British Superbikes: Scott Redding returned to winning ways in the first of four Bennetts British Superbike Championship races at Donington Park this weekend, scoring his second victory of the season for Hager PBM Ducati as Kyle Ryde extended his advantage to 11 points over Bradley Ray in the title standings.
Redding launched into the lead at the start of the race from the Omologato Pole Position with Ryde in tow on the Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha, but the defending champion made some early attempts to seize the advantage, however the 2019 champion held strong at the front.
In the closing stages, Redding was able to edge out a minor advantage over Ryde, but the race was red flagged when John McPhee suffered a technical issue and crashed out at Redgate. The second place finish meant Ryde increased his lead in the title fight as Bradley Ray finished in ninth place for Raceways Yamaha after what has been a challenging weekend so far for the 2022 champion.
Rory Skinner emerged on top in the battle for third for Cheshire Mouldings Ducati; he fought a race-long tussle with a determined Danny Kent and Andrew Irwin, who made it a battle of three manufacturers for the final podium position. The McAMS Racing Yamaha rider held fourth from Andrew Irwin as Glenn Irwin had his best result with the Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha team in sixth place.
Tommy Bridewell worked his way into seventh place, the 2023 champion holding off the fight from Leon Haslam on the Moto Rapido Ducati Racing and Ray, with Christian Iddon completing the top ten for AJN Steelstock Kawasaki.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, Race 1 result:
- Scott Redding (Hager PBM Ducati)
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) +1.022s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) +4.388s
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +4.727s
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +5.052s
- Glenn Irwin (Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) +6.070s
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +6.321s
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) +7.007s
- Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) +7.405s
- Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki), +7.700s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) 300
- Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) 289
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) 200
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) 194
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 194
- Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) 178
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 175
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) 151
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) 140
- Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) 134
SCOTT REDDING
HAGER PBM DUCATI
“Those tracks we’ve had recently have been super challenging. I knew coming here, if I was feeling good I had to try and maximise, and honestly I’m my worst enemy out there!
“I’m struggling to find my rhythm, I’m just playing it too safe and I said to Kyle ‘to be honest mate I’d rather you’d overtaken me’, and then I’d have taken my mind off it and then got a rhythm. But it’s something I need to learn, I was saying to the team I’ve not been in the position where I’m being chased, I’ve always been the chaser since I’ve come to BSB like straight away with Brad. And here it’s the opposite and when you’re not doing it often it’s hard to get your head round.
“I’ve got to learn that again, it’s blowing out the cobwebs of winning races again, but I’m enjoying it, the team has put a mega bike together and I’m really happy with the performance that I was able to do.
“I’m feeling good, I’m just hoping I get in the zone, that’s my biggest problem this weekend. Maybe with more races in a row, a big break today, I’ll find more of that rhythm that I need, but I feel good I’ve just got to hit my markers and see what tomorrow brings.”
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