Kyle Ryde became the first rider since 2017 to celebrate back-to-back Bennetts British Superbike Championship titles, following a final day decider on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.
The reigning champion ultimately sealed the 2025 title for Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha by 20 points from Bradley Ray following yet another Bennetts BSB title fight which went down to the last race of the year.
Ryde entered Sunday with a 27-point advantage over his Raceways Yamaha rival Ray, but immediately set about re-extending his lead in the penultimate race of the season. Ryde came out on top of an intense battle with Ray as the duo finished second and third in a reversal of Saturday’s result.
This meant that Ryde lined up on the grid for the final race of the season 30 points clear, and leaving Ray needing a top-two result for any chance at all of stealing the #1 plate.
Just before the final encounter, rain began to fall, presenting the title rivals with an added challenge. Ray moved into the lead early on but slipped behind Danny Kent who was on his way to victory for McAMS Racing Yamaha. Ray then lost his all-important place in the top-two to Charlie Nesbitt, but a crash for the latter gave the 2022 champion’s title hopes a lifeline.
With Ray riding to second, Ryde just needed to manage the points gap. Ryde rode calmly to an extraordinary 60th straight finish in Bennetts BSB, crossing the line sixth and in doing so secure a second consecutive crown.
Ryde takes the title following a season of two halves after Ray dominated the early stages of the year and moved 52 points clear at one point. Ryde worked tirelessly to close the margin in the final months of the season however, achieving a hard-earned lead as the season entered its Showdown phase.
Leon Haslam ended the season third, even though his campaign ended in dramatic fashion when he crashed in today’s first race. He was followed in the final standings by Scott Redding who only contested a partial campaign with Hager PBM Ducati, but who won the second to last race of the year before coming home fifth in the finale to come an impressive fourth.
Tommy Bridewell rounded out the championship top-five after riding to third in the last race with Honda Racing UK.
