Kyle Ryde had honestly kept Danny Kent with Roses ahead during the qualifiers, charging for poles on Friday, but they returned as a duo to battle it out in the final corner of the first British Superbike race weekend at Thruxton.
Nitrogen competition riders were overtaken by a fast start from Bradley Ray and struggled to manage the slow tire pace. Both were swallowed up by the pack as their efforts proved unproductive in the large open race.
“Obviously, I didn’t get the hole shot. Brad was first and could set the pace clearly,” Ryde said. “I stayed behind Brad until several riders passed me; before I knew it, I was sixth or seventh, so we had to increase the speed.”
Kent was confident in his race pace and quickly moved ahead. Their similar performance had them leading as a pair on a closed lap, while the reigning champions were catching up.
“When Danny got to the front, he became my main rival, especially after yesterday. We had the same lap times, ran the same number of laps, and used the same tires simultaneously,” Ryde explained.
Ryde executed his strategy on the #1 bike, breaking away from the large group of 12 leaders into a smaller pack that had a strong chance of reaching the podium.
“When I saw Danny take the lead, I tried to conserve my tires over six laps instead of pushing hard. My goal was to break the group slightly, secure a podium spot, and give him a chance to win on his own,” Ryde shared.
The timing worked perfectly—Kent took the lead for the win as Max Cook tried to intervene, but the effort was too late. Ryde managed to cross the finish line first, sealing a narrow victory.
“I was pushing hard in the last two laps but wasn’t sure who was behind me. Spinning up at Thruxton and reading the pit board was tough,” Ryde said. “However, I defended well at the last chicane, and winning is a huge bonus.”
Though tire wear was a critical factor today due to longer races, the sprint race offers a choice between soft tire compounds that might be used again on Sunday.
“I think it’s a 50/50 tire situation. Some riders choose the tires we used, others prefer softs, and some may find themselves better positioned by aiming for a top qualifying spot in the longer race,” Ryde noted.
“The best approach is staying in a pack and conserving tires. We all know Jason O’Halloran took 17th place to win races, so there’s definitely a strategy there I’m trying to understand. I won today and secured pole position, so no matter what happens tomorrow, this has been my best Thruxton. It’s great to see progress since last year. Winning is a bonus,” Ryde concluded.
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Fan Take: This thrilling duel between Ryde and Kent exemplifies the intense rivalries that make British Superbike racing so exciting. Their tactical approaches and tire management strategies not only highlight the sport’s complexity but also promise an exhilarating season ahead for fans and competitors alike.
