenn are heading into our UK testing program in great spirits! “We are looking forward to seeing plenty of BSB fans trackside at Donington Park. Let’s hope the sun is shining for us!”
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