BSB Donington Park: Bradley Ray doubles up with Sprint Race victory

Bradley Ray has extended his lead in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship after winning the Sprint Race at Donington Park.

Ray took control of the race at the first corner, and managed to escape from Glenn Irwin after the latter ran straight on whilst attempting an overtake at the Foggy Esses.

That left Ray to his own devices, with the Raceways Racing Yamaha man crossing the line with a 1.110s lead over Kyle Ryde. Ray, who has won three of the opening four races, now leads the championship by 10 points ahead of Irwin.

Irwin completed the podium after getting the better of Rory Skinner at the Esses on the final lap. Skinner finished fourth to secure his best result so far onboard Ducati machinery, and will start the final race from pole position after setting a new lap record (1:26.952).

Leon Haslam completed the top five ahead of fellow racing veteran Josh Brookes, with Andrew Irwin crossing the line in seventh. Honda Racing UK teammate Tommy Bridewell finished eighth as he continues to struggle onboard his Fireblade.

Max Cook and John McPhee completed the top 10, coming home ahead of Danny Kent and Fraser Rogers. Scott Swann, Billy McConnell and Peter Hickman collected the final points available in the race.

Jaime van Sikkelerus crashed at the Old Hairpin on lap two, with Charlie Nesbitt running into the stricken TAS Honda Fireblade and falling as well. Nesbitt was able to walk away from the collision, but appeared to be in some discomfort.

Christian Iddon’s race came to an end on lap three when the AJN Steelstock Kawasaki rider crashed at Redgate. Storm Stacey returned to the pits and retired at the end of the sixth lap, whilst Tom Sykes retired on lap 10.

The third and final race of the weekend at Donington Park is scheduled to begin at 16:20.

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Bradley Ray is the new Bennetts British Superbike Championship leader after winning the opening race of the weekend at Donington Park.

The polesitter took full advantage as Glenn Irwin and Kyle Ryde went in too deep at the Melbourne Loop to take the lead of the race on lap 14. From there, Ray was able to pull away as Irwin and Ryde continued to fight each other and switch positions.

Ray set a new race lap record with a 1:27.338, and moves to the top of the standings with a 6-point advantage over Irwin.

Ryde eventually made a move stick on Irwin, who quickly fell into the clutches of Josh Brookes. The Aussie made his move on Irwin at Melbourne Loop on the penultimate lap to secure his first podium since the penultimate round of the 2023 season at Donington Park. It’s DAO Racing’s maiden BSB podium, and Brookes’ 156^th in his illustrious career.

Irwin limped home in fourth, just under five seconds behind Ray, whilst Rory Skinner completed the top five on the Cheshire Mouldings Ducati. Local hero Leon Haslam was sixth, ahead of Christian Iddon and Andrew Irwin.

John McPhee impressed in ninth spot, with Danny Kent completing the top 10 for McAMS Racing Yamaha. Kent recovered after running off the track at the final corner on lap 10.

Billy McConnell and Scott Swann came home in 11^th and 12^th respectively, with Fraser Rogers, Lee Jackson and Luke Hedger securing the final points available in the race.

Peter Hickman and Storm Stacey crashed on the opening lap at Coppice, whilst Max Cook pulled off the circuit with a bike issue. Charlie Nesbitt went down at the final corner on the second lap of the race.

Tommy Bridewell’s difficult start to the year continued when he suffered a huge crash at Coppice on the fifth lap. The 2023 champion was able to get back up and walk away from his Fireblade. Davey Todd retired on the same lap.

Sunday’s races at Donington Park are due to take place at 13:15 and 16:20.

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Bradley Ray secured his second consecutive Bennetts British Superbike Championship pole position in a sensationally fast qualifying session at Donington Park.

Kyle Ryde became the first-ever rider to record a 1:16 lap-time around Donington Park with a 1:26.935, a time which was eventually beaten by Ray. The Raceways Racing Yamaha man posted a 1:26.907 to keep secure pole position.

Glenn Irwin also broke into the 1:26s with a 1:26.988, meaning that the top three riders were separated by just 0.081s.

Leon Haslam, a race winner at Oulton Park earlier this month, qualified fourth ahead of 2023 champion Tommy Bridewell. The latter had to dig deep to get out of Q1, and managed to get on the second row in the dying seconds of Q2.

Max Cook qualified on the second row for the second consecutive race weekend in sixth position, whilst Andrew Irwin will head row three onboard the Honda Racing UK Fireblade. Rory Skinner and Josh Brookes were eighth and ninth respectively, with Danny Kent completing the top 10.

Charlie Nesbitt will start race one from 11^th on the grid, ending the session ahead of Christian Iddon, Scott Swann and Peter Hickman.

The red flags were released when Lee Jackson went down hard at Coppice with a few minutes remaining. The DAO Racing Honda rider will start race one from 15^th  on the grid as a result.

John McPhee missed out on a spot in Q2 by just 0.085s and will start the opening race of the weekend at Donington Park from 16^th as a result. He’ll be joined on the sixth row by Storm Stacey and Fraser Rogers.

Luke Hedger heads row seven on the Whitecliffe CDH Racing Honda, lining up alongside Davey Todd and Billy McConnell.

Richard Kerr qualified 22^nd on the ROKiT BMW M 1000 RR ahead of Jaime van Sikkelerus, Blaze Baker and the returning Tom Sykes.

The original start to Q1 was brought to a halt due to track contamination. Jamie Davies’ Whitecliffe CDH Racing Honda suffered a suspected oil leak, with smoke pouring from the bike on the run down Craner Curves. As a result, Davies suffered a highside at Starkeys Bridge, but was able to walk away from the scene.

Race one at Donington Park is scheduled to begin at 16:15.