Kyle Ryde celebrated his first treble victory in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at his home round of Donington Park, taking the lead on the penultimate lap of race four from Rory Skinner to increase his advantage to 28-points ahead of the Showdown kicking of the TT Circuit Assen.
At the start of the race Bradley Ray launched into the lead ahead of Ryde, Rory Skinner and Christian Iddon, but the race started with disaster for Scott Redding, he dropped to fifth and then ran on at the Fogarty Esses to rejoin in seventh place on the Hager PBM Ducati.
Ryde was determined and seized the advantage making a move on Ray at Starkeys on the second lap, and the Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha rider was holding the edge until lap four when he had a huge moment out of the seat on the exit of the Fogarty Esses.
Ryde dropped to third with the moment as Ray recaptured the lead and Skinner took the advantage to move second into the Melbourne Hairpin. The Cheshire Mouldings Ducati rider was then targeting Ray and a lap later, he moved into the front with a move at the Old Hairpin, with Ryde relegating Ray further into third at Starkeys on the same lap.
The group of four then included Leon Haslam as the Moto Rapido Ducati Racing rider closed the leading trio, but the BMW Safety Car was deployed when Richard Kerr had a heavy crash on the start line.
The pack had regrouped and then when the race resumed, Skinner was leading from Ryde, Ray, Haslam, Josh Brookes, Redding and Tommy Bridewell. However, Haslam was instantly on the attack, moving into third place at Redgate to ease Ray back to fourth and a lap later, Redding also moved ahead of the title contender.
Ryde made his strike for the lead on the penultimate lap with his hallmark overtake at Starkeys on Skinner. The defending champion was then able to hold him off to the chequered flag to complete a perfect day for the Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha team.
Skinner was second as he completed a strong weekend to move back into third in the overall standings ahead of the Showdown, whilst Redding was able to steal the final podium position from Haslam on the final lap with a move at the Melbourne Hairpin.
Brookes had a strong result for DAO Racing Honda in fifth place ahead of Max Cook and Ray in seventh, whilst Bridewell, Christian Iddon and Charlie Nesbitt completed the top ten.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, Race 4 result:
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha)
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) +0.444s
- Scott Redding (Hager PBM Ducati) +1.030s
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) +1.293s
- Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) +2.622s
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +3.280s
- Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) 3.948s
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +4.190s
- Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +4.373s
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +4.868s
For the full race result please click here
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) 354
- Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) 326
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) 235
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) 231
- Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) 207
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 200
- Danny Kent (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) 200
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) 172
- Scott Redding (Hager PBM Ducati) 169
- Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) 156
For the full standings please click here