The final day of the Thruxton conference saw a shift for championship leader Bradley Ray, who managed only eighth place in Saturday’s first race. This result was unusual given Ray’s dominant performance since his return to British Superbike, where he had secured 10 wins. Apart from crashes at Brand Hatch and Race 3, this was the only time Ray had been off the podium, highlighting his impressive start to the 2025 season.
Despite the setback, Ray showed improvement over the weekend, finishing third in Race 2 and climbing to second place in the final feature race. He described the race as solid, especially compared to the previous day’s longer race, and noted that he focused on maintaining proximity to the front to avoid excessive tire wear, which can make overtaking difficult. Ray held strong against his competitors, particularly struggling with tire performance on the demanding Thruxton track, known for rapidly degrading tires.
Ray credited a key setup change during the warm-up for his improved performance on Sunday, explaining that team owner Steve Rodgers, recently out of retirement and unfamiliar with the specific tire needs at Thruxton, initially complicated setup choices. The shift in strategy gave the bike better grip and allowed Ray to push harder, transforming bike performance significantly compared to the previous day.
Overall, Ray was pleased to end Sunday with two podium finishes after a tough start, viewing it as positive momentum heading towards the next race at Cadwell.
Fan Take: This development is important for racing fans because it shows that even a dominant leader like Bradley Ray isn’t invincible and that tire management and team strategy remain crucial in British Superbike racing. It adds an exciting layer of unpredictability to the championship and highlights the technical challenges riders face, making the sport even more compelling to follow.
