Vickers celebrates determined double for Honda Racing UK in Thruxton thriller.
Ryan Vickers delivered a sensational double in the British Superbike Championship at Thruxton, claiming his first win of the season in race two, before snatching the race three win with a last corner move on Bradley Ray on the final lap.
Vickers claimed his first victory of the season in race two, with a tenacious performance for Honda Racing UK, holding off Scott Redding, Ray, Kyle Ryde and Leon Haslam in a five-rider battle in the closing stages.
It was a typical Thruxton thriller as Redding launched into the lead on the opening lap ahead of Ray, Haslam, Ryde and Vickers, but Ray had soon grabbed the advantage as the pack crossed the line for the first time.
Ryde then stole the position at the front of the pack ahead of Redding and Ray with Haslam also in the mix and moving third at Club on the second lap.
Ryde was defending hard, but Ray was on the attack and he dived ahead on the McAMS Yamaha by lap six at Segrave. However, the lead would change again when Haslam held the edge on the brakes into Club a lap later.
Ryde recaptured the lead on the next lap as Ray moved into second, but as the leading pack reached Club, it all got busy with Haslam making a move down the inside of Ray with the pair almost making contact. It pushed the both wide and then needing to regroup in the fight for the podium.
Ryde was leading ahead of Redding, Vickers, Haslam, Danny Kent, Rory Skinner and Ray. But the Honda Racing UK rider was on the move and was up to second by lap nine with Ryde in his sights.
Vickers grabbed the lead with a determined move at Club by the end of lap 11 and then was pushing to hold off the chasing pack. Redding dived into second at Cobb to push Ryde into third and then Ray was attacking, grabbing third from the reigning champion with a stunning move around the outside at Club for the final time.
Ryde finished fourth, to finish off the podium for the first time this season on the leading Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing Ducati with Haslam holding fifth place ahead of the Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha charge led by Skinner with Kent equalling his best result of the season in seventh.
At the start of race three, Kent had grabbed the lead from Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha teammate Skinner and Ryde with Ray and Vickers holding top five positions. However, there was drama on the opening lap when Redding and Jason O’Halloran made contact, sending the Hager PBM Racing Team rider crashing out of the action.
Skinner hit the front of the field, but on the third lap, he ran wide into Club and then relinquished his lead, dropping to third as Kent and Vickers seized the opportunity to move ahead.
By lap five, Vickers had grabbed the lead, but Skinner instantly fought back to regain the advantage and then Ryde was also in the mix and moved into second place with a move on the Honda Racing UK contender.
Vickers fought back into second place as Ray was also battling with a determined move to grab third from Ryde at Cobb on lap nine.
Skinner was holding the lead, but behind the order had changed again as Ryde charged into second place with Vickers regaining third place ahead of Ray and Leon Haslam with Kent completing the leading group.
Ryde was piling the pressure on Skinner at the front, pushing for a move and on lap 14, the reigning champion looked down the inside at Club, but he was forced to take evasive action to avoid a collision and it dropped him down to fourth place.
Skinner was then under fire from Ray; the McAMS Yamaha rider stormed into the lead on lap 16 and then a lap later, there was an intense duel between Ryde and Vickers for second place. Vickers edged ahead and then as the pack reached Club on lap 17, Skinner was able to make his move to get back into the lead ahead of Ray, Vickers and Ryde.
Vickers held the lead until the final lap, when Ray made a decisive move down the inside at Campbell, but Vickers still had the win in sight, pulling the race-winning overtake into Club for the final time to take the victory.
Ray held on to second ahead of Ryde with Haslam, Skinner and Kent completing the top six. Charlie Nesbitt had his best result of the season in sixth place ahead of Christian Iddon and Josh Brookes with Eugene McManus back inside the top ten for MasterMac Honda.
British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, Race 2 result:
- Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK)
- Scott Redding (Hager PBM Racing Team) +0.266s
- Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) +0.556s
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) +0.655s
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) +0.922s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) +1.051s
- Danny Kent (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) +1.727s
- Joe Talbot (AJN Steelstock bimota) +3.919s
- Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing UK) +5.861s
- Charlie Nesbitt (TAG Honda) +5.908s
British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, Race 3 result:
- Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK)
- Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) +0.075s
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) +0.399s
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) +0.805s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) +1.222s
- Danny Kent (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) +1.343s
- Charlie Nesbitt (TAG Honda) +14.771s
- Christian Iddon (Sencat Racing Yamaha) +15.355s
- Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) +16.911s
- Eugene McManus (MasterMac Honda) +19.406s
British Superbike Championship standings:
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) 348
- Scott Redding (Hager PBM Racing Team) 301
- Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) 257
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) 223
- Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK) 199
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) 173
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock bimota) 172
- Christian Iddon (Sencat Racing Yamaha) 123
- Glenn Irwin (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) 111
- Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing Ducati) 105
For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Ryan Vickers – Honda Racing UK:
“I didn’t think a double win would be possible after the first few rounds this year. Coming into this weekend, I had high hopes, simply from being here in the past.
“I felt like I had cracked the understanding of riding Thruxton as there is a specific way to ride this track. You can be fast for 19 laps and still not be in the fight for the race win!
“It has been fantastic racing; it is always so good here. You just need to put yourself in the best position; I timed it perfectly and got the slipstream in both races and the Honda Racing UK team have done a fantastic job with the bike.
“It is up there with some of my career highlights today; I am really proud to bring this to Honda today and I can’t thank them enough for all their hard work.”
