WorldSBK Donington: Tyre drop denies Redding the rostrum

Scott Redding was a WorldSBK top five runner in the first two days at Donington, partly due to a new swingarm and other detail changes to his BMW Motorrad M1000RR. But also because he is getting the latest job worked out a bit better.

In race one, in a podium position with a few laps to go, he had to give best to Alex Lowes’ Kawasaki, and his better preserved rear tyre. Redding’s was, as it looked from all the big slides and wheel-spinning, definitely finished and the rider himself confirmed it after a rousing - but still just off-podium - battle in front of the home fans.

Asked about his tyre, he said, “Yeah, that was it, really. That was a shame. That was hurting me inside, that one.

“It’s just a little bit annoying, really, because we do all that work and you’re just giving it up at the end because there’s nothing you can do. I was trying everything… slower, faster, just slide it through the corner, brake later. As soon as you get to the pickup area, you just lose time. Alex came past me so I thought, ‘I’m going to have to try and battle with him,’ but it was like bringing a knife to a gun fight. So, we tried.

“It was better. Eleven seconds to the leader instead of twenty plus. At least a step. I made the mistake on the start again. A bit my fault, to be honest. Went back, come back through. Lost a bit of time with [Iker] Lecuona. I’m happy.

“The weekend has been pretty solid,” he continued. “I’ve been having a bit more pace in qualifying. It was do or die. I need to be on them first two rows. It was great for Jonny to let me follow. I’m not a threat to him in the race, not yet, which is good. For him I think it’s better that I’m there than someone else is there. I was riding hard, but I’m getting something back for