Moto Rapido Racing Ducati stay and play at Donington Park

• Moto Rapido Racing join Ducati owners at Ducati UK's exclusive track day at Donington Park
• Leon Haslam and Ben Currie get to try each other’s race bike for the first time
• 44Teeth’s Alastair Fagan rides the Moto Rapido Panigale V2

Rather than head back to their Winchester base following Round 8 of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, the Moto Rapido Racing Ducati team remained at Donington Park so they could take part in Ducati UK’s exclusive track day, held on the GP circuit earlier this week.

But this was no test day for the team. Instead, it was a chance to have some fun on the bikes, sharing the track with Ducati owners, team sponsors, as well as Hager PBM Team's Scott Redding.

One of the highlights for the team was having their riders swap motorcycles for the first time. Superbike racer Leon Halsam got to ride the team’s Panigale V2 supersport bike, while Ben Currie got spin some laps on the Panigale V4 R superbike.

Also on track during the day were presenter Rory Ried, and 44Teeth’s Al Fagan, with the latter also getting to ride the team’s Panigale V2 in addition to the limited edition Panigale V4 Tricolore.

Leon Haslam – Moto Rapido Racing Ducati #91
“We started off this season super strong, joint leader after winning at Oulton. We’ve had some tough battles, but working with Moto Rapido and Wilf has been fantastic. Always by Sunday and I think we've learnt a lot this year, I'm really happy. Some of the results this season, we were a little bit on the back foot, but you every time we managed to figure it out and make improvements so super excited. Coming on the MSV day here for Ducati is fantastic. I joined the one earlier in the year and I didn't get to ride so to get out there today with all the people on Ducatis is fantastic. What a day, the sun’s been shining, and it's been great. 

I also got to ride Ben Currie’s supersport bike which was fantastic. It’s the first time I've got to ride the V2. So surprised at how competitive it is and how stable it is. It’s been a really, really good day and I look forward to the next one.”

Ben Currie – Moto Rapido Racing Ducati #61
“We're coming into the final part of the season now, three rounds left to go, three mega tracks. We're in the absolute thick of the championship battle, three points back. I'm currently in second place which is amazing. Me and the team have been having a fantastic year, we've got five wins to date, a load of podiums, the bike’s feeling awesome and everything’s going as good as it can be. You know I'm really enjoying the season and like I said we're coming into that final part of the season now where we can battle for a title. It’s always the most fun part for me. I'm looking forward to the challenge hopefully we get the job done.

I've got to come down here to Donington Park, we' were here last weekend racing but I get to come down to do my annual Ducati track day. I absolutely love coming down here and seeing all the Ducati enthusiasts. We've got the pit garage still set up from the weekend, so we've got mine and Leon’s race bike in here, got the whole team here and I've got some of my awesome sponsors that are also mad Ducati fans, and they've got their Panigale V4s and V2s out in force today. Awesome to share the track with them guys as well and just enjoy it really. This is why we race motorbikes because we absolutely love it. And sometimes it's nice to just remind yourself how good it is to do this. Having a ball down here, weather couldn't be better, track day couldn't be run any better, and I'm just absolutely loving it. 

Today was a special day actually. This is my third season with the Moto Rapido team, and I've been chomping at the bit to get on that V4 and Wilf kindly lent it to me this afternoon for a spin out. I got to stretch its legs, the big Panigale V4's an absolute animal. But what a beautiful bike to ride. Honestly, I was I was a little bit nervous, obviously the V2 is probably about 100 less horsepower, so to roll out on the on the big girl was nerve wracking but within a couple of laps I just absolutely had a smile from ear to ear.

Just awesome to go out there and have a feel of it and I'm jealously Leon gets to race it every weekend that's for sure. Awesome day, capped it off this afternoon with a little spin out on my V2 before we head to Assen, so I remember how she actually feels.”

Steve ‘Wilf’ Moore – Team Owner and Crew Chief
“Thanks to Ducati UK for inviting our team to the track day at Donington. It’s been a brilliant day, a really good day. We stayed up here from the Donington BSB round and both riders had a little play on their bikes to help with our customers. We’ve had some great feedback from the customers, where they're sharing the track with professional riders. It's just a great thrill, a great experience for them. 

We’ve had a little play on Leon’s bike, a few little things to tweak which have been very useful, and then to finish the day off the riders swapped bikes. I even gave them a set of fresh tyres each. Ben got to experience the superbike for the first time, absolutely loved it. Leon got to ride the supersport bike, absolutely loved it, and gave me some valuable feedback so should be good for the next round.

Our season to date, if I had to describe it, I’d say enjoyable. I’m in racing because I love doing it and it’s been a really, really fun season so far. We’ve had some good results and through Leon’s consistency we’re still third / fourth in the championship. Ben is right in front of his championship, so for a small team we’re doing a good job so far. Now we’re into some really good rounds. We’ve got Assen which Leon and Ben are both really looking forward to, then we go back to Oulton Park where Leon’s won there, and then the finale in Brands where they’re both strong. I’m hopeful we’ll finish the seasons on a really strong footing.”

Alastair Fagan – 44Teeth
“I've got to say a massive thank you to Wilf and the Moto Rapido team for having me. I've just ridden Ben Currie’s supersport bike and I don't know what I was expecting… but it's just so easy to ride, even with my fat lump on it! 

I get the next gen supersport rules, I love the way it's working. You’ve got so many different bikes being able to be on the podium. But with the V2, it’s amazing to think that they’ve got to take power off the standard road bike to fit in the class, but actually it probably makes it easier to ride. I'm considerably heavier to Ben so I don't think I'm going to call up for next year, but stranger things have happened!”