Bradley Ray is ready to come out fighting for Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW’s first podium finish next weekend (August 13/14/15) as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship title battle reaches Donington Park.
A pair of fourth places has put Ray within two points of the all-important top eight, with Lee Jackson narrowly ahead of him in the overall standings.
Ray was challenging for a podium again last time out at Thruxton, narrowly missing out with a fourth place, and now the Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW rider is confident of taking another step forward.
“It was so nice to be back up the front and fighting for the podium again at Thruxton,” said Ray. “We made a good start to the second race; I was steady at the start to try and save the tyre and maybe had to work a bit too hard to make inroads on the front group. I thought I would have just enough tyre at the end to try and stick it on the podium but the last few laps ended up being extremely loose! I did everything I could to hold the position, but unfortunately, we ended up fourth in the end.
“It would have been interesting to have started the final race from fifth place in dry conditions as I think that would have given me a bit more opportunity as I could have saved a bit more tyre at the start of the race and hopefully more at the end. But I am just super happy that we were up the front and fighting for the podium. It’s a nice feeling.”
The all-new BMW M 1000 RR has already netted six podium finishes this season in Bennetts BSB and Ray believes it is only a matter of time until he returns to the top three.
“I am feeling really good on the BMW M 1000 RR and the team are working extremely hard every weekend to make the bike a little bit better in a few areas,” added Ray. “I am learning the bike, and learning some new areas and we are definitely making a lot of progress. I think it just needs to come together, put all of the pieces of the puzzle together, and we have had the pace at each track we have been to so far, which is nice.
“There has been some unfortunate bad luck and not starting in the right positon which has made the race harder, so I think it is just a case now of putting it all together. Qualifying well, getting some luck in the races, and it won’t be long until we are back on the box and give the Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW team their first podium of the season very soon.”
Donington Park holds fond memories for Ray; the circuit was the scene of his debut victory in Bennetts BSB, and he is looking forward to a return next weekend.
“Donington Park always brings back some incredible memories for me after the double win back in 2018 and I have always enjoyed the races there,” said Ray. “Unfortunately the last couple of years I have had a few technicals and a bit of bad luck, but went really well in testing there at the start of the year, and I think the improvements we have made since then means we can hit the ground running when we get there.
“Hopefully be up the sharp end again fighting for podiums and the wins as I feel the package is capable and the team are working well, so I am really looking forward to regroup and go again next weekend.
“We are not far away now from the top eight; we are two points from eighth and seven points from seventh in the standings and only 24 points away from fifth in the championship, so we are getting closer and closer and consistency is coming.”