Barry Burrell has done it again and successfully defended his BMW F 900R crown after crossing the line third at Brands Hatch.
The 2025 champion who hadn’t planned to return to the series this year, has become the first person to defend the championship crown with four Main Race wins.
“I’m absolutely buzzing to be here,” he said. “We were never meant to be doing the season, we missed the first round and I put my own money into doing the first few rounds and Halliwell Jones kindly came back to help me out for the rest of the season.
“I can’t thank them all enough – everyone at Halliwell Jones, mam, dad, wife Shelley and daughter Willow. It’ll sink in tonight, I’m just happy and enjoying coming racing with my family and that’s the main thing.”
Burrell, who joined the series for the second round initially as a wildcard, headed into today’s race 22 points clear of Kieran Smith and needed just a top nine finish to secure the title.
At the start, Smith got a clean start and passed polesitter Dale Thomas to lead into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time as Burrell got a clean start from sixth on the grid.
Before the first lap was complete, Bobby Varey had taken the lead and from there he controlled the full race all the way to the flag. Although Smith kept in very close touch, he wasn’t able to find a way past and had to settle for second at the flag.
Burrell brought his Halliwell Jones machine home third with Thomas Strudwick fourth and Davey Todd fifth.
ROKiT OFF BMW F 900 R Cup, Main Race result:
1. Bobby Varey (Bobby Varey Racing)
2. Kieran Smith (GP Titan Tech by Bathams) +0.022s
3. Barry Burrell (Halliwell Jones) +1.397s
4. Thomas Strudwick (GiBi Racing) +1.692s
5. Davey Todd (BMW UK) +6.997s
Final Championship positions:
1. Barry Burrell 291
2. Kieran Smith 272
3. Bobby Varey 270
4. Christian Smith 222
5. Nikki Coates 216.5