WSBK preview: Donington

The 2013 Superbike World Championship gets to the heart of England for round five at Donington Park this weekend (May 24-26). The British venue was built in the 1930s and saw a new life in the 1970s, becoming one of the most famous tracks for motorcycle racing in the world. Donington Park hosted the first ever WSBK round on April 3, 1988, with pole position scored by local rider Roger Burnett on a Honda.

British riders have rarely got on top step of the podium at Donington Park. In 2012 Jonathan Rea (Honda) was the first rider from the UK to win a race at the circuit in four years. And it happened to be one of the most unpredictable races of all time, settled at the very last turn of the race after a collision with Leon Haslam and a consequent "domino effect" that involved Marco Melandri (BMW), who had previously tried to overtake Haslam, too -- teammate at the time -- for the race win.

Local boy Haslam, now on a Honda in 2013, is still recovering from the leg injury he sustained at Assen almost a month ago, and he's trying his best in order to take part in his home round.

Despite the thrilling finale in 2012, Melandri has fond memories of the last weekend out on the Leicestershire circuit, as the Italian managed to give BMW its maiden WSBK win in race one. Melandri 2013 teammate, Chaz Davies, seeks redemption at Donington Park, following two difficult rounds at both Assen and Monza.

Aprilia factory duo Sylvain Guintoli and Eugene Laverty currently sit first and second in the standings, but have never scored a top three at Donington. Laverty has crashed in two of his four WSBK races there, while Guintoli’s best result is a fifth place in last year's race two.

Tom Sykes' (Kawasaki Racing Team) best result dates back to 2008, when he competed as a wildcard and finished with a sensational second place in race one, behind Aussie Troy Bayliss. Sykes’ teammate Loris Baz made his debut in WSBK last year at Donington as substitute for the injured Joan Lascorz.

Suzuki’s Leon Camier scored his only WSBK podium finish at the British venue in 2011 (third place in race two), but won race one two years before during his winning British Superbike season.

Ducati Alstare welcomes Niccolò Canepa for a one-event appearance, with the Superstock 100 rider joining regular teamsters  Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini. Checa, the 2011 WSBK champion, is still recovering from an injured left shoulder that ruled him out the last round at Monza.

Australian Mark Aitchison is now without a ride in the championship after his Effenbert Liberty team withdrew from proceedings.

In the Supersport class, Australia will have four riders, with Triumph-backed, UK-based wildcards Glen Richards and Billy McConnell joining Matt Davies (Honda) and Mitchell Carr (Triumph).