Despite recent improvements, Team HRC do not have high hopes for the United Kingdom World Superbike Round.
After positive weekends at the Autodrom Most and the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Team HRC are expecting a more challenging weekend at Donington Park.
The current Team HRC World Superbike rider line-up has had limited success in the United Kingdom, with Iker Lecuona having a best result of seventh and Xavi Vierge with an 11th place.
"We come to the UK after some solid races," Lecuona said.
"Not only in terms of performance but also thanks to the good work we’ve been doing in the garage, and the feeling and enjoyment I’ve had on the bike.
"After Misano, I had some test days at Suzuka for the 8 Hours, and now I’ve officially joined the team for the 2025 edition – I’m really happy to be racing there again, and with some strong teammates too. So, big thanks go to Honda for the opportunity.
"Let’s say the mood is good, so although Donington Park has been a challenging track for us in the past and I don’t count it among my favourites, we head there with an open mind. Also, the weather should be a bit cooler – I’m not exactly a fan of hot temperatures!
"Let’s see how things go once I’m back on track Friday morning, so we can understand where we are and how the bike behaves."
Vierge added: "I’m happy to compete at Donington after a few weeks in which I’ve been able to continue recovering from my foot injury and get back to almost my full training schedule. I definitely feel much better now than I did at Misano.
"Donington is a very special track – usually a tough one for us – but we’re aware of the challenges it brings. After Misano, we made a plan with the team to focus our setup work on improving the rear of the bike, because Donington is a circuit where you ride a lot using the rear.
"Personally, I like the track, I’m now feeling much better physically, and we have a plan, so let’s see if it works."
The factory Honda riders find themselves inside the top ten in the World Superbike Championship ahead of Donington Park, with Lecuona in eighth and Vierge in ninth.
