Bradley Ray began the final British Superbike race at Assen from pole position but quickly found himself battling at the front with main title contender Kyle Ryde. In a post-race interview with British Superbikes, Ray explained how crucial it was to stay close to Ryde throughout the race since his pit board showed zero gap behind, meaning rivals were right on his tail.
“I pushed hard the entire race. After passing Ryan, I positioned myself behind Kyle, knowing that with zero gap behind on my board, Scott or Ryan could try to overtake me at any moment. I aimed to get past Kyle to find a safer spot,” Ray said.
Throughout several attempts on Assen’s longer circuit, Ray tried to overtake the championship leader but was repeatedly thwarted by Ryde’s determined defense. He added, “Every time I tried to make a move, Kyle got the better of me in the next corner. It became a game of cat and mouse. After a few attempts, Kyle started defending my strong points on the track, which made it tougher.”
Ray did eventually find a way through at one point, hoping to pull ahead and set a clear lap, but on the approach to the start/finish line, Scott Redding overtook him into turn one. “That made the final lap challenging. I could see what Scott was planning in several parts of the track,” Ray noted.
Though Ray had his own strategy for the last lap, he wisely decided to hold his position and observe the showdown between Redding and Ryde. This decision enabled Ray to seize second place despite running wider on the run to the finish line. “I was ready to make a move at turn 15, but with Scott lining up Kyle and me, I knew the three of us couldn’t fit through there. So, I stayed back, waited for the action to unfold, stuck to my line, and pushed hard. When Scott wheeled the bike, I found myself at the track’s edge but kept the throttle pinned and was happy with how it turned out,” he shared.
Ray praised Ryde’s competitive spirit, saying, “Kyle responded every time I attacked. It was great racing for the fans and those watching at home.”
Fan Take: This thrilling battle at Assen highlights just how intense and evenly matched the British Superbike Championship has become, promising spectacular races ahead. For the sport, such close contests not only showcase rider skill but also elevate fan excitement, drawing even more attention to superbike racing’s growing prestige.
Source: www.crash.net
