#UKWorldSBK: NO RACE LUCK DURING FIRST DONINGTON ENCOUNTER
Saturday’s eleventh race of the season brought a prematurely end for German Stefan Bradl.
With one hour before the race start was scheduled at 3:00 pm local time, teams and riders as well as many fans gathered at the main straight to pay tribute to Nicky Hayden to make a collective dedication to the late and missed American MotoGP World Champion 2006. It was a very touched farewell to the ever-popular Nicky Hayden.
This was, however, an aggravating circumstance for Bradl and his Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team to prepare on the race. Since Friday morning, irritating electronic problems have caused much headache this weekend. Because of an increasingly unmanageable handling of the bike, Bradl was forced to retire after two third of the distance.
The second race of the weekend is scheduled to get started Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm local time. Austrian’s broadcaster ServusTV starts its live coverage 30 minutes earlier.
#6 Stefan BRADL (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team, Honda CBR1000RR SP2), NC – Championship position 12th (43 points):
“Since the start of the weekend, we are struggling with massive electronics issues. Despite all the efforts of my technicians, the situation hardly improved for the race. It was difficult to take control on the bike’s handling as the traction control got crazy. After I had a big moment once in turn one, it didn’t make sense for me to continue. Luckily, I was able to prevent a crash after I nearly highsided but I had absolutely no idea what was going on at that moment. First, I really wanted to finish the race but the traction control didn’t work anymore properly from this moment. It was very dangerous. We have to look at the matter now, to analyse and find out what was the cause.”
#UKWorldSBK – Result Race 1 (23 Laps):
1 Tom SYKES / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 33´56.457
2 Leon HASLAM / GBR / Kawasaki Puccetti Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / +16.500
3 Alex LOWES / GBR / Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF-R1 / 19.170
NC #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team / Honda CBR1000RR SP2
WorldSBK Standings:
1 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / 235
2 Tom SYKES / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / 185
3 Chaz DAVIES / GBR / Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale R / 169
12 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team / 43