An Eventful World Superbike Race One From Donington Park

Garrett Gerloff had an eventful day at Donington Park on his GRT Yamaha.

GRT Yamaha’s Garrett Gerloff had an eventful World Superbike race one today at Donington Park, the Texan crashing out of third place on the 16th of 23 laps, but remounting to finish seventh.

Gerloff, who qualified fifth in the morning’s wet Superpole session, got shuffled back early in the race as the ever-changing British weather saw the race start in mostly dry conditions but with wet patches on the tarmac. Once things settled in, however, Gerloff went on a charge and found himself in a heated battle for the final podium spot with BMW’s Tom Sykes and Kawasaki’s Alex Lowes. Gerloff was able to work his way past both of them, but he tucked the front two laps later and crashed out of third.

Fortunately, Gerloff’s Yamaha YZF-R1 wasn’t damaged, and he was able to pick it up and get going again. He made short work of Kawasaki Puccetti Racing’s Lucas Mahias and Team HRC Honda’s Alvaro Bautista to work his way to seventh. That’s where he finished as Honda’s Leon Haslam was too far ahead to catch, the Brit beating him to the line by some 16 seconds.

The race was won in impressive fashion by Topak Razgatlioglu on the PATA Yamaha over six-time World Champion Jonathan Rea. Rea’s teammate Lowes finished third.

Razgatlioglu closed to within 15 points of Rea in the World Superbike Championship, 169-154.