Vickers conquers Brands BSB
The OMG GRILLA Yamaha team celebrated a brace of double podium finishes today, as Ryan Vickers completed his mission of becoming the King of Brands, taking two more stunning victories at Brands Hatch. Team-mate Kyle Ryde bounced back from his sixth-place finish on Saturday to secure two podium places.
Ryan Vickers put his name in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship history books this weekend, as he stormed his way to three sensational victories on his way to becoming the ‘King of Brands’.
The Saturday Race 1 winner made a strong start to the opening race of the day, launching well from his pole position grid slot. Holding the lead into Turn 1, Vickers immediately got into his groove and looked to extend his advantage as soon as possible in the shorter 12-lap race. However, an incident on the opening lap brought out the Safety Car, meaning his charge had to wait.
Getting back underway, the Thetford rider began to battle with Tommy Bridewell and Christian Iddon, dropping behind the duo before a sensational double pass into Hawthorn’s bend gifted him the lead back. With a clear track ahead, the Yamaha rider continued his charge until a Red Flag, as a result of an accident for Luke Hedger brought the race to a temporary halt. Another strong launch from pole saw Vickers escape once again, not looking back until he crossed the line to take a second win of the weekend.
It was more of the same in Sunday’s final race too. Another holeshot into Paddock Hill bend left the group behind chasing the number 7 rider. Opening his lead lap-by-lap, he crossed the line to take another dominant victory, completing the hat-trick in Kent.
Vickers said: “It’s been a fantastic weekend at Brands Hatch! Started the weekend strong on Friday, winning on Saturday and then winning two races on Sunday. There are not many riders who’ve done the treble here, so it’s nice to be included in that list! Thank you to the team, because they gave me an amazing bike this weekend. I’m going home a very happy guy!”
After a tougher Saturday, Kyle Ryde’s side of the garage worked hard to transform his R1, and despite a damp morning Warm Up, it was clear the changes worked. Starting the shorter race from 10th, Ryde knew he had to get his elbows out, managing to work his way up to sixth by lap five before moving ahead of Andrew Irwin for fifth before the Red Flag. Starting in the middle of the second row for the 5-lap restart, the Yamaha rider muscled his way up to the podium positions on lap one, and held his place till the chequered flag, marking the teams’ first double podium since Navarra in April.
Starting the final 20-lap effort from second, Ryde again made a strong start, putting himself in podium contention from the start. Having to pass (Andrew) Irwin on lap four, he began to set after his team-mate but quickly came under fire from Christian Iddon behind. With the pair trading places, Ryde began his final lap on the back of the Ducati rider, but couldn’t work his way through, securing a second podium finish of the day.
Ryde said: “A great Sunday! After Friday I’d have taken one podium, never mind two. We took a gamble with the setting and it paid off today. I would’ve liked second, but third is not bad at all. We’ve got loads of data for October, and a weapon in our arsenal for the next few rounds. Thanks to the team and all the fans who came to cheer us on this weekend.”
Vickers’ dominant treble sees him leap up to sixth in the standings, 71 points adrift of the head of the table. Kyle Ryde’s haul of 38 points sees him cut the gap to the top to just 32 points.
Words and images courtesy OMG Racing UK