Kyle Ryde arrives at Brands Hatch this weekend ready to fight for the final time in the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship, with just three races standing between him becoming the first rider to successfully defend their title since 2017.
Ryde returns to Kent with a 30-point advantage over home contender Bradley Ray, overhauling his advantage earlier in the season to take the fight down to the wire in the final three races of the season. 105 points remain up for the taking this weekend as the pair lead the tussle for the title with Leon Haslam still in mathematical contention too as the countdown continues to the decider.
Ryde said: “I’m feeling good about this weekend. I have been riding good and I’ve put myself in a good position, so I’m looking forward to it. I won my first British title at Brands Hatch last year, so I’m looking forward to it, it is a special place for me.
“I think it’s going to be a great finale, Brad has obviously had a great Oulton Park Sunday and pulled a few points back, so he’ll be feeling good. I feel good as I rode really well there earlier in the year and with arguably one of the best races ever there last year, so I know I can ride round that track pretty well! It’s going to be a fast weekend for sure, but they’ll be a lot of strategic races from my side and obviously from Brad’s too so we just need to go out and go as fast as I can.
“Brands Hatch last time there was four of us last time, me, Brad, Danny and Scott and then the next person was Christian, he will also want to finish the year strong and he can hang in there easily. Obviously, Leon has pretty much secured third place so that takes a bit of pressure of him, so he’ll be quick, so there will be five or six of us I think. Me and Brad are all on our own, no wingmen like last year and hopefully we’ll get through the weekend and everyone will shake hands after and have a beer and remember how good the season has been for all of us.
Last season Ryde had led the standings into the final round by just four points before the winner takes all final between himself and Tommy Bridewell, in a contest that was labelled as the ‘Race of the Decade’ – and the stage is set for more of the same this weekend.
“It feels completely different compared to last year! My goal was to be British champion again this year and retain my title, but after the first few months it was about trying to put a bit of pressure on Brad so it didn’t look embarrassing,” added Ryde. “I did that and now we are here and so I’m proud of myself for that. Now I just need to finish the job off and regardless of what happens I feel proud of what we have done this year.
“I’m just happy that I’m consistently fast; I made the Showdown in 2022, I was third in 2023 and then won last year. I’m going to Brands Hatch to do the best I can. I am not really thinking about back-to-back titles - it’s not an easy thing to do. We are just going to keep doing what we have been doing and I’m just proud of myself to be here and with the chance of being able to do it again with the team.”