Raceways Yamaha Battle Through Challenges at Donington Park
The eighth round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship was a mixed weekend for Raceways Yamaha and Brad Ray. He battled through struggles to clinch a single podium finish throughout the Donington Park weekend.
The weekend in Leicestershire got off to a slow start for the Yamaha powered team. The 2022 Bennetts BSB champion, Ray, got little track time. He struggled to clinch 13th overall with a fastest lap of 1:28.538.
Regrouped and refocused for Saturday, the team worked hard to give Ray the feeling he was after. Throughout a 20-minute qualifying session, the #28 rider secured a spot on the third row ahead of the weekend’s opening sprint race.
It was a difficult opening race for Ray and the team.
Despite showing strong pace, they ended the 12-lap charge in ninth. They bagged a handful of invaluable points for their 2025 campaign.
The result didn’t fully showcase the true potential, but the speed was undeniable. The championship contender set a blistering fastest lap of 1:27.765. This earned a second-row start for Race 2. It positioned him right in the mix for front-running contention.
Sunday’s opening race, the second of four sprint races during the Donington Park weekend, provided an encouraging step forward for Ray and the team. Holding firm after a strong launch from the line, the R1 rider maintained his position throughout 12 laps of hot pace.
He brought the Raceways Yamaha machine home in fourth.
With an encouraging dose of points attained for the championship bout, the squad headed towards Race 3 with confidence. They were confident in their ability to run with the leaders.
Ray would again take up position in fourth place on the grid ahead of the penultimate sprint of the weekend. With every intent to push forwards, the podium-hopeful did just that.
A strong launch from the line saw Ray gain momentum. He briefly passed Christian Iddon for third later that lap, before dropping back to fourth to settle into a comfortable rhythm chasing podium contention.
A second, successful attempt on third place came at Red Gate on Lap 3. However, an incident on the same lap deployed a safety car. This compressed the field until racing resumed at the start of Lap 6.
Ray’s progression through the field didn’t stop there.
An overtake on victory-hopeful Scott Redding promoted him into second place. He eventually took the flag for a hard-earned podium finish for the Raceways Yamaha outfit. This added 16 points to his championship tally.
The R1 rider also set the fastest lap of the race. This earned him a pole position start for the final sprint of the weekend.
With intentions of replicating his Race 3 form, Ray made a strong start to the weekend’s concluding charge. He held the lead on the opening lap. He initially kept a hard-charging Kyle Ryde at bay.
Engulfed in the leading group, Ray slipped back to third by the end of Lap 3.
Then, another safety car would enter the circuit to narrow the field.
The final race of the Donington Park meeting was a tale of two halves for Ray. He struggled to regain momentum and find his feet as the safety car rolled into the pits to start Lap 8.
Despite showing fight, the #28 rider slipped down the order to take the flag in seventh.
Heading into the next round at Assen in two weeks, Ray sits second in the championship standings, 28 points behind R1 counterpart, Ryde.
Returning to a familiar circuit from his time spent contesting World Superbikes, hopes are high for a successful attack on the championship lead.
Bradley Ray
Raceways Yamaha
Championship: 2nd (326 points)
“It was an up and down weekend for the team and I. It’s been the toughest weekend of the year by far for us. It was just one of those weekends where things didn’t come together. It’s a shame to lose some points to Kyle – but we’re heading into the showdown now and I feel good in myself and in how I’m riding. We’ll come back stronger at Assen”
Steve Rodgers
Team Owner
“It turned out to be a more challenging weekend than we anticipated. We came into Donington expecting to be stronger, but circumstances made it tougher than planned. Credit to Brad and the crew for keeping their heads down and fighting through – the podium was a deserved reward for their hard work. It wasn’t the smoothest round, but we’re leaving with valuable points and the belief that we can come back stronger at Assen.”