Eight in a Row for Ray and the R1 after Strong Knockhill Display
Bradley Ray and Raceways Yamaha extended their lead in the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill this weekend. They achieved a coup of victories and a second place in the weekend’s final outing.
The Scottish venue played host to the fourth round of the season. Brad Ray experienced a welcome return to the 1.2-mile venue. He racked up two wins and a second place despite not having raced there since 2022.
Having won the previous six races before arriving north of the border, Steve Rodgers’ squad aimed to further strengthen their position. They began their work in challenging conditions on Friday.
Safely through to Q2 at the end of the opening day, Ray charged on in Saturday’s Qualifying 2 session. He secured a seventh pole of the season, despite a small tip-off at Taylor’s hairpin.
Joined on the front row by the OMG Nitrous Competitions Yamaha R1 of Kyle Ryde, who took his #1 plate to the holeshot on the run into Turn 1.
With Ryde leading, Ray looked to settle in behind his Yamaha counterpart. However, he was instantly attacked from Rory Skinner behind before an electric battle commenced.
As the Yamahas slipped behind their rival, a passing attempt from Ryde at the final corner on Lap 17 resulted in him running wide. This gifted Ray the opportunity to sneak through on the Yamaha rider. He made his move for the lead at Mcintyre’s a lap later, gifting Ryde an opportunity to launch an attack.
With the Yamahas back into the lead, Ray pulled the pin, posting the fastest lap of the race. He extended his lead to 1.841 seconds at the flag, marking his seventh win in a row. It was also his eighth of the season with 2024 British Champion Ryde taking second.
With Sunday’s action getting underway under gloomy conditions and rainfall, eyes remained on the #28 Yamaha. They aimed to match the record for most consecutive wins in a row, held by Shakey Byrne from the 2003 season.
Launching from Pole for the 20-Lap Sprint Race, the Ashford rider made a remarkable getaway.
He took the holeshot into Turn 1 before pulling off another dominant lights-to-flag display. Thus, he bagged his eighth-consecutive BSB race win and drew himself level with Shakey’s record.
But the focus lay further behind as McAMS Racing’s Danny Kent was hindered by avoiding an opening lap crash for Christian Iddon in Race 1 and took the flag in 12th. He battled his way through the pack in Race 2, starting from 11th, and gradually worked his way forward. By the end of Lap 5, Kent sat in eighth place.
Working his way into the top six, he pushed on, passing Ryde, and then catching the riders ahead. Passing Storm Stacey on Lap 19, the Mar-Train-backed rider gave it everything to steal a rostrum spot. Unfortunately, he ran out of laps to secure a season-best fourth place.
However, he bagged a front-row start for Race 3.
OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing’s Kyle Ryde began the Sprint Race from third. However, he struggled with his rear tyre temperature as the race went on, ultimately crossing the line in seventh.
With one race left to go for the weekend’s running, Raceways Yamaha targeted cloud nine. But a chaotic Race 3 was about to begin as the rain continued to fall.
Settling into second on the opening lap, the Andorran-based rider quickly found his rhythm behind Skinner. He started to pick up the pace. However, as he was doing so, the rain began to fall heavier, causing the race to be halted.
Getting back underway, it was a copy and paste of the opening script as Ray slotted into second. But a fall for Blaze Baker at the final corner resulted in the race being stopped once more.
A third, and final, start once again saw Ray hold second place as he looked to push on with Skinner out front.
Understanding his rival was quicker, the Championship leader didn’t risk a non-score. He crossed the line second as his winning streak came to an end.
Kyle Ryde made a positive getaway to the opening two parts of the race. He held position inside the Top 10 as he settled into the challenging conditions. But with the second 16-lap restart ahead, an issue with the front tyre of Ryde’s OMG R1 forced him to miss the pit lane closing time. This resulted in a back-of-the-grid start for ‘Youth’.
Unfazed, the #1 got to business, working his way up to 11th at the chequered flag.
McAMS Racing’s Danny Kent got off to a good start, despite losing one place in the opening corners. However, as the race continued, and with a challenging race ahead, the 31-year-old slipped through the pack. He secured a handful of points for his 2025 campaign, crossing the line in 12th.
The Pirelli National Sportbike Championship saw a change of routine this weekend with a third race added to their line up.
Raceways Yamaha’s Ash Barnes endured a mixed weekend at Knockhill but continued his position as the top twin-cylinder Yamaha.
After a strong couple of practice sessions, Barnes locked in a front row start for Race 1 on Saturday, which was held in dry conditions. Making a positive start, he put himself in the heat of the battle, as nine riders chased victory around the Scottish circuit.
However, as he began to push forward, an incident further back resulted in a red flag, halting the 19-year-old’s progress.
As the race got back underway, Barnes was unlucky in the closing stages and slipped back through the pack on the charge to the final corner. In the run to the line, the #8 R7 took the flag in seventh place to cap off a frantic opening race of the weekend.
Starting the second race from eighth place, he made an electric start to a sodden Sunday opener. He put himself in the podium places early on. Pushing on as hard as he could, Barnes ran into trouble at Turn 2 as he lost the rear of his R7 and crashed out of contention.
Recovering for Race 3, he again made a strong start from eighth on the grid, settling into the leading group from the off.
Making passes as he chased the podium places once more, Barnes did all he could. He ultimately crossed the line in fifth to cap off his weekend.
Brad Ray’s BSB surge sees him extend his series lead to 52 points over OMG’s Kyle Ryde, with Danny Kent slotting into seventh. Yamaha remains atop of the constructors’ table. Raceways continue to lead the Team standings.
Ash Barnes sits seventh in the Pirelli National Sportbike Championship. Meanwhile, Rossi Banham (R B Racing / Fozie Fabrications) moves up to 17th with a point scored on Sunday.
The series returns in three weeks at the Brands Hatch venue on July 25-27th.
Bradley Ray
Raceways Yamaha – Bennetts British Superbike Championship
“I’m really happy with how this weekend has gone, it’s been another solid weekend. To come here and get two wins and a second is great when we’ve had all conditions thrown at us over the three days. We were quick in all conditions which is important, and I got my first few wet races this year under my belt. We’ve extended the Championship lead and matched Shane’s record, obviously the winning streak came to an end but that isn’t a big issue but I’m happy with the performances in all conditions and looking forward to Brands.”
Ash Barnes
Raceways Yamaha – Pirelli National Sportbike Championship
“A bit of a mixed weekend, but we managed to secure some more points on the Yamaha R7. We started the weekend strong, sitting near the top of our groups and quite consistent overall. I had a good qualifying and made a good start to the race on Saturday. The red flag halted the progress I felt I was making, and then it didn’t fully come together in the restart as our weaker points were exposed. The second race was a shame as I made a good start and got into the podium places. I just lost the rear at turn 2 and that highsided me, so that’s a shame. Race 3 was better, a good start, got my elbows out and took fifth in the end, so some more points added to the total. Now we head onto Brands!”