Fifth place for Glenn Irwin in Donington Park opener
Donington Park National
Glenn Irwin came home in a fantastic fifth place this afternoon aboard the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, in the opening race of the weekend at Donington Park, where Honda Racing UK teammate Ryo Mizuno came home in the points in 15th place.
Heading into qualifying, Glenn was fourth on combined times after the three practice sessions at the 1.98-mile National Circuit, meaning he went straight into Q2. Qualifying ninth, Glenn started the 20-lap eBay Sprint Race from the third row of the grid, but soon started to gain places.
By the tenth lap a podium looked to be on the cards as Glenn was sitting third, but having some good on-track battles with his BSB rivals he eventually crossed the line fifth and will start tomorrow's second race from sixth on the grid.
Teammate Ryo Mizuno scored his first BSB points of the 2022 season coming home in 15th place, having started the 20-lap sprint race from 19th. Progress of the race has to go to Takumi Takahashi who qualified 24th but took the chequered flag in 16th having made up eight positions across race distance.
BSB rookie Tom Neave has had a mixed weekend, passing fit in yesterday's medical assessment Tom was 20th in combined practice and while running ninth in the first qualifying session crashed out, unhurt, at Craner Curves. Starting the race from 22nd on the grid, Tom was hunting down a point scoring finish, but dropped back to finish 19th.
Tomorrow (Sunday 22 May) the Honda Racing UK team will be back in action with Race 2 and Race 3, however after careful consideration Tom will not be taking part in the races having felt some concussion side affects, following his crash last time out at Oulton Park.
We had a frustrating qualifying session where everything seemed to go wrong. On the grid I knew I had to make a good start, Taz (Mackenzie) is carrying an injury, Tom (Sykes) is incredible on the brakes and I wanted to get in with the three boys at the front. I managed to do that and had a good start, passing Tom at the end of the first lap and worked my way up to third at one stage. All weekend we've struggled a little with the front end and I think I could have used my experience to point the guys in the direction to help with front end entry, and the race today highlighted where we were struggling. That being said I scored 11 points and to come here after the two wins at the North West 200 and to have a fifth in the first race back at BSB pleases me.
We had a frustrating qualifying session where everything seemed to go wrong. On the grid I knew I had to make a good start, Taz (Mackenzie) is carrying an injury, Tom (Sykes) is incredible on the brakes and I wanted to get in with the three boys at the front. I managed to do that and had a good start, passing Tom at the end of the first lap and worked my way up to third at one stage. All weekend we've struggled a little with the front end and I think I could have used my experience to point the guys in the direction to help with front end entry, and the race today highlighted where we were struggling. That being said I scored 11 points and to come here after the two wins at the North West 200 and to have a fifth in the first race back at BSB pleases me.
First of all, I am relieved to have scored my first points of the season. This time, I tried to stay on track and do laps from Friday, and we were able to solve all the problems we had so far, one by one. In qualifying we were one step short of making it to Q2, but we were well prepared and ready for the race. I was able to follow the riders in front at a good pace until the middle of the race, but in the second half of the race I had some issues and could not keep up the pace. We know what the issue is and we will try to improve it in tomorrow's two races in order to move up to the top positions!
First of all, I am relieved to have scored my first points of the season. This time, I tried to stay on track and do laps from Friday, and we were able to solve all the problems we had so far, one by one. In qualifying we were one step short of making it to Q2, but we were well prepared and ready for the race. I was able to follow the riders in front at a good pace until the middle of the race, but in the second half of the race I had some issues and could not keep up the pace. We know what the issue is and we will try to improve it in tomorrow's two races in order to move up to the top positions!
This weekend at Donington Park hasn't felt as good as Silverstone and Oulton, and I didn’t manage to improve until qualifying. In today's race, I couldn't get a good position after the start, but my feeling with the Fireblade is improving a little, so I will try to finish in a good position in tomorrow's two races.
This weekend at Donington Park hasn't felt as good as Silverstone and Oulton, and I didn’t manage to improve until qualifying. In today's race, I couldn't get a good position after the start, but my feeling with the Fireblade is improving a little, so I will try to finish in a good position in tomorrow's two races.
Today has been a difficult one for me. Donington is a place I love riding at but after taking part in today’s opening race I have decided not to take part in tomorrow’s races. I passed the medical assessment yesterday, but during the race I was still suffering the effects of my concussion and I don’t want to endanger myself, or anyone else by racing tomorrow. We have a small break now until the next round at Knockhill, so I’ll focus being 100% for that round.
Today has been a difficult one for me. Donington is a place I love riding at but after taking part in today’s opening race I have decided not to take part in tomorrow’s races. I passed the medical assessment yesterday, but during the race I was still suffering the effects of my concussion and I don’t want to endanger myself, or anyone else by racing tomorrow. We have a small break now until the next round at Knockhill, so I’ll focus being 100% for that round.