BSB: Rich Energy OMG Racing to make Yamaha switch for 2022

Rich Energy OMG Racing will make the switch to Yamaha for their 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship campaign.

The team will no longer run the BMW M1000 RR, instead opting to race Yamaha R1 machinery. OMG Racing will also receive full support from the Official Yamaha BSB team, McAMS Yamaha run by Raceways Motorcycles.

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Yamaha will be the third different manufacturer used by the OMG Racing squad since their arrival in the championship in 2018. The team entered the series using Suzuki GSX-R1000s, before switching to the BMW S1000 RR in 2020. It was hoped that the new M1000 RR would help to improve results this year, however consistency has been an issue for all BMW riders on the new machine.

Whilst the bikes will change, the rider line-up will remain the same. Both Bradley Ray and Kyle Ryde have been re-signed for 2022. Heading into the final round at Brands Hatch, Ray sits 10th in the standings having recorded two podiums this season – taking a second at Donington and third at Oulton Park.

Ryde, in his first season as a BMW rider, is currently 15th overall after a difficult, injury-hit, campaign. He did however record his first podium since Silverstone 2020 with second in the treacherous conditions at Donington Park two weeks’ ago.

“The RICH Energy OMG Racing team are delighted at the opportunity to work with Yamaha for 2022,” team principal Paul Curran said. “With the invaluable support of Steve Rodgers and McAMS Yamaha, the agreement for the team to run fully supported Yamaha R1 motorcycles sees a bright future for the whole team.

“After the decision to move to Yamaha was taken, retaining Brad, Kyle, and Billy, was key to our 2022 challenge. We firmly believe that they will benefit from the proven race-winning pedigree of the Yamaha R1. We’re excited to see both the bikes and riders on track at the earliest opportunity.”

Given results in 2021, moving to Yamaha power for 2022 could be a huge step forwards for the OMG Racing team. In the hands of title contenders Tarran Mackenzie and Jason O’Halloran, the R1 has collected 18 victories and 36 podiums this season.

Both OMG Racing riders also have past experience with Yamaha machinery. Ray finished third in the British Supersport Championship onboard a Yamaha R6 in 2016, whilst Ryde ended the previous Supersport campaign as runner-up on his R6.

“We are delighted that Rich Energy OMG Racing will join the Yamaha family for the 2022 season,” Lee Neesham, Country Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe, N.V. Branch UK, added. “The team are proven race winners and podium contenders, so combined with the R1 which has won 18 races in BSB this year in the hands of McAMS Yamaha we are confident in this partnership. Our official team, McAMS Yamaha, will work closely with OMG to ensure that all four R1s on the grid are fighting towards the front.

“Kyle and Bradley are riders with huge potential, and both have enjoyed significant success on Yamaha machinery in Supersport, so we are excited to see what they can achieve with the R1 as we look to defend our manufacturers title in 2022.”

Billy McConnell will remain with the team for 2022 in the National Superstock Championship. Heading into the final race, the Australian sits 22 points behind championship leader Tom Neave. McConnell has recorded eight podiums this year but has been unable to make it onto the top step of the podium.