RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha’s Brad Ray took control of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship after a mega Monday at Oulton Park in Cheshire. The Kent rider backed up his super Sunday win with victory in race two and a battling third in race three around the undulating rollercoaster of a circuit to head the standings by six points. Team-mate, Kyle Ryde continued his growing affinity with the track with a strong fourth place in race two before unfortunately fading to tenth in race three with arm pump issues.
Both riders dominated the front row across Sunday as Kent’s Brad Ray started from pole position in both races courtesy of his lap record pace from Saturday’s race before a masterful display in race two improved his own lap record. After starting on pole for Saturday’s opening race, Ryde accompanied his team-mate from the middle of the front row on both occasions after posting laps just a couple of tenths shy of the sister Yamaha R1.
Race two saw the pair make the perfect launch and lead the way around the opening laps before the safety car was deployed after Luke Mossey crashed heavily at Druids. Ray took charge once again after the restart as Ryde struggled to match his pace from the opening laps, eventually caught and passed by Jackson and Leon Haslam before the chequered flag came out.
It was as you were for the front two for race three as Ray, and Nottinghamshire’s Ryde were joined by FS-3 Racing’s Lee Jackson. Ryde got the holeshot before Ray asserted himself once again to charge of the race. Ryde faded early with arm pump issues as Ray opened up a 2.5-second gap on the chasing pack. As the race approached two-thirds distance Ray’s lap times dropped and the chasing pair of Bridewell and Jackson closed in. Ray eventually lost places to both riders but gamely kept in touch as the laps ticked down. As the chequered flag was thrown it was Jackson who took his maiden BSB victory from Bridewell with Ray a game third.
In another weekend of firsts for the RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha squad, the team brought home a trio of pole positions, a double race win, and the second consecutive new lap record. Brad Ray also took home the Milwaukee Tools Race of the North trophy and Rider of the Round after his impressive display at the demanding Oulton Park.
Pirelli Junior Superstock racer Chloe Jones had a weekend full of progress at Oulton Park as the 18-year-old enjoyed her first two races around the legendary circuit aboard her Yamaha R6. A top twenty finish in race one with a new PB lap was backed up with another PB on the last lap of her final race of the weekend to finish just outside the top twenty.
Brad Ray: “It’s been a fantastic weekend and I have to say a massive thank you to my RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha team for putting a brilliant bike underneath me. The Yamaha R1 worked so well around here and even though it’s a shame we couldn’t quite do the treble, I’m very happy with what we achieved this weekend with the three podiums, the lap record, and a really cool, but very heavy Milwaukee Race of the North trophy! I really can’t wait to go again at Donington Park.”
Kyle Ryde: “We showed some great promise in race one and race two and it was nice to get pole position from qualifying, too. I surprised myself, really, to the point I was a bit disappointed with fourth today but had a word with myself as I’d have happily taken a fourth before the weekend. I’m really happy to have achieved the goals we set and a big congratulations to the team for what we achieved here. My favourite circuit is next and I’m looking forward to riding the RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha R1 there.”
Chloe Jones: “That was a fun weekend! I love Oulton Park and really enjoyed riding my Yamaha R6 there this weekend. It’s a tough class and the pace was high, but we worked so hard as a team to close the gap to those ahead and I couldn’t be happier to post my fastest lap of the weekend on my final lap. A big thank you to the whole RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha team!”
Paul Curran: “It’s been another fantastic weekend for the team, and I couldn’t be prouder. It was a huge shame to lose Davo from Race One, we’ll find out the extent of his injury as the swelling subsides then we’ll release a full update. Brad and Kyle were exceptional all weekend and to come away with five trophies, another lap record, and really visible progress from Chloe, means I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can achieve at Donington Park in three weeks. Thank you to the team for all their hard work and to McAMS Yamaha and Yamaha Racing UK for their help and support.”
