Bradley Ray is ready to take the fight for the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship down to the wire next weekend at Brands Hatch (17/18/19 October), as the 2022 title-winner prepares to fight back to overhaul Kyle Ryde’s 30 point advantage with a maximum of 105 available from the final three races.
Ray had a dominant start to the season for Raceways Yamaha and together they have celebrated 12 race wins and a total of 19 podiums on his return to the series. Ray was victorious at the Kent circuit back in the summer and now is fired up for the final fight next weekend after delivering one of the most sensational race wins of the season last time out at Oulton Park.
Ray said: “I am feeling good going into the final round. Brands Hatch was a good round for me mid-season, so I’m looking forward to getting there. The feelings are a little bit different to 2022, which was my first chance of being British Superbike champion and I went there with quite a big lead, so the feeling is a little bit different.
“The championship for me has been really good, it’s been successful, I’ve had a lot of wins, a lot of podiums, but mid-season I had a few small issues which were out of our control and outside of the team’s control, which hindered me for a few rounds, so a little bit of a shame about that.
“Oulton Park was super good, race one was very tricky as we were the only one on the soft wet tyre, so unfortunately hit reverse in the race and just had to bring it home and score as many points as possible. But Sunday was special. I felt really back to myself and really relaxed on the bike and fast and to come away with a win and a second was what we needed to keep the championship alive.
“Honestly, I feel quite relaxed going into the weekend so we’ll try and give it our all and I’m really excited to head back to Brands Hatch. It’s a track I enjoy, obviously being back down south I get a lot of support from family and friends and it’s such a unique venue so it's even more special. I feel happy going back there and the support is always really nice.
“It’s going to be a tough three races at Brands Hatch and it’s October, but I feel prepared for all conditions, and we’ll try to do our best job. It’s going to be hard, they’ll be a few riders in the mix. Kyle obviously, Tommy will be there, Scott will obviously be fast, Leon will be looking to be strong, Rory, so they’ll be quite a few in the mix. I’m looking forward to a bit of a dogfight there so yeah.
“I’m just approaching the final round like every other weekend, I feel really relaxed and really happy with the team. Honestly, I feel that the pressure is on Kyle to deliver, I have a good thirty point gap to try and close down, but going up to thirty-five points for a win means anything can happen, we’ve seen it in the past.
“For me it’s a case of going out and doing the best job I can, that means for me, winning races and be on the podium, that’s the first goal. I just want to enjoy every lap of the weekend and give it my absolute best and come out the weekend with my head held high. We will try to do the best to lift the trophy, but I’m feeling good and I can’t wait to keep going for these last three races.
“I am just super proud of the team and myself this year; it’ll be unbelievable to win the title for Steve, for Raceways and for all the team, sponsors and family. It would be unbelievable to lift the title for the second time; we will be giving it everything until the last race.”