WorldSBK – The PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team on British soil for WorldSBK round 6
The sixth round of the 2023 Superbike World Championship sees the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda team travel to the UK, and the Donington Park circuit. Ready for action on Friday, rider Hafizh Syahrin will be rejoined by team-mate Eric Granado, who was forced to miss round five due to injury.
At the latest Misano round, Syahrin reached the points in race 2 and could have done more in the Superpole race had it not been for the red flag that put a premature end to proceedings. Granado has now been away from his CBR1000RR-R for almost two months and so will use Friday’s sessions to get back into the swing of things after this enforced break.
The PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda duo will be looking to build on the results achieved so far with the aim of becoming regular points finishers. The Donington Park circuit could be an interesting one for the team, with unpredictable weather only adding to the show.
The British Donington Park circuit boasts a rich history and served as the stage for the very first World Superbike race back in 1988. The host of many four- and two-wheel championships, it is a favourite with the fans and always promises exciting racing. Today, the track measures 4.023 km and comprises seven right-hand corners and five left-handers. It is located close to the town of Castle Donington in the county of Leicestershire.
Hafizh Syahrin
“Donington is a nice track, I competed there for the first time last year. It’s very narrow and short compared to other circuits, but I like it, and we’ll do our best to fight for the points again. The fact it’s been resurfaced makes things interesting and could affect all of us, positively or negatively, in terms of grip. Hopefully there’ll be a tyre to suit both the track and our set-up and, with any luck, we can take another step forward this weekend.”
Eric Granado
“I’m pleased that I feel fit and ready to get back on the Superbike at Donington. It’s true that I haven’t ridden the bike for a while now, and so it won’t be easy, not least because I don’t know the track at all. So it will be a weekend of adaptation in which we’ll work to improve session after session to build confidence, and then, race by race, work to get back to the kind of pace I had before. I’m looking forward to being back working with my team again and also competing at Donington – I used to watch the racing there when I was little and so I can’t wait to experience it for myself!”
Track Information:
Country: UK
Name: Donington Park
Length: 4.023 km
Pole position: left
Race distance: 23 laps/92.529 km
SBK RECORDS: Best lap: Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) 1’26.767 (2022). Superpole – Rea (Kawasaki) 1’26.080 (2022).
2022 RESULTS:
Race 1 – 1. Razgatlioglu (Yamaha); 2. Rea (Kawasaki); 3. Lowes (Kawasaki).
Superpole race: 1. Razgatlioglu (Yamaha); 2. Rea (Kawasaki); 3. Redding (BMW).
Race 2 – 1. Razgatlioglu (Yamaha); 2. Bautista (Ducati); 3. Rea (Kawasaki)
