Ray makes quick impression

Bradley Ray goes into this weekend’s British Superbike Championship opener on a high after setting the fastest time in final testing at Oulton Park. Lydd racer Ray is only taking part in this year’s series after an 11th-hour deal with Raceways Yamaha . The 2022 champion had been due to return to OMG, but his title-winning team pulled out of the championship - leaving Ray in limbo before Raceways stepped in.

Since then, OMG have returned to the track with a new sponsor. After the fifth-fastest time in testing at Donington, Ray got his Yamaha R1 tuned in to the Oulton Park circuit and ended day one’s action under his 2022 lap record at the top of the timesheets. Three more sessions on Thursday gave the confidence needed to break into the 1min32sec barrier and the team ended the test fastest by 0.



330sec. “I am very happy and it has been a good test,” Ray said. “[It] was good to get back to Oulton Park and we made some changes overnight and I felt really strong this morning.

I am super happy and we have also done some runs on some older tyres and have shown good pace so it has been very positive and we are looking forward to round one now.” Team owner Steve Rodgers added: “We've had a good few days testing at Donington and Oulton Park, and it's nice to be back. “Both Brad and the team have been faultless over the last four days and I think the results show that.

It’s been an easy transition back to the BSB-spec R1 for Brad, who started off strong at Donington and ended the test at Outlon fastest. “We're in a good place ahead of round one." Folkestone’s Jack Dixon begins his 2025 campaign this weekend in the British Superstock Championship, also at Oulton Park.

In testing Dixon was 13th in class but he’s confident he has more to give. “It was all about just pacing ourselves and not rushing anything as it is just a test.,” he said.

“I felt by the end of the second day we really made some strong progress and we’ve found a good understanding of everything.”.