Best Thruxton weekend so far as Jacksdale racer Kyle Ryde closes in on leader
Jacksdale racer Kyle Ryde continued to close in on top spot in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship with his best ever weekend at Thruxton in round six last weekend.
Reigning champion Ryde smashed the circuit's lap record for pole position before winning race one, then took second in race two and fourth in race three to close on leader Bradley Ray, who has a 24-point advantage ahead of round seven Cadwell Park over August Bank Holiday weekend in a fortnight.
“Thruxton is always difficult, and with a win and a second and that pole position, that was my best Thruxton yet,” said Ryde.
“I am happy to see progression from last year and the win was a bonus.”
Ryde had smashed the existing lap record by 0.512s to claim his first Omologato Pole Position of the season for Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha, holding a 0.175s advantage over Ray.
Ryde was then victorious in the first dogfight of the weekend, holding off the charging pack of riders waiting to attack in sensational style, firing Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha back to the top for a second consecutive race.
At the start, Ray had one of his characteristic lightning starts but the Raceways Yamaha rider was embroiled in a typical Thruxton battle and he was shuffled down the order and finished the race in eighth place, as Ryde narrowed the advantage in the standings.
Danny Kent then sensationally scored McAMS Racing Yamaha’s first race win of the season in an intense eight-lap sprint to the chequered flag in race two.
The race became an eight lap super sprint when the race was red flagged on lap five for a crash involving both Blaze Baker and Danny Webb.
Ray was holding the lead, but Kent and Ryde made a double attack on the championship leader into Cobb on the penultimate lap and the pair then held off a counter move from Ray.
Ryde was pushing to add to his opening victory, but Kent held on to the lead on the final lap with what he described as the “lap of his life” to take his first win of the season.
Kent then overcame the intense pressure from his rivals to also take the race three victory, his first double in the series, following a final lap sparring match with Ray.
On lap 12 at Club there was pandemonium with Kent making a move on Ryde, who was then on the kerb on the exit.
The moment cost the defending champion time and dropped him to eighth, battling back to fourth in the end.