WorldSBK Donington: Razgatlioglu reigns as Lowes podiums

Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu blitzed the opening race of the Prosecco DOC UK Round taking his second victory of the season with a six-second lead.

KRT’s Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes consolidated their double front row start into home podium celebrations as the 31-year-old collected his first of the year after a late battle with BMW’s Scott Redding for third, securing the Japanese firm’s 500th rostrum in WorldSBK.

A sweltering Donington Park greeted the WorldSBK grid with 44℃ track temperatures, as race one prepared. Kawasaki’s Rea in charge of proceedings thanks to his record pace in the morning’s Superpole with teammate Lowes alongside for the pair’s home battle. Razgatlioglu completed the front row with championship leader Alvaro Bautista behind in fifth. Tarran Mackenzie lined up in 12th for his debut World Championship action, the McAMS rider taking benefit of Philipp Oettl’s three place gird penalty as he completed row four ahead of the 23-lap race.

Lights out and Razgatlioglu launched to the lead with Lowes holding off the demands of Ducati’s Bautista from third. A moment for Rea forced the Ninja back to fourth as Bautista continued to battle with Lowes, this time for second. The pair continuing to switch positions as the second lap played out with the local rider denied by the Panigale’s speed down the home straight.

Honda’s Iker Lecuona held fifth from Redding as lap three began. Axel Bassani running best Independent from seventh on the Motocorsa with fellow Italian Michael Rinaldi, GRT’s Garrett Gerloff and Pata’s Andrea Locatelli completing the top ten.

Rea advanced on his teammate next time around as he immediately looked for a way through on Bautista, setting a fastest lap of the race so far in the