Scott Redding did everything in his power to narrow the points gap to championship leader Kyle Ryde as the Showdown segment of the British Superbike Championship kicked off at Assen. With 25 points available for a victory, Redding felt his best shot at securing maximum points was to break away early and stay clear of any incidents. He shared his thoughts during the post-race Race Reaction interviews:
“I just wanted to stay out of trouble. We made a setup change on the bike—a bit of a gamble since we hadn’t had time to test it. So, during the opening lap, I was nursing it, trying to see if the bike was stable. Then Danny (Kent) passed me and I thought, ‘I just don’t need any of this!’”
Regarding the bike adjustment, Redding added, “When Kyle found a clean lap, he quickly closed in on me, and I responded. But I really need to see where he stands based on the data we have.”
Redding elaborated on his quick move to the front. After qualifying fifth, just behind Ryde in fourth, and watching Ryan Vickers take the holeshot into turn one, the former champion knew he had to act swiftly. Having raced at Assen extensively throughout his MotoGP and WSBK career, he was very familiar and comfortable with the TT Circuit’s pace:
“I thought I’d try to get past Ryan as quickly as possible. I just settled into my rhythm—I didn’t feel like I was pushing too hard. I said the same thing at Thruxton, and people wondered why I was riding so fast early on. Sometimes I just feel good at the start, but I kept that rhythm going. The lap times slowed down a bit later as the race went on, but the gap grew because the riders behind were battling.”
Redding believed his early fastest laps, combined with the fight behind him, created a lead he only needed to maintain, saying:
“So, there wasn’t much pressure on me to push harder—it was more about avoiding mistakes. I focused on tweaking a few things here and there. It was a strange race for me—a long 17 laps alone, dealing with the crosswinds on the back straight into the right turn, but I’m happy to come away with the win.”
To finish, Redding dedicated his victory to his son, who was celebrating his birthday that day:
“Since it was Hudson’s birthday today, I really wanted to win to wish him a happy birthday. We’ll see what happens tomorrow—happy to have dry weather—and we’ll take it from there for the rest of the weekend.”
Fan Take: Redding’s calculated win at Assen marks a critical comeback in the title race, showcasing his experience and composure under pressure. For racing fans, this victory not only heightens the championship stakes but also underscores the thrilling unpredictability of the British Superbike Showdown.
Source: www.crash.net
