Yamaha Motor UK Set Sights on Strong Donington Park Weekend

The second round of the 2026 British Superbike Championship gets underway at Donington Park this weekend, and with Yamaha Motor UK returning to a fruitful hunting ground, the Japanese manufacturer heads to Leicestershire in confident mood.

The opening round two weeks ago delivered a host of strong results for officially supported team McAMS Yamaha, who secured a trio of third-place finishes with Brad Ray aboard the Yamaha R1.

Consistently strong form throughout the season opener fuels high expectations as the weekend approaches, with Ray and the team’s success at Donington Park in 2025 further bolstering their ambitions heading into Round 2.

Last year, Ray and the team stormed to a dominant triple victory – sparking a win streak that would extend to eight consecutive races. With momentum on their side and a venue that has historically suited them well, hopes are high within the McAMS Yamaha stable for more of the same.

Elsewhere in the officially backed camp, Ben Currie and Harry Truelove are eager to return to action in the Quattro Group British Supersport Championship aboard the Yamaha R9 – a machine that made an immediate impact on its debut weekend at Oulton Park, claiming two third-place finishes with Currie in the saddle.

The Australian arrives at Donington Park aiming to pick up where he left off, having demonstrated impressive pace while continuing to build his relationship with the all-new three-cylinder machine.

For Lincolnshire-born Truelove, this weekend offers an opportunity for redemption after a challenging outing at Oulton Park. Having crashed out in the opening race, the #44 rider showed admirable grit and determination, charging from 18th to 8th in the final race of the weekend.

With clear pace at his disposal, Truelove heads to Donington Park with high ambitions and a desire to showcase the full extent of his potential aboard the performance-proven R9.

This weekend also proves significant for British Superbike outfit Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha. The opening round was a tale of two halves, with Rory Skinner riding to a hard-fought trio of top-ten finishes to round off his first race weekend on the R1 in positive fashion.

With a strong foundation established and further gains to be made, the Scottish rider is looking forward to building on that momentum at a circuit that has historically suited his style.

Teammate Danny Kent arrives at Donington Park hungry for results after a difficult weekend at Oulton Park. The circuit has been a happy hunting ground for the 2015 Moto3 World Champion, who has claimed multiple podium finishes there across the past two seasons.

Christian Iddon and the SENCAT Racing team are equally eager for a productive meeting, having taken encouragement from a series of strong results and continued development at the season opener.

Three more races await Yamaha’s BSB contingent at Donington Park, with a further two races of British Supersport action to follow on the weekend of 15-17 May.

Words and images courtesy of Yamaha Racing UK Press Office