British Superbikes: Kyle Ryde was victorious in the first Bennetts British Superbike Championship dogfight of the weekend at Thruxton, holding off the charging pack of riders waiting to attack in sensational style, firing Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha back to the top for a second consecutive race.
At the start, Bradley Ray had one of his characteristic lightning starts but the Raceways Yamaha rider was embroiled in a typical Thruxton battle and he was shuffled down the order and would finish the race in eighth place, as Ryde narrowed the advantage in the standings.
Meanwhile the leading pack comprised a freight train of riders with Tommy Bridewell first taking the lead from Ray, before Charlie Nesbitt and Max Cook moved into the leading two positions. The pair were locked together, even touching tyres on lap five, that dropped the AJN Steelstock Kawasaki rider back into the pack and needing to regroup.
Nesbitt was holding onto the lead until Danny Kent launched the McAMS Racing Yamaha as the pack streamed across the line at mid-race distance, as Ryde had edged into second on the Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha.
The AJN Steelstock Kawasaki teammates were also in the leading pack with Christian Iddon having the advantage over Cook after his earlier mistake, but he had regrouped and was soon back into second.
Cook then claimed the lead from Ryde, but the defending champion was fighting back, regaining the position with three laps to go. Kent was also on the attack, taking second on the final lap from Cook, who held third to take his first podium finish of the season.
Bridewell carved his way back into fourth ahead of his Honda Racing UK teammate Andrew Irwin, with Nesbitt, Iddon and Ray completing the top eight at the chequered flag. The Ducati riders were next, with Leon Haslam in ninth following a two second time penalty for a course cut on lap 13 ahead of Rory Skinner and Scott Redding.
Glenn Irwin finished 16th on his return from injury on the Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, Race 1 result:
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha)
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +0.179s
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +0.793s
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +2.979s
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +4.141s
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +4.295s
- Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +4.445s
- Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) +4.681s
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) +5.904s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) +6.280s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) 230
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) 206
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) 156
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) 145
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 134
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 123
- Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) 113
- Josh Brookes (Dao Racing Honda) 110
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) 96
- Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing BMW) 83
KYLE RYDE
NITROUS COMPETITIONS RACING YAMAHA
“I didn’t get the holeshot, Brad was first and he had to dictate the pace. He set a very tyre saving pace, which is what we all would have done in his position. I tried to stay behind him until someone passed me, before I knew it five or six riders were in front and I was in sixth or seventh.
“Once I saw Danny reach the front of the race, I pushed my way through to the front, and from there on I tried to save as much tyre as possible. With six laps, I tried to go a little faster and break the group up, I wanted the podium and to try for the win.
“With two laps to go I had plus zero on the board, I didn’t know who it was as it is difficult to read the board when you are spinning up and sideways at Thruxton!
“I defended really well on the last chicane on the last lap and it was a big bonus to win!”
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