Kyle Rydes to British 600cc Superstock glory

The Jacksdale star clinched the title on a dramatic final round at Brands Hatch after overhauling Championship leader James Collier.

It capped a famous first season at this level for Ryde and helped him overcome the major disappointment suffered in the last round at Silverstone when Ryde ran out of petrol on the final corner as the title beckoned.

Ryde, who returned to the UK from the Spanish Moto 3 Championship last year, went out in relaxed fashjon as just four points seperated the top three riders.

As always with the British Championship rounds, the meeting started with free practice and Qualifying one on the Friday.

Kyle was out and lapping in the wet conditions, but was protecting his interests for the qualifying periods and was only 11th in the free practise session. However, with a drying track for the afternoon Q1, he was battling with his nearest two rivals Collier and Reid at the end of Q1 it was Reid, Ryde and Collier for the front row.

The second qualifying session on Saturday was on a damp circuit, so the leading trio didn’t even bother to take part as they couldn’t possibly improve on the times set in the dry conditions on Friday.

With Kyle’s race taking place just after mid-day, the conditions had much improved at the circuit.

As the lights went out to start Kyle’s race it was Andy Reid who led the pack of 40 racers down Paddock Hill bend to start was to be an epic battle to end an epic season of racing.

Kyle was tight up to Reid, with Collier in hot pursuit and not giving up easy on his title hopes just yet.

These three were inseparable for most of the race, with Reid losing grip and almost being high-sided going into Graham Hill Bend on lap four.

Kyle took the lead and for several laps it was Ryde and Collier at the front with Reid having to play catch-up and this he did.

As the race drew closer to a ‘Grand Finale’ Collier made a mistake on the back end of the circuit and this allowed Kyle to claw back the lead with Reid following and placing Collier suddenly back to third place, with only two laps to go.

Kyle fought as hard as he could to defend all the corners, in order not to give the Ulsterman an inch of the circuit to pass him and his machine.

As the duo came around Final corner to enter the Brabham Straight, Kyle still defended his racing line and Reid had no passing opportunities before the very talented youngster was to take the chequered flag and claim his second British Championship title at the tender age of just 17 years of age.