The World Superbike Championship has visited many iconic circuits in its history, but Donington Park is the birthplace of the series-based world championship in its current form.
The World Superbike Championship was invented in 1988 by the American Steve McLaughlin and later the Italian brothers Maurizio and Paolo Flammini and, from 2012, the Spanish agency Dorna took over. The fact that the first race of the series took place at Donington Park seems strange given this situation. So the English piste is where it all started.
Italian Davide Tardozzi won the first race on a Bimota YB4. In the second race, his partner Marco Luccinelli won on a Ducati 851. From 2002 to 2006 the race was held at Brands Hatch (and Silverstone). Two meetings were held at Donington in 1994. In the first year of the corona epidemic, no meeting was held on the slopes of England in 2021 only the Superbike category was held there.
Racing has been held at Donington Park Circuit since 1931 and is the first permanent race track in England. The course is located in central England, about 25 km south west of Nottingham. In more than 80 years, the traditional course has been rebuilt several times, most recently in 2010. The first part of the course is constant and flowing, with inclinations and descents. The fastest corner is the ‘Craner Curves’, which is driven at a speed of 190 kilometers per hour. It is named after former motorcyclist and race track pioneer, Fred Craner. The bike should be stable in this fast left bend.
In contrast to this is the second demanding and technical section with thin hair bends where you have to break more than almost any other method on the calendar. The narrow chicane, the ‘Melbourne Hairpin’, which is driven in first gear, and the left hand bend ‘Goddards’ are very slow. They offer great passing opportunities and are key points on the 4,023 meter long route.
In fact, the meeting at Donington Park is also on the Superbike calendar for 2025. From July 11 to 13, the series-based world championships will be held together with the Superbike and Supersport World Championships as well as the Women’s World Championship and the R3 World Cup. .
