Champion Ryde fights off Haslam and Ray to take the treble at Oulton Park.
Reigning champion Kyle Ryde got his title defence in the British Superbike Championship off to the best possible start at the Oulton Park opener by claiming a hat trick of victories after holding off the attack from Leon Haslam in the final race to make it a winning hat trick for Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing.
In the second race of the weekend, the three champions were the trio in the battle for top three honours as Ryde made it a double, in an-all champion’s lock out on the podium with Haslam and McAMS Yamaha’s Bradley Ray.
Max Cook on the debuting AJN Steelstock bimota had the best start off the line to lead on the opening lap from Haslam and Ray with Ryde holding fourth. The defending champion was eyeing his moves, passing Ray on the opening lap and then diving down the inside of Haslam at Island.
A lap later and Ryde had grabbed the lead, whilst Haslam had Ray for company and despite his best efforts; Ray wasn’t able to move ahead as his Moto Rapido Racing rival delivered a determined ride to keep him behind over the closing laps.
Scott Redding was battling with Storm Stacey early in the race and the Hager PBM Racing Team rider had the edge to seal fourth after bridging a gap to the Bathams AJN Racing Ducati rider, after the pair both made a move on Cook.
In the third and final race of the weekend, Ray grabbed the lead at the start of the race with another rapid start off the line on the McAMS Yamaha to put himself ahead of Haslam, Redding and Ryde.
Redding put a determined move on Ryde to move third on the fifth lap as he aimed for his first podium finish of the season. At the front of the pack, Haslam was pushing for the lead, diving down the inside at Shell on lap ten to take the advantage from Ray.
Ryde had a strong lap 11, first passing Redding at Old Hall before then moving ahead of Ray at Brittens to put him within striking distance of Haslam, who held the lead until a lap later, when Ryde seized the advantage.
Two laps later and Haslam was able to make an attack for the lead, firing himself down the inside at Lodge to regain the position for the Moto Rapido Racing team. Ryde kept his cool, and a lap later made the exact same pass on his rival to retake the lead.
Ryde held the advantage to the chequered flag with Haslam holding off Ray again as the champions again completed the podium line-up, with Redding narrowly missing out in fourth place.
Glenn Irwin was tenth on the grid for the third race after a challenging weekend, including a retirement in race two, but the Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing rider delivered a gritty ride to take fifth place, as he moved ahead of Rory Skinner, Cook and Ryan Vickers, who completed the top eight.
British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race 2 result:
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competition Racing)
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) +2.052s
- Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) +2.148s
- Scott Redding (Hager PBM Racing Team) +4.408s
- Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing Ducati) +7.223s
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock bimota) +9.665s
- Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK) +10.027s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) +10.854s
- Joe Talbot (AJN Steelstock bimota) +10.915s
- Lee Jackson (DAO Racing Honda) +16.742s
British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race 3 result:
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competition Racing)
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) +1.162s
- Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) +1.364s
- Scott Redding (Hager PBM Racing Team) +1.457s
- Glenn Irwin (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competition Racing) +6.962s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) +8.158s
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock bimota) +8.288s
- Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK) +15.590s
- Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing Ducati) +16.453s
- Christian Iddon (Sencat Racing Yamaha) +18.599s
British Superbike Championship standings:
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) 54
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) 48
- Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) 42
- Scott Redding (Hager PBM Racing Team) 35
- Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing Ducati) 30
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock bimota) 29
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) 27
- Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK) 25
- Christian Iddon (Sencat Racing Yamaha) 18
- Lee Jackson (DAO Racing Honda) 16
For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Kyle Ryde – Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing:
“It’s obviously been a great weekend and very unexpected – I’ve just done my best. In the last race, I could see within the first few laps that Brad was trying to stay at the front and do a good pace, which made it really hard to pass!
“I managed pass him, but that was definitely the hardest race to win, especially with Leon coming up the inside with about three laps to go.
“I had a little plan to try to pull away, but Leon managed to dig in as he always does and make a pass into the last corner and I thought that was our race done! But, I managed to get back in front and put everything into that next lap to stay in front.
“These weekends don’t come very often so I’m just going to cherish the moment and get ready for Donington Park.”
