Kyle Ryde begins the final Showdown stage of his Bennetts British Superbike Championship title defence leading the standings from Bradley Ray by 28 points as the title chase returns to the legendary TT Circuit Assen next weekend (19/20/21 September).
Ryde has yet to experience the Dutch circuit on a Superbike; the last time the championship visited the ‘Cathedral of Speed’ in 2019, the 2024 champion was competing in the Quattro Group British GP2 class where he went on to take the title victory.
The Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha rider claimed a career first treble last time out at his home round of Donington Park, but knows that his closest rivals have recent experience of the track, so knows he will need to come out fighting to retain his advantage.
Ryde said: “I am looking forward to going back to Assen, the last time I went there was in 2019 on the GP2 and I did alright so I’m looking forward to going back to a track, I’ve not ridden at in years and it’ll be the first time riding a superbike there for me! Every track we go to at the minute we take a setting and I can get top four with it and then work from that, but this is a whole new challenge.
“Obviously I’m riding good so I’m happy to get there and give it a good shot, you have to guess who’s going to be strong, I’d say Brad and Scott because of the World Superbike experience compared to me and I also think Rory (Skinner) will be good there. They are the three that have been there in the last couple of years and I think Rory has been riding really good and after that last race at Donington I would not be surprised if he’s up there battling for wins.
“It’ll be a good weekend hopefully and we get away with the weather, but we’ll hope to put ourselves in a good place for the start of the Showdown and I’m looking forward to it.
“It looks like events have turned my way; it may look like that, but I’ve just rode really well and my lowest place in the last 12 races has been a fourth place at Thruxton through no fault of my own when I just got punted wide. We have had a podium in every other race, including the first two at Thruxton and Cadwell and all three at Donington, so I’m just keeping my head down and trying my best.”