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may 24, 2018 - Yamaha Racing

Mahias in the Mood for Donington Park

The GRT Yamaha Official #WorldSSP Team are determined to hit the ground running at Donington Park for Round 6 of the 2018 FIM Supersport World Championship this weekend. Reigning #WorldSSP Champion, Lucas Mahias, is aiming to fight back and return to the podium after missing out on the rostrum at the last three rounds and relinquishing his championship lead. His teammate Federico Caricasulo is looking to build on the pace he displayed at his home round after securing his third podium in the last four races at Imola. European Supersport Cup rider Alfonso Coppola is hoping to continue the progress made in his rookie #WorldSSP season as he continues to fight for his championship point in 2018.

Imola saw Mahias lose his lead in the overall standings for the first time in 2018 after he crashed out of the lead during the race, although he bravely remounted and charged his way through the field to cross the line in eighth and limit the damage to his championship defence. The 29-year-old French rider is now second overall with 79 points, just two points behind leader Randy Krummenacher despite not having stood on the podium since Thailand, and Mahias is determined to fight back at Donington Park. Last season, Mahias claimed second in the UK after battling for the race win throughout and having rediscovered the feeling with his GRT Yamaha R6 at Imola, his plan is to fight for the win to retake the lead in the overall standings.

Caricasulo pulled off a superb ride at his home round in Imola, battling for victory before securing second at the chequered flag after missing out on victory by just 0.363s. It was his third podium in the opening five races and the 22-year-old Italian is now fifth in the championship standings with 69 points, just 12 points behind the leader with all to play for. After showing superb pace in almost every session so far in 2018, Caricasulo is looking to secure his first victory of the season at Donington Park, a track he enjoys riding, after crashing out of last year's race.

ESC rider Alfonso Coppola has shown superb improvement in 2018 as the inaugural Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Challenge winner continues to adjust to the #WorldSSP class after making the step up from WorldSSP300 last season. Learning more every time he hits the track and having significantly decreased the gap to the top riders, the 20-year-old Italian is now looking to collect his first #WorldSSP Championship point at a track he completed the perfect weekend at in WorldSSP300 last year, topping both practice sessions, claiming pole position and taking victory as well as recording the fastest lap of the race.

Located near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, Donington Park hosted its first motorcycle race in 1931. Requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence in 1939 at the start of the Second World War, it reopened its doors to #racing in 1973. The 4,023km circuit has 12 corners in total, seven right-handed and five left-handed, plus a start/finish straight of 550m in length, and is known for its fast-flowing corners, dramatic elevation changes and its two hairpins.

The GRT Yamaha Official #WorldSSP Team takes to the track for FP1 on Friday at 10:40 am local time (GMT) in the UK, with qualifying scheduled for 2:15 pm on Saturday and Sunday's race due to start at 11:30 am.

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