2025 WorldSBK rookie Ryan Vickers says he’s targeting the top 10 in the UK round this weekend.
The Vickers, who moved to the World Superbike Championship this year with Motocorsa Ducati, won a top 10 finish in the Assen Superpole Race this year, but have yet to achieve any feat in dry racing.
“I’ve been close to the top 10 a few times,” Ryan Vickers told worldsbk.com ahead of the UK round at Donington this weekend.
“We want to try and get the dry results of the first top 10.”
Vickers added that the frontline start is also on Donington Race’s goal list.
“I think another big goal for me is to achieve a position that is appropriately qualified. You need to try to get at least three or four rows,” he said.
“At the same time, we need to be realistic, if we can ride the front row inside the top 12, that would be a massive step.
Extending the challenges of utilizing fresh tire grips, Vickers added:
“I know how to extract a lot from Donington, I just try to figure it out on my bike and tires.
“Whatever it is, I want to try and achieve the top 10. But if it takes the whole weekend to do that and arrives at Race 2, I’m still happy.
“If we can qualify well, I think we can compete for the top 10.”
Track knowledge will be an important factor that Vickers hopes to improve their results with Donington.
“It’s very exciting, it’s great. I’m really happy to be able to deploy FP1 and get to know my path (around the track),” he said.
“In other rounds, I had to focus on learning how to ride a Ducati and use the FP1 to set up my bike correctly.
“That familiarity feels really good for me because you don’t have to know the circuit, unfold and concentrate too much.
“A lot of my energy is focused on doing this with the line and trying it out. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to go fast when there’s a lot to think about consciously.
“When you focus only on moving forward faster because you don’t have to use that conscious effort and it’s happening naturally, that’s when you make the most of your performance.
“That’s where I got there on BSB. I knew the circuit from behind my hand. Every time I went to the track, I was just focused on moving faster.
“Now there’s a lot to think about. Donington knows that, so it’s fine. I still have a few things to consider, but I’m familiar with the circuit, I know the right lines, and I know what can help make time for fast laps.
“It’s also nice to meet the fans there and see the many people I know.
“I’m very surprised that the European round was so busy with British fans, but I think it should be a good vote for the fans. I have a lot of support and I’m really grateful for it, but there’s nothing like going home.
“Learn a little from Brega”
After six rounds, Vickers and Motocorsa will introduce a small new part at Donington, based on what they understand from the factory team, especially Nicolo Bulega, current leader of World Superbike Points.
“There’s nothing really new, just the new seat pads on the bike,” Vickers said of the new parts at Donington.
“I’ve learned a bit from Brega and what are the guys in the factory doing? They’re running slightly different parts in the bike seating area.
“We can’t achieve them yet, but we’re doing our best to produce the same effect that you have on the bike to get more rear grips.
“It’s working well for Bulega, so all Ducati riders are trying to do the same thing.
“We’re going to try something with Donington. We tried a bit with Misano. That helped. Let’s see if we can take another step in that direction.”