Bradley Ray was back on the top step of the podium for Raceways Yamaha after the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race at Donington Park, following an intense duel that ended with a podium featuring the reigning and two former champions with Kyle Ryde and Josh Brookes completing the top three line-up.
Glenn Irwin then led the race until lap 14 when Ray was back at the front as the trio were side-by-side as they approached Goddards, and the Raceways Yamaha emerged ahead.
The Hager PBM Ducati rider was holding second from Ryde, but on lap 18, the OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha contender was ahead despite an earlier moment where Brookes tagged his rear Pirelli at the Melbourne Loop.
Brookes was pushing to reward DAO Racing Honda a first podium finish and he made his move on Glenn Irwin at the Melbourne Loop, to grab third place and take the team to their first top three finish.
Bradley Ray continued his quest for a second Bennetts British Superbike Championship crown with an impressive performance at Donington Park this weekend as he withstood the pressure from his title rivals to claim a hat trick of victories for Raceways Yamaha.
Ray headed into today’s raceday off the back of victory in yesterday’s opening race and in the second contest of the weekend he added to his winning tally with an impressive performance that kept him ahead of reigning champion Kyle Ryde and Hager PBM Ducati’s Glenn Irwin.
Ray had hit the front of the pack on the opening lap ahead of Ryde and Irwin, with the Hager PBM Ducati rider moving into second on lap two. The Raceways Yamaha rider held the lead until lap four when Irwin moved ahead on the brakes at the Fogarty Esses, but he was instantly on the attack and regained the position at the Melbourne Hairpin just a corner later.
Ray was then defending hard from Irwin, who attempted another move at the Fogarty Esses, but had to stand up the Hager PBM Ducati and run on down the slip road to re-join in fourth place.
Ray then held the advantage over Ryde until the chequered flag, with Rory Skinner holding third place until the final lap when Glenn Irwin made a move to regain the position and make a podium return.
In race three, Ray kept his cool despite the mounting pressure from Glenn Irwin in the closing stages to make it a treble for the Raceways Yamaha team.
Ray had launched into the lead again on the opening lap ahead of Skinner and Glenn Irwin, with Ryde and Leon Haslam completing the top five, but Ryde had a moment on the exit of the Fogarty Esses, which lost him ground and he then dropped behind Haslam and McPhee.
The triple win puts Ray at the top of the standings by 12 points ahead of the next round of the season at Snetterton next month.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) 86
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 74
- Kyle Ryde (OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) 66
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) 65
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) 47
- Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) 44
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 35
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 33
- Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) 24
- Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing BMW) 23
