Kyle Ryde arrives at the fourth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill trailing Tommy Bridewell at the top of the standings by just ten points as the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha rider bids to add to his winning tally this weekend.
Ryde has so far celebrated victory three times as the team continue their title defence, claiming a double win last time out after bouncing back from a crash from the lead in race two.
The LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha team completed a successful test at the Scottish circuit ahead of the event, with Ryde hopeful of continuing his podium finishing form at a circuit which traditionally has not been his strongest.
Ryde said: “The Donington Park weekend was absolutely great and the best one so far, probably my most enjoyable since I have been racing in the BSB class. Me and the bike worked great all weekend, it’s my favourite track, it only takes 20 minutes to get back to the pub at the end of the weekend which is a massive bonus!
“To get two wins was a great milestone for me and it put me in a great headspace, especially after the little tip off, which I didn’t really know what I did wrong, but these things happen. The biggest thing was to bounce back; I wasn’t excepting to lead every lap and then win the last race, but that shows where I am at.
“I have a lot of confidence from Donington Park; the Knockhill test was absolutely beaming hot and the track temperature was sky high and it was very hard to set the bike up. The test went as well as it could do, we didn’t crash when quite a few people did. We got a pretty decent base set up for the race on used tyres, it was just lacking a bit on new tyres, but I am sure with the race weekend in the sun and following a couple of experts around Knockhill, normally about three foot taller than me, then we can get somewhere!
“I don’t think it will be as easy as what it was at Donington Park, that isn’t saying that event was easy, but it was solid and I was working really well with the bike and team and everything was great. Knockhill results last year were not the best, but they were not the worst either, so the point system now is great; solid top five results is what I will be aiming for I think this weekend.
“The biggest target I have had for this year is to get a podium at every track, and some tracks haven’t been my best, so if I can pull some podiums out at Knockhill, Oulton Park and maybe Cadwell Park then it shows that we have made a massive step for this year. Not just with the bike and team but with myself as well.
“A nice little podium and some solid results at Knockhill would go down a treat! I just want to keep this championship on track and on target until we get back to some favourite tracks of mine, like Snetterton that suit the Yamaha and Donington Park where we know I can be really fast.”