British Superbikes: Scott Redding celebrated victory in the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race of the weekend at the crucial Brands Hatch title decider as Bradley Ray held off Kyle Ryde to take three points out of the advantage ahead of tomorrow’s Clash of the Champions title decider.
At the start of the race, Ryde had forced his way into the lead ahead of Ray as the pair continued their duel for a second title. Christian Iddon was holding third ahead of Tommy Bridewell, but at the front, the Raceways Yamaha rider launched into the lead at Paddock Hill Bend by lap three.
Ryde was trying to regain the advantage, but it was only ten laps later, that he was able to make it stick with a pass at Hawthorns. As the title contenders fought for the advantage going into tomorrow’s decisive two races, Redding had been charging through the pack after running sixth on the opening laps.
Redding first made a move on Ray with four laps to go and Hawthorns and then had Ryde in his sights, taking the lead at Surtees a lap later and he was able to hold the edge to the finish. Ray took second place from Ryde with 27-points between the pair now ahead of tomorrow’s final two races, with 70 points available.
Rory Skinner was fourth for the Cheshire Mouldings Ducati team as he was initially in the leading group, with Danny Kent completing the top five for McAMS Racing Yamaha. Max Cook was able to get the better of Leon Haslam, who is now out of the title fight with Charlie Nesbitt, Lee Jackson and Glenn Irwin completing the top ten.
Tommy Bridewell and Christian Iddon had been in the mix earlier in the race, but crashed out at Surtees and Druids respectively unhurt.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race 1 result:
- Scott Redding (Hager PBM Ducati)
- Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) +0.151s
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) +1.284s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) +3.235s
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +4.068s
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +7.254s
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) +7.608s
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +11.584s
- Lee Jackson (DAO Racing Honda) +11.622s
- Glenn Irwin (Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) +22.040s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) 472
- Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) 445
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) 362
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) 292
- Scott Redding (Hager PBM Ducati) 272.5
- Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) 272
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 272
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 239
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) 232
- Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing BMW) 214
SCOTT REDDING
HAGER PBM DUCATI
“I was too steady at the start. These boys, [Ray and Ryde], know how to switch it on straight away. I’m like a red wine, I need to age a bit and get going. It’s a little bit annoying but it’s good at the same time. Give you something to really focus on.
“I started to get going a bit and find my rhythm. I felt like if I got to the front I could actually pull away. I had a little look at Brad into turn four and I was like, ‘I can’t be doing that’. I’ll do anything I can not to put anyone in jeopardy. Then I almost had two in one.
“I eyed it up into Hawthorn and thought ‘that would be just perfect, get them both out the way’. I passed Brad there the last time we were here and did the same thing he did today I saw him release the brake and I was like please don’t do that so I let the brake off to run it in.
“Then I thought in my head, ‘try to get past Kyle as soon as you can and just let them do their thing’. Then I got past Kyle. Then I managed to pick the pace up a little bit, got a little bit of a gap going then thought yeah, comfortable. Then when I crossed the finish line I looked back and Brad was on my rear fender!
“Thanks to the team, these boys have been mega out there racing and let the best man finish it off!”
BRADLEY RAY
RACEWAYS YAMAHA
“It was a nice race. Pace was steady enough at the start as it’s probably the first 20-lap run anybody has done all weekend. So didn’t really know how hard to go at the start and wanted to try and save a little bit of rear tyre for the end.
“My first objective was to try and finish in front of Kyle [Ryde]. I got through on him and honestly didn’t think I’d get through on Scott [Redding]. But got a second wind, the old caffeine gel kicked in with two laps to go.
“It was nice to have that sort of pace towards the end of the race and claw a couple of points back. But that was all I could do in this situation. Really enjoyed the race. Nice clean racing and we’ll try again tomorrow.”
For more info check out our dedicated British Superbikes News page
Or visit the official Bennetts British Superbike Championship website www.britishsuperbike.com
©Words/Images are from an official press release posted courtesy of www.britishsuperbike.com
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