British Superbikes Pre-Season Testing | Donington Park | 3-4 April 2026
The ZYN British Superbike Championship rolled into Donington Park on Friday 3rd April for its first official two-day test of 2026, and the field wasted no time in making their intentions clear. Cloudy skies, a persistent wind, and the ever-present threat of rain set the backdrop for two days of fast-paced running, with teams repeatedly pausing to assess the conditions before committing to further track time. Despite the interruptions, the lap times told a compelling story.
Day one ended with Kyle Ryde quickest, his best of 1:27.647 just 0.067 seconds ahead of Max Cook in second, with Bradley Ray completing the top three. Ryde set his fastest time in the closing minutes of the final session of the day, underlining the intensity of a test that never fully let up regardless of what the sky was threatening.
Day two was where the field truly found its stride. Faster times emerged across the board as teams refined their setups, and Max Cook moved to the top of the combined classification with a best of 1:27.184 aboard the Bimota KB998, a machine making its BSB debut this season. Danny Kent slotted into second overall with a 1:27.469, and Rory Skinner completed the top three with a 1:27.499. Fan favourites Bradley Ray and Kyle Ryde remained firmly in the mix, both featuring inside the top six of the combined standings and serving as a reminder that the title fight this season will be anything but straightforward.
Among those who caught the eye across both days, TAG Honda impressed with Charlie Nesbitt and Fraser Rogers putting in a solid volume of track time and working methodically through their programme. Ryan Vickers was another rider who stood out, consistently pushing on and making the most of every available window. Leon Haslam demonstrated the kind of experience that defines a seasoned campaigner, banking laps as rain threatened and others elected to sit it out in the garage. On a day of constant uncertainty, those prepared to commit to the circuit gathered the most valuable data.
The supporting classes provided their own moments of drama. The combined Pirelli National Superstock and Quattro Group British Supersport session was brought to a halt after smoke and a potential oil spillage raised safety concerns. When the session resumed, so little time remained that it felt closer to a sprint race than a test, with Declan Connell topping the combined Superstock standings ahead of Ash Beech and Ash Barnes. A yellow flag incident at Craner Curves during the R&G Moto4 British Cup and National Junior Sportbike session added further interruption to an already stop-start day, though thankfully no serious consequences followed.
Across the supporting categories, the combined classification results painted a clear picture of who arrived at Donington Park with work already done. Jack Kennedy led the Quattro Group British Supersport standings with a best of 1:30.626, ahead of Dean Harrison and Harry Truelove. In the Pirelli British Sportbike Championship, Alfie Davidson was quickest with a 1:35.926, with Cameron Dawson and Harley McCabe close behind. Bobby Varey topped the ROKiT Off BMW F 900 R Cup with a 1:37.263, ahead of Dave Grace and Alex Pearson. Jack Dunabie led the R&G Moto4 British Cup on a 1:39.256, with Ryan Frost and Harrison Day completing the top three. In the 1P Mobile National Junior Sportbike Championship, Isaac Mark edged out Ben Joliffe and Henry Ross at the head of the timesheets.
For all the weather-related pauses and red flag interruptions, Donington Park delivered exactly what a pre-season test should. Data gathered, setups refined, and a pecking order beginning to take shape. The season gets underway at Oulton Park on the May Bank Holiday, and on the evidence of this test, the 2026 ZYN British Superbike Championship is shaping up to be one worth following closely.
