WorldSBK Donington: Rea returns to dominate FP2

Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea was firmly in charge for WorldSBK’s second practice at Donington Park on Friday afternoon.

A late 1’27.016 ensured the Northern Irishman’s position at the top of the times as he once again dominated the 45-minute session from the initial stages. 2021 Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu and BMW’s Scott Redding completed the top three from the second KRT of Alex Lowes and championship leader Alvaro Bautista.

A warm but windy afternoon greeted the Superbike class as FP2 got underway. Leon Haslam once again leading the pack out of pitlane on the Pedercini Kawasaki with fellow Brits Redding and Lowes vying for the lead in the standings as the first laps began to register.

Rea took charge overall with a 1’27.428, just as he had in the morning session, from the BWM before his KRT teammate returned to second. Bautista bettered by Bonovo BWM’s Loris Baz and Motocorsa’s Axel Bassani as the Ducati dropped out of the top five.

Redding was back in second as the trio of home talent bickered for position at the top. Michael Rinaldi placing the second Aruba.it machine in contention from fourth before his teammate, and series leader, struck for third and Rea moved the goalposts out front with a 1.27.355.

Razgatlioglu began his afternoon from sixth, 1.2s adrift of the outright pace, with Bassani, Baz, Iker Lecuona and the second Pata Yamaha of Andrea Locatelli completing the top ten. Wildcards Tarran Mackenzie, Haslam and Peter Hickman circulating 13th, 14th and 18th respectively after 10 minutes on track.

An excursion off track found Bassani across the gravel after running wide at turn eight as Lucas Mahias entered the top ten on the Puccetti Kawasaki. While out front, Rinaldi bettered Bautista by a tenth in the battle