The eni FIM Superbike World Championship gets to the heart of England for round five at Donington Park this weekend.

Local boy Leon Haslam, now back with the Honda family for 2013, is still recovering from the leg injury he sustained at Assen almost a month ago, and he’s trying his best in order to take part in his home round.

Despite the thrilling finale in 2012, Marco Melandri (Goldbet BMW Motorrad) has fond memories of the last weekend out on the Leicestershire circuit, as the Italian managed to give BMW their maiden World Superbike win in race one.

Works BMW rider Chaz Davies seeks redemption at Donington Park, following two difficult rounds at both Assen and Monza.

Aprilia Racing Team duo of Sylvain Guintoli and Eugene Laverty, who currently lie first and second in riders standings, have never scored a top-three on the East-Midlands track.

Laverty crashed in two out of his four WSBK races there, while Guintoli best result is a fifth place in last year’s race two.

Tom Sykes’ (Kawasaki Racing Team) best result dates back to 2008, when he raced as a wildcard from BSB and finished with a sensational second place in the aggregate race one results, behind Troy Bayliss.

Team mate Loris Baz made his debut in WSBK last year at Donington, as substitute for the unfortunate Joan Lascorz. FIXI Crescent Suzuki Leon Camier scored his only WSBK podium finish at the British venue in 2011, but won race one two years before, in his winning British Superbike season.

Team Ducati Alstare welcomes Niccolò Canepa for a one-event participation. The current Superstock 1000 rider will join full-time riders Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini after testing with fellow Italian last week at Mugello.

2011 WSBK Champion Checa is still recovering from an osseus edema in his left shoulder that ruled him out the Monza round.

Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) approaches his home round as new championship leader in World Supersport, following his second race win of the season at Monza.

The English venue is a special place for the 22-year-old, who scored his maiden Supersport race win last year on this very track – ahead of Kenan Sofuoglu – and has recently moved to Derby, 20km far from the circuit.

Australians on hand at Donington Park this weekend will be Matt Davies (PTR Honda) and Mitchell Carr (AARK Racing Triumph), while British-based Triumph regulars Billy Mackenzie and Glen Richards will also compete as wildcards.