Kyle Ryde is ready to take the fight for the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship title to the finish at Brands Hatch as he bids to make it consecutive titles for the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha team this weekend (13/14/15 October).
Ryde arrived at Donington Park last time out with a 60.5-point deficit to Glenn Irwin at the top of the standings, but with a victory and a turbulent weekend for the BeerMonster Ducati teammates, he almost halved the advantage so arrives at Brands Hatch 35 points adrift – the value of a single race win at the season finale.
Ryde has delivered his strongest season to date, and despite a challenging round on the Grand Prix circuit earlier in the season, he is feeling confident to add to his podium tally and maintain if not move up the standings after this weekend’s three races.
Ryde said: “Obviously I am in a position that I didn’t think I would be in to be honest! Going into Donington Park 60.5 points behind, I thought it would have to be an amazing weekend, it turned out to be an average weekend with the overall points being ok, but that was just winning race two. One race I chose the wrong tyres and struggled and the other one I chose the right tyres and didn’t struggle, it just took me way too long to get going and then the last eight laps I was just as fast as anyone in third, fourth, fifth positions but I was miles behind.
“I was a little bit disappointed to not take more points out of the guys because Glenn scored absolutely nothing and Tommy only scored a few points as well. Overall, you have got to be so happy to be only one race behind, as Brands Hatch is 35 points for a win, so I am only one race behind to the championship.
“We have some great data from Brands Hatch earlier in the year, as even though we had a DNF, we had good pace. I am excited to get there, we would all love a dry race, and I think it can be one great weekend. If I can secure myself a top three position, I would be absolutely buzzing. Obviously, I want to win it, but I think some things have got to happen, which I think they quite possibly can do with them two being so close and the shenanigans that happened at Donington Park! I have got to keep my head down, have a good Friday and get to the front and see what we can do.”