Glenn Irwin blasted to the fastest ever Bennetts British Superbike Championship lap of the Donington Park Grand Prix circuit, setting a time on the Hager PBM Ducati 0.174s faster than the previous best set by Jason O’Halloran in Q2 in 2023.
Irwin’s time in the final session put him an impressive 0.719s ahead of the reigning champion Kyle Ryde who returned to the track for the first time in 2025 on the OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha with the number one plate.
Danny Kent surged into third on the McAMS Racing Yamaha in the closing moments to nudge Leon Haslam into fourth on the Moto Rapido Ducati Racing with Max Cook completing the top five.
Bradley Ray was sixth fastest on his return to the championship with the Raceways Yamaha team, just 0.003s ahead of Andrew Irwin on the leading Honda Racing UK Fireblade with Tommy Bridewell crashing out unhurt in the afternoon.
Josh Brookes, Christian Iddon and Fraser Rogers completed the top ten ahead of tomorrow’s second day.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, R&G Official Test, Donington Park, combined times day one:
Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 1m:27.022s
Kyle Ryde (OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) +0.719s
Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +0.884s
Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) +0.927s
Max Cook (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +1.285s
Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) +1.315s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +1.318s
Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) +1.482s
Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +1.588s
Fraser Rogers (TAG Honda) +1.948s
