Champion Ryde set for Supersport debut battle

Ryde, 17, raced to glory last year in the British Superstock 600 series, claiming the title in dramatic fashion in the last race of the season at Brands Hatch whilst competing for the PaceDayz CF Motorsport team.

He remains with Craig FItzpatrick’s PaceDayz for 2015, but has now stepped up a class to make his debut in the Motorpoint British Supersport series, along with the likes of Andy Reid and Joe Collier who finished second and third respectively behind Ryde in 2014’s Superstock campaign.

And a series of winter tests in Spain and the UK have left Ryde raring to go in his new adventure.

He said: “Testing was ace. Despite me not riding the bike for four or five months, I was surprised how quickly I got up to speed.

“Valencia was just a shake down but the Pacedayz test at Jerez was probably the best three days of testing I have ever had.

“It was good to ride so much with used tyres which I am sure will help us in the races.

“Donington Park was pretty much a write-off with the weather but I had a little wobble round and I’m ready to go racing.”

Last year’s success was Ryde’s second national title having won the British 125cc championship in 2011 - becoming the youngest ever British champion in that category in the process.

Ryde’s bike will adorn his favoured number 77 for 2015, with the first competitive action in the championship, which runs alongside the British Superbikes series, taking place across the Easter weekend before the series heads to Brands Hatch in Kent later this month.