Scott Redding approached the second-to-last round of the BSB championship at Donington Park, a return to the Showdown format, trailing by 68 points—a gap that widened after Kyle Ryde dominated early, taking victories in both Saturday’s Race 1 and Sunday’s Sprint race.
Reflecting on his win after a challenging weekend, Redding, riding for Hager PBM, shared with British Superbikes how meaningful the victory was, especially given the team’s struggles with recent adjustments that initially hindered the Ducati’s performance. “Winning is always special; every race is tough, so a win feels great,” he said. “After struggling yesterday and again during warm-up this morning, I was focused during the sprint, determined to make it work despite lacking punch out of the corners. I managed to pass Kyle once but once he found his rhythm, it was tough to make a move without taking a big risk.”
The 2019 BSB champion experienced a turnaround in the final race at Donington. Starting from the front row, Redding faced an impressive start from Max Cook, who had returned to form. “I felt confident with some tweaks to the bike’s power delivery and just focused on my riding,” Redding explained. “Max took the lead at the start, and I used him as a pace setter. Watching lap times, I realized he was riding well, and I decided to stay calm and not push too hard early on. I wasn’t sure if he’d keep up the pace, but he seemed controlled.”
Redding seized the lead as Cook began to slow due to tire wear, and luck was on his side when Ryde, who had an 89-race streak without a DNF, suffered an electrical failure that forced him out after an attempted restart. “When the tire drop started affecting Max, I made my move and kept my rhythm,” said Redding. “I wasn’t immediately aware Kyle was out because the team let me focus on riding. Seeing the black-and-white flag confused me mid-race—I thought it might be a safety car. It’s unfortunate for Kyle, and I don’t wish that on anyone, but I gave my best and won the race regardless. Whether Kyle was still in it or not, that was my plan—to battle if needed. This gives me some hope heading to Brands Hatch after a tough season of bad luck.”
With this result, Redding now heads to the final round at Brands Hatch in two weeks, closing the gap to Ryde to 53 points. Bradley Ray remains in mathematical contention but trails by 104 points.
Fan Take:
This comeback by Scott Redding injects fresh excitement into the BSB title fight, reminding fans that persistence and strategy can turn the tide even late in the season. It sets the stage for a thrilling showdown at Brands Hatch, promising high-stakes racing and intense battles that could redefine the championship’s narrative.
Source: www.crash.net
