Bradley Ray became the second different race winner of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship season, claiming his first victory in four years in the opening race at Oulton Park.
As the Milwaukee Spring Grand Slam got underway and the riders bid to scoop an extra prize across the Oulton Park and Donington Park rounds, Ray delivered the first blow to his rivals with an impressive performance in the opening race of the weekend.
His Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha teammate got the best launch off the line at the start of the race, hitting the front of the pack from Rory Skinner and Josh Brookes, before the young Scot moved ahead to fire the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki into the lead with a move on the opening lap at Lodge.
Ray had been holding third place, but a decisive move on lap two at Old Hall put him at the front of the pack with Skinner, Ryde and Brookes leading the chasing pack.
Ray was determined to make a break and a run of consistent laps gave him the advantage over his rivals as he bridged a gap, but behind the battle for the podium positions was intensifying.
Skinner was holding off Ryde and Brookes, but Peter Hickman was also in the mix. However as the laps counted down, Tommy Bridewell had also made a bid for the top five and he had carved his way through the pack from 16th on the grid to tag onto the group.
A red flag after David Johnson crashed the Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha though ended the battle early as Skinner and Ryde celebrated adding to their podium tally this season.
Brookes secured his best result of the season so far in fourth place for the MCE Ducati team ahead of Hickman and Bridewell, who salvaged a strong sixth place.
Christian Iddon was the leading Buildbase Suzuki in seventh place, getting the better of Jason O'Halloran on the lone McAMS Yamaha just before the red flag.
Lee Jackson and Danny Buchan completed the top ten ahead of tomorrow’s two races, whilst Glenn Irwin still holds the championship lead for Honda Racing UK despite his 11th place finish.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race 1 result:
- Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha)
- Rory Skinner (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +2.756s
- Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +2.810s
- Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati) +2.999s
- Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) +3.311s
- Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +4.789s
- Christian Iddon (Buildbase Suzuki) +7.343s
- Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +7.761s
- Lee Jackson (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +7.810s
- Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW) +8.192s
For the full race result please click here
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings after Oulton Park, Race 1:
- Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) 80
- Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 62
- Rory Skinner (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) 62
- Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 61
- Andrew Irwin (SYNETIQ BMW) 41
- Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 40
- Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 36
- Lee Jackson (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) 35
For the full standings please click here