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DEFINING PASSES: unusual overtaking places galore from WorldSBK’s visits to Donington and Most

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The first double header of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship took place over the last couple of weeks, first visiting Donington Park before heading east to the Czech Republic. Both rounds provided thrilling racing and we’ve summarised some of the more unusual, or difficult, passing places from both rounds below.

TWO FOR ONE: double moves under braking

The run to Turn 1 at Most lends itself to a traditional ‘use the slipstream, pass under braking’ move but twice those passes became two-for-one. First, Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) overtook Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in Race 2, then Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) performed a similar move on Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) and Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in the same race.

A DIVE AT TURN 2: Locatelli goes for an unusual place

While Turn 1 was one of the optimum overtaking opportunities at Most, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) opted for Turn 2 when passing van der Mark. On the short spurt between Turns 1 and 2, ‘Loka’ saw a gap and took it, diving up the inside of the Dutchman at Turn 2 to move into the podium places.

TURN 15 AT MOST: a weekend hot spot

The right-hand corner of Turn 15 became an overtaking hotspot at Most, with the moves starting from Race 1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) got ahead of Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) there for P2 in Race 1, before Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) passed ‘The Maniac’ there a few laps later and then ‘Petrux’ used the same corner to pass Bulega for P2. In Race 2, Razgatlioglu claimed the lead at Turns 15-16, while Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) made two passes there: first on Lecuona on Lap 16 for P7 and then on Lap 22 on Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) for P6.

THE OLD HAIRPIN: Rea making early gains

Turn 4 at Donington is a place to make passes but it can be tricky, and it’s possible to be cut back into Turn 5. This wasn’t a problem for Rea, though, after a superb start in the Tissot Superpole Race launched him to fourth on the exit of Turn 1, before passing Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) for third at the Old Hairpin as he claimed a first Yamaha podium.

MELBOURNE LOOP: a difficult place made look easy

The penultimate corner at Donington is one that allows multiple lines, which lends itself to potential passing although it can be tricky. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was able to get past Bulega there in Race 1, as was Razgatlioglu on Lap 3 of the Tissot Superpole Race to claim the lead of P1 on his way to victory.

OPENING DONINGTON CORNER: a tricky turn to pass

Turn 1 at Donington is a right hander but with the undulations of the track, there are different lines that can be used, plus the relatively short run to it can make it hard to fight. Alex Lowes made a move there for P8 on van der Mark in the Superpole Race, while Iannone was able to pass the Yamaha of Gardner there in the same race. In Race 2, teammates Rea and Locatelli battled it out at Turn 1 with the Italian coming out on top to show it’s possible, even if it’s difficult, to overtake there.

THE RUN TO McLEAN’S: Bautista vs Alex Lowes

The risk of making a move at the Old Hairpin was on display when Bautista and Alex Lowes battled there. The #22 was looking to move into sixth place and got ahead, before Bautista cut back to get a better run through Turns 5 and 6. They were almost side by side on the run up to McLean’s, a corner where you very rarely overtake, with the Kawasaki rider able to get ahead.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

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