It was a promising start for the Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team's three-pronged attack at a wet and windy Donington Park on Friday for Round 6 of the 2018 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship. Local hero Alex Lowes showed good pace in the wet and the dry to end the opening day in fourth overall with a 1:28.567. Joining him directly in Saturday's SP2 is his teammate Michael van der Mark, who improved throughout the day despite the mixed weather to finish in sixth on the combined timesheets after setting a 1:28.768. Official Test Rider Niccol Canepa is a wildcard at Donington and he showed his class by ending Friday in 14th with a 1:29.616 as he spent the day readapting to riding the Pata Yamaha R1.