Round three of the NG series has us at Donington Park, 11th and 12
th May. We use the 1.96 mile National circuit (...the one without the Melbourne Loop). It is steeped in history and a tough circuit to get the perfect lap on. You need to get each and every one of the linked corners from Redgate to Coppice right (...and there is eight of them!) to post your best lap time.
NG's top man Josh Day is again in stunning form, so the battle is looking to be whom else can join him on the Powerbike podium. Chris Pope, Allister Haynes, Paul Dawson and Leigh Corfield are in the running.
Tim Bradley is another to be having things his own way so far this year, and now that Bradley Richman is off to the 600 class it is difficult to see anyone else with the pace to challenge.
Most other classes are much closer.... Simon Bastable and Dave Irons are up for 700 Streetstock honour, whilst in the 1300's it is between Jason Hill, Chris Oliver and Jon Wright. Wright is also in the running in the big pre-injection class too where is battling with Daniel Boucher and Wayne Pither. The Mini Twins will be another close-run thing between Dan Harris and Oli Warren on their SV's, whist ex MT champ Paul Wardell is the man to beat this year in the Super Twins on his new ER6.
True Heroes 959 ducati man Dave Macaky is already on target to retain his championship but Anthony White is having a great season too on his 675. The surprise package may well be Dave Sellars (....Mackays team mate) if he continues with the series.
........there is all that and the continuing head to head in the Suzuki Bandit challege between Harley Prebble and James Mchardy.
Donington Park Circuit
This 1.96 mile race track is fast and flowing with a series of high speed sweeping corners opening out onto the fast and undulating Dunlop straight. Donington is all about high corner speed and smooth riding. You will see a lot of high speed overtaking as well as bravery in the braking areas at Roberts, Redgate and the Old Hairpin.....but be warned if you get one corner wrong, your lap has gone !
Racing at Donington dates back to 1931, but after WW2 racing was halted, and it was not until Tom Wheatcroft got hold of it in 1971 things got back on track (...literally !). Donington has hosted every type of bike racing from Moto GP, Endurance, BSB... and was of course the venue for the first ever World Superbike round in 1988.
Now in the hands of MotorSport Vision it has undergone the MSV facelift....
NG's Fastest Rider at Donington Park
Current BSB Superstock front runner Ben Godfrey was in the NG paddock last year, and set a new NG lap record at 1min 09.3secs in May 2016. That equates to 101.5mph average on his BMW S1000R
Adding extra interest to the weekend.......
NG Road Racing is again running and promoting the British National series for 125cc and 250cc GP machinery. This is the only place in the UK that you will see these ex-GP machines racing for a full British Championship title backed by the ACU (The sport’s governing body in the UK). We also have the Ducati Desmo Due Series and the Formula Prostocks runners. For fans of sidecars there is the very competitive ACU/FSRA F2 British Sidecar Series.
Directions to the Circuit
Situated on the Derbyshire/Leicestershire boarder, next to East Midlands airport off the A453.
Donington Park Circuit signs are evident from all directions
| Sat Nav: DE74 2RP What’s on track
Up to 20 NG Road Racing championship races each day split into qualifying and championship races for each of the classes. That means some 8 hours of on track action each day. I suggest you get in nice and early, take a wander around the paddock and soak up the atmosphere as the riders go through technical inspection and free practice, they then take to the track for timed qualifying. There is then battle for one set of championship points on Saturday and two sets of points on Sunday when the riders come to the grid.
Feature and Guest races:
125/250GP ACU National Championship including The TSGP Two-stroke GP Series
The ACU/FSRA F2 British Sidecar Championship
FSRA Post Classic Sidecars
The Phoenix Open
The Ducati Sporting Club Desmo Due Series
The Formula Prostocks Racing Series
NG Championship classes:
F125
125GP
F400
500cc
600cc
Powerbike
Sound of Thunder
Super Twin
Mini Twin
Streetstock
Pre Injection
Sidecars
For all the info...
For full information regarding this meeting, including the meeting race preview check out the NG Road Racing Facebook page which can be found by searching in the usual way... then just click like… or log on to
www.ngroadracing.org
For more Donington specific information take a look at
www.donington-park.co.uk or www.msv.com