With barely any time to collect their thoughts on a frantic, rollercoaster weekend of action at Oulton Park just three days ago, RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha rolls into Donington Park for Round 10 of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship. The historic East Midlands circuit is the home round for the team and one where they are keen to make a big impact with Superbike pair, Bradley Ray and Kyle Ryde and their immaculate Yamaha R1 machines.
Oulton Park held positives for both riders before the return to the scene of Round 3 of the Championship in May around the shorter National layout as Brad Ray took his eighth win of the season and fourteenth podium with third place in race two. Kyle Ryde overcame bad luck to secure valuable points in the title chase and heads into his own home round full of confidence. The Jacksdale rider took his maiden RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha win in the opening race back in May and was backed up by teammate Brad Ray with a hattrick of podium finishes.
With just six races remaining in the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike season, both riders are having the most successful seasons of their superbike careers and are determined to close out the season in the best possible style starting at Donington Park. Both riders have won races on a superbike at the former home of the British MotoGP round and will be looking to nothing less than emulating that success as the curtains start to draw on the 2022 season.
Both Lissy Whitmore and Chloe Jones had exceptional races at Oulton Park as both riders took large steps forward in their respective championships. For Junior Superstock rider Chloe Jones it was a weekend of regained confidence in a series that has proven difficult to master in 2022. Two solid race finishes and a marked improvement across the weekend were a big confidence boost for the 18-year-old from Daventry. In the same way as her teammate, Lissy Whitmore knocked huge chunks of time off her Oulton Park Junior Supersport personal best lap times and battled hard to get the better of the other riders around her, again instilling new-found confidence into the Bourne 17-year-old.
James Hillier will join the team’s regular short circuit riders at Donington Park and at Brands Hatch as the RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha Road Racing and Rallye Raid star joins the National Superstock grid as a taster for 2023 and to gauge the pace of the hotly contested series.
Brad Ray: “We come back to Donington Park feeling like we’re in a good place; we had success here in May and I know both myself and my RICH Energy Yamaha R1 have improved even more since then so we will be fighting for the wins once again. Oulton Park is behind us now and we’ll continue to work in the same way we have all season and that’s session by session and race by race.”
Kyle Ryde: “That third race at Oulton Park has given me a real shot of confidence ahead of my home round at Donington Park. We had a great result last time there with my first win for RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha and I also took my second pole position of the season so I’m looking forward to fighting for the podium places again. I have so many happy memories of Donington Park from across my career and I’m determined to make even more alongside Brad and the team.”
Chloe Jones: “Oulton Park felt like a real turning point for me this season. After some quite poor rounds, I feel we’re finally on an upwards curve. I like Donington Park and can’t wait to carry on that new confidence and determination to even better results.”
Lissy Whitmore: “Having raced around the GP layout at Donington Park already, I can focus on the set-up of my Yamaha R3 rather than the track itself and that’s a big bonus. We have a new direction to go in with the bike and part of that was in evidence at Oulton Park so I cannot wait to roll out for Free Practice 1 on Friday!”
James Hillier: “I’m delighted to be rejoining the team for Donington Park and Brands Hatch aboard the RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha R1 superstock machine. I’m looking forwards to contesting the National Superstock races for the team and it will be a new experience for me having previously only raced the Yamaha R1 in the superbike class. There is no expectation or pressure, just go out and ride hard and have fun.”
