Yamaha Targeting Cadwell Park Glory
The seventh round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship gets underway at Cadwell Park this weekend. For Yamaha Motor UK, expectations are high for a successful weekend of Bank Holiday track action.
Over the years, the Yamaha R1 has produced strong form around the 2.18-mile Lincolnshire venue. It has held the BSB lap record there since 2022 thanks to Brad Ray’s blistering lap time of 1:25.457.
In the same year, Ray rode to a single victory and two separate podium finishes.
This demonstrated the R1’s capability of being competitive at one of the most challenging and technically demanding tracks on the calendar.
In the hands of Kyle Ryde and the formerly named OMG Racing UK squad, the R1 also stormed to an impressive double victory. They achieved a single podium finish at the circuit last year.
This effort added 52 points to the team’s 2024 title-winning campaign.
The upcoming weekend at Cadwell Park is set to play host to another front-running weekend. Both Ray and Ryde are keen to extend their success at the venue. They aim to continue the season’s strong form.
Heading into the weekend, Yamaha’s R1 trio Ray, Ryde, and Danny Kent sit 1-2-3 respectively in the championship standings. All three riders are hopeful to maintain their spots amongst the top three.
After achieving their first-ever double Bennetts BSB victory last time out, Kent and the McAMS Racing squad are approaching the weekend with strength.
This is despite enduring challenges at the circuit in the past.
Having achieved podium finishes in every one of the past five races, momentum is high under the family-run stable. The focus is now set firmly on one of the team’s most challenging race meetings of the year.
Meanwhile, Ray and the newly re-formed Raceways Yamaha outfit are keen to get back to winning ways. Their dominant start to the 2025 campaign saw the team clinch ten wins in the first 12 races this season.
Having gone without a win throughout the last four races, hunger in the camp is high. They are eager to bounce back to the top step and extend their gap at the top of the standings.
Ryde and the newly named Nitrous Competitions Racing team are approaching this weekend with a target on their backs.
The reigning champion’s last effort at Cadwell Park in Race 3 last year saw the #1 R1 rider clock 19 consecutive lap times in the 1:26s window. This showcased sensational pace from start to finish. It allowed him to take an untouchable victory. The performance rounded off the weekend triumphantly.
For Yamaha R1 newbie, Glenn Irwin, Cadwell Park will mark his second on-track appearance with the Nitrous Competitions Racing team.
After a productive meeting at Thruxton last time out, he got acquainted with the R1.
Finding his feet within a new team, the upcoming race meeting provides another opportunity to adapt. He aims to continue on his road back to the front of the order.
A private official Bennetts BSB test is all that stands between Yamaha’s BSB riders and the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend in Lincolnshire. This is set to be held this Friday. It will give riders a head start in set-up before a busy weekend kicks off.
The Bennetts BSB Bank holiday weekend at Cadwell Park kicks off with Free Practice 1 at 13:00 this Saturday.
Sunday will play host to the first Superpole-format qualifying session of the weekend. This will happen before a trio of chances to bag some points throughout the remainder of the meeting.
In the Pirelli National Sportbike Championship, home rider and Yamaha R7 rider, Ash Barnes, is heading into the weekend with high expectations of himself and the Raceways Yamaha team.
Last season, the victory-hopeful qualified in pole position with his fastest lap of the weekend. Unfortunately, a spell of bad luck in Sunday’s race led to a DNF.
A single race this Sunday gives Yamaha’s R7 riders just a single chance to climb up the standings. They aim for a healthy dose of points.
Bradley Ray
Raceways Yamaha
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Cadwell Park this weekend. It’s a circuit that I’ve missed a lot since being away in World Superbikes, there really isn’t another place like it! The track has been kind to me over the years, I’ve found a good feeling there in the past and as we return, I believe that we have everything at our disposal to be able to fight for wins and extend our gap at the top of the standings.”
Kyle Ryde
Nitrous Competitions Racing
“Cadwell is a fun circuit and I’m excited to get back with the aim of getting some results on the board. We’re heading into this weekend with a confident feeling after a positive weekend at Thruxton last time out. We managed to narrow the points down to the top spot in the standings, and we’ll work hard to continue that trend this weekend. I’m looking forward to getting back on the bike and picking up where we left off at the track last season.”
Ash Barnes
Raceways Yamaha
“Cadwell Park is always a personal favourite circuit of mine on the 2025 calendar. It’s a track I’m confident I know we can be competitive at, and I feel like myself and the team have everything we need to be able to fight for our first race victory of the year. It’s a local one for me, which is always nice. I’ve done more laps around there than I can remember, so heading down pit lane for Free Practice 1 this Saturday will feel like putting a pair of old slippers on. Excited to get back to work and get the season back on track after a few challenges at Thruxton last time out.”