‘Comeback Kid’ Scott Redding and defending champion Kyle Ryde delivered monster performances in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch to share the victories, celebrating the first wins of the season for the Hager PBM Ducati and Nitrous Competitions OMG Racing Yamaha teams respectively.
Redding was victorious in the opening race of the day, as the 2019 champion marked his full-time return to Bennetts BSB with Hager PBM Ducati by celebrating the race win after targeting championship leader Bradley Ray, who crashed out of contention.
Ray had taken the lead into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time from Redding, Christian Iddon and Danny Kent, with Kyle Ryde losing ground off the line.
The Raceways Yamaha rider was trying to make a break, but Redding was keeping him in his sights as Kent moved into third on the McAMS Racing Yamaha with a decisive move at Clearways.
Redding charged to the chequered flag to take his first race win since 2019 as Ryde had regrouped and fought to second on the Nitrous Competitions OMG Racing Yamaha. Kent completed the podium to secure his first podium finish of the season for McAMS Racing Yamaha.
Meanwhile Ryde was back to winning ways in Bennetts BSB in race three, taking his first victory of the season.
At the start of the race, championship leader Ray again launched into the lead from Redding, but Ryde was instantly attacking and moved second at Druids on the Nitrous Competitions OMG Racing Yamaha.
Redding then lost ground as first Kent and then Iddon dived ahead at Druids and the run to Graham Hill Bend, but the Hager PBM Ducati rider responded at Hawthorns to regain fourth. Kent then launched ahead of Ryde as the pair began duelling for second place.
Lee Jackson had a heavy tumble at Clearways on lap four which meant the BMW Safety Car was deployed and as the pack lined up behind, Ray was leading from Kent, Ryde and Redding with Iddon and Andrew Irwin up next.
When the race resumed, Kent instantly made a move on Ray into Paddock Hill Bend to lead the race and then the Raceways Yamaha rider lost another position as Ryde made a move for second.
Andrew Irwin then crashed out in spectacular style at Sheene Curve, as Honda Racing UK ended a tough weekend on the Grand Prix circuit.
Kent then held the lead until lap 12 when Ryde went for the lead at Hawthorns, but a lap later the McAMS Racing Yamaha rider regained the position at Paddock Hill Bend, before the lead changed again at Druids. The final move gave Ryde the edge as he took victory from Kent, with Redding able to pass Ray on the penultimate lap to take the final podium position and seal the Monster Energy King of Brands trophy.
Ray missed out on the podium again in race three with a fourth place whilst Iddon completing the top five.
Bradley Ray did however ended his winning drought on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit by claiming the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race victory of the weekend as Scott Redding continued to close and Kyle Ryde returned to the podium.
