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The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

25 Mai 2018

Kawasaki 1-2 After Opening Day At Donington

KRT WorldSBK duo Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes finished the first day of qualifying at their home round with Jonathan fastest and Tom second, after three track sessions which were held in tricky and often-changing track conditions.

After Thursday’s bright and sunny weather the first track action for the WorldSBK riders at Donington Park today started out in wet and surprisingly cold conditions.
 
With the driest period of the day arriving at the end of the final FP3 session, Sykes was on top until a final fast lap from Rea, with Jonathan eventually ahead by 0.204 seconds in combined times.
 
Faced with a track surface that was never completely free of damp areas, but featured a drying line, the KRT staff and riders had to constantly adapt as the track got gradually faster, and the lap times improved.
 
With the KRT riders now into Saturday’s Superpole 2 qualifying session directly, thanks to their class leading performances today, Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) will also join them. He recorded the seventh best qualifying time at his home circuit.
 
After FP4 and Superpole 1 and 2 tomorrow, race one will take place at 13.15, local time in the UK. Weather conditions at Donington are expected to improve in time for race one.
 
Jonathan Rea, stated: “The track conditions have not been perfect but this morning was probably the only true wet session. In the second session there was not a lot of water on the track and it was very difficult for the tyre. After that we got a dry last session, albeit a dry line, in FP3. On a  lot of the track you had no margin for error, especially turn one. A meter and a half off line was completely wet and damp. I did a good long run in the mid-to-low 1’28s. I feel OK with the bike but it is a compromise in gearing, as in some areas it is too long and in some areas too short. Overall, I think we have to accept that. Tomorrow morning will be important for our final preparations.”
 
Tom Sykes, stated: “I am happy with our first day, and I am relaxed. But, it has also been absolutely freezing, so after every session I have had a couple of pots of tea! That said, it is one of those days I have enjoyed, even though it was wet this morning. We had a good performance in the first wet session. The second session was held in ‘in-between’ conditions and we also had a good performance. This afternoon was almost dry, and again we had fast lap times considering it was still damp in some areas and the lap times were shifting. I am happy, but we certainly need to improve in some sections. Today I was not willing to push the boat too far in some areas that I normally would push in.”
 
2018 KRT Rider Statistics
 
Jonathan Rea: World Champion 2015, 2016 & 2017
2018: Races 10, Wins 5, Podiums 8, Superpoles 2
Career Race Wins: 59 (44 for Kawasaki)
Career Podiums: 120 (78 for Kawasaki)
Career Poles: 16 (12 for Kawasaki)
 
Tom Sykes: World Champion 2013
2018: Races: 10, Wins 1, Podiums 4, Superpoles 1
Career Race Wins: 34 (34 for Kawasaki)
Career Podiums: 104 (103 for Kawasaki)
Career Poles: 43 (43 for Kawasaki)
 
5 x Riders’ Championships (Scott Russell 1993, Sykes 2013, Rea 2015, 2016 & 2017), 1 x EVO Riders’ Championship (David Salom 2014)
3 x Manufacturers’ Championships (Ninja ZX-10R 2015 & 2016, Ninja ZX-10RR 2017)
3 x Teams’ Championships (KRT/Provec Racing 2015, 2016 & 2017)
 
Kawasaki FIM Superbike World Championship Statistics
Total Kawasaki Race Wins: 115 – third overall
Total Kawasaki Podiums: 360 – third overall
Total Kawasaki Poles: 76 – second overall
 
 
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