- 7 months ago
Full coverage of race 1 of the 3rd round of the 2025 BSB (British Superbike Championship) from Snetterton on the 21st June 2025.
15:23 - Race Starts (Round 6)
15:23 - Race Starts (Round 6)
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00:00Yeah, it's going to be some atmosphere and some fantastic racing there tonight and that's what
00:04we're expecting here at Snetterton this afternoon as well, fellas. All things point to Brad Ray
00:11from pole position here, extending his winning run, Shane.
00:14Yeah, it's certainly looking good, but you know, you can't take anything for granted,
00:18can you? He needs a good start, he needs to try and break clear of the guys. He's been
00:21particularly strong in sector two of this circuit, so after sort of turn three here at Snetterton,
00:27in the middle part of the track, he's been very, very strong, so if he can get a bit of a gap on
00:30the guys there, maybe try and break him a little bit in the first couple of laps and then sort of
00:33settle into his rhythm, I think he'll be okay, but as I said, there'll be plenty of people that want
00:37to upset that winning streak. Yeah, I think it's super important, if he can get, for Brad, if he
00:42gets out, he's got three, four laps and he can just do his thing, I think he's gone. So I think
00:47they've got to get amongst it, they've almost got to sort of break his rhythm a bit, got to try and
00:52not let him settle in, because if he settles in, he's just got that little bit of people, so
00:57I think that this waist could be one in the first few laps, in that if he gets away, I think he's
01:01gone. Yeah, the one man we thought might be able to go with Brad today would have been Glen
01:06Owen, he won a couple of races here last year, shaky, we've just heard now that he's out of this
01:11one after that big crash this morning, still in hospital. Yeah, I literally just grabbed a quick
01:15word with Stuart Higgs, actually, series director behind me, and I just said, Stuart, you know, any update
01:19on Glen, and he said that they couldn't see anything here at the medical centre, you see the crash on your
01:23screen now, he's coming out of turn nine, Nelson's corner, big high side, actually really lucky,
01:27his brother Andrew was right behind him there, nearly collected him, but Stuart says he's gone
01:31off to Norfolk Norwich Hospital to get an MRI, just to check there's no damage, and hopefully he'll be
01:38back here later on this afternoon. And potentially could race tomorrow. Yeah, very much, I mean,
01:44it'll start from the back of the grid, but that's all right, you know, ultimately it's not going to be the end of
01:48the world, if he loses today's race, if he can get back out tomorrow, then that's going to be
01:52important, he knows he's got a good pace around here, he was quickest when he had gone down, so
01:56hopefully he's going to be bashed around, there's no two ways about it, you know, high side there
02:00without being knocked about, but, you know, hopefully he can rejoin. Worth noting as well as 12 points at
02:05the moment, and with the points deficit so close, you know, it's not, it's not the end of the world,
02:08it's not ideal, but it's not the end of the world either, so yeah, we wish Glen well, and hopefully he'll be back
02:12for tomorrow. Yep, indeed, and lots of races coming up over the next few weeks, as well as the BSB
02:18season gathers pace, but at the moment it's Brad Ray who leads by 12 points at the top of the
02:23championship, but after a fantastic start to the season, he arrives here full of confidence, he's
02:27been talking about that to Steve Day. Brad, four wins out of five to kickstart 2025, that's almost a
02:35perfect start. On paper, that sounds like it's been easy so far, but it certainly hasn't been.
02:39Yeah, like you say, it looks on paper that it's been easy to get the wins, but honestly,
02:48especially Donington, Donington was, I wasn't expecting there to go there and get three wins,
02:55I knew it would be strong, but I knew from testing, Glen was strong, Kyle was strong, so
03:00for me, I was just aiming for podiums, and obviously try and fight for the win as much as possible,
03:07but we made a good direction with the bike, especially after Alton, we actually didn't
03:13change anything on the bike on the weekend at Donington, rode the same bike, and I think
03:18that was important for me to keep building up the mileage, because obviously we haven't
03:22had a lot of testing, haven't had a lot of bike time on the BSB bike.
03:26It's only round three, but are you thinking of the championship? Because you have come into
03:31this from Worlds, and there is a target on your back, and you are no longer an underdog.
03:36Yeah, no, to be honest, still the same mentality. I think if you start thinking about the championship
03:41too early on, then you start putting maybe a little bit too much pressure on yourself,
03:45and I just, especially now after two difficult years in World Championship, I've come back
03:52and I'm enjoying racing more than I ever have. I'm feeling good, feeling fit, feeling happy,
03:58and that to me is the most important. I need to just carry on what I'm doing, try and win
04:04as many races as I can at the start of the year, and try and do the best job possible.
04:08But maybe when we start getting to the last three rounds, when the points get bigger,
04:13then it might be a different sort of mindset and a different look at the championship.
04:20But as of now, we're at Snackton. I need to find a way to win all three races and go,
04:28I'm happy, but without the championship in my mind. Because if you have a DNF, if you think
04:33about the championship too much and you have a DNF, then it throws you off completely and you're
04:37worried about the championship already, when, to be honest, it hasn't even really started yet.
04:43So for me, it's just turn up, do the best job, try and win the races and go home.
04:52Yeah, and of course, that was done before qualifying, which took place here earlier this afternoon.
04:57He's stuck it on pole position. And as we said, James, every reason to think he's going to continue
05:02with that good form. Yeah, and he just looks so good. I mean, no one is slapping that bike down
05:06as quick as him, watching him through the S's. He's just, he might have had two difficult years
05:10in my super bike, but he's learned a lot. And he just looks sublime on his qualifying lap.
05:15Yeah, he's fit and strong and mentally at it as well. Who can go with him today then, Shane?
05:21We know, obviously, defending champion Kyle Ride has got the ability and he's got the same bike
05:25as well. So no reason to think that you can't put a challenge together today.
05:30100%. Kyle Ride is, as you say, defending champion, exactly the same bike as Bradley, different team.
05:37Second to him on the grid, albeit half a second off. Rory Skinner on the Ducati, he's there or thereabouts.
05:43A little bit half-time-wise, but, you know, James hit the nail on the head earlier on.
05:48You know, what they're going to need to do if they want to beat Bradley at the moment
05:50is try to get in front of him early in this race and try to upset his rhythm a little bit.
05:55But, you know, the Ducati traditionally had a little bit of speed on the Yamaha top speed-wise.
05:59So, you know, that could put Rory in a good place down the back straight here at Snetton,
06:03which is really long. But, yeah, those two, I guess, let's not forget Tommy Bridewell's
06:07had a bit of a turnaround in form. Great job in fourth place. So good to see him back at a sharp end.
06:11Absolutely. I'm just going to be really interested to see how this race goes for him.
06:13I mean, not at the start we all expected after, what, a brilliant year last year.
06:18So if he's found a little something, I'd be really, if he can get a good start and get amongst it,
06:22it'd be great to see Tommy back. Next to him, there's Nesbitt as well.
06:26So, you know, Nesbitt, again, you know, he's showed so much promise here and there.
06:29And obviously, Asim squeaked in that top six as well.
06:32So we know he's the only other man to win a race this year.
06:35So, you know, it'd be good to see him in the hunt.
06:37Sounds like the start is going to be crucial.
06:39Very much.
06:40Yeah. Yeah.
06:41So, OK, well, Rory Skinner there from the front row of the grid starts in third place.
06:46There's Charlie Nesbitt on row two as well, who's had a really strong start to the season.
06:51And he's definitely a young rider to keep an eye on.
06:54Yeah, I mean, the Hawke team, actually, they've done a great job with him.
06:57Took him on when he was really, really young.
06:59They developed him, as they did with Brad Ray.
07:01Let's not forget, you know, they took Brad Ray into Superbike a few years ago.
07:04Stephen and Stuart Hickey.
07:06And Kyle Wright.
07:06Yeah, and Kyle Wright.
07:06A great team, you know, really get behind the young riders.
07:10John McPhee's his teammate, obviously.
07:12And, yeah, he'll be hoping to do a good job, young Charlie.
07:14There he is on your screen.
07:15Well, as you can see from Charlie there, it's a little bit of a breeze here on the straight,
07:19but it's very hot and sticky.
07:22It's humid.
07:23Let's get out onto the grid now.
07:24James Whittam is amongst us somewhere for us.
07:26Yeah, cheers.
07:27And I'm going to speak to Charlie in a minute.
07:29And that breeze, Matt, is coming from the fact they've got an air blower.
07:31That's not breeze coming from the weather.
07:34The weather is really still.
07:35The breeze has dropped.
07:37Track temperature is about 44 or 45.
07:39Air temperature is 35.
07:40This is more far eastern kind of weather conditions.
07:44I want to speak to Leon just about that.
07:47Can I just have a word with your man here?
07:48Leon, you've raced everywhere.
07:50Suzuki, our notoriously hideous weather there, human and that.
07:53But this is very hot for the UK, no?
07:56Yeah, it is hot.
07:57I've literally just got back from Japan, so it's actually not too bad for me.
08:00But, yeah, it's definitely thrown some spanners in the work with the bar.
08:03It's the first time we've run the Ducati in the heat.
08:05And, yeah, it's the first weekend that we've not actually had the pace for the frontrunners.
08:09So, something that we need to understand and work with.
08:12And every time we've got on it this weekend, we've threw some settings at it.
08:16So, we'll see what this race brings.
08:18And we'll try and get some information for them tomorrow.
08:20Look at what they have.
08:21Yeah, and if you...
08:22Ash, just have a little bit of a look down here, look.
08:25Airblower, that is simply to keep some heat going through the bike.
08:28Once the engine is stopped, there's a big heat buildup
08:32because the water's not going around the system.
08:34They've got to be really careful with these bikes.
08:36Let's have a look.
08:37So, yeah, I've got four minutes left, so let's just have a quick word.
08:40The boys talked about this fella.
08:41I've been really impressed as well.
08:43This is Charlie Nesbitt.
08:45Mastermarked by Hawk Honda.
08:48Quite impressive this year.
08:49You've had a good start to the season.
08:51Second row, good for you.
08:52Good position, this.
08:53Yeah, no, I'm really happy with this, to be fair.
08:55You know, we had some problems on Friday.
08:58So, yeah, really happy to be on the second row,
09:02being able to end the mixture and fight for the frontboys.
09:06Good luck.
09:06I can tell you're a little bit nervous from being here.
09:09So, listen, Charlie.
09:10Nah, I'm all good.
09:11Good luck, lad.
09:12Yeah, cheers, thank you.
09:12I'm all good.
09:13Good luck.
09:14Cheers.
09:15Right, we've got three minutes left,
09:16so I'm going to go across the front row.
09:17Just a quick mention for Tommy Bridewell.
09:19Tommy, this fourth on the grid for him from where he's been this year
09:22is very impressive.
09:23He's pulled some out of the bag there.
09:25I don't know what he can do from there.
09:26He said he'd make some changes to the bike.
09:28He's constantly struggling to get that thing the way he wants it.
09:31New tyre, I don't think, has helped.
09:33And it just comes through.
09:34All right, third.
09:37Brilliant.
09:37We thought this might happen here.
09:39He's getting used to this bike.
09:40It's a different kind of bike.
09:41Singles added swing arm, blah, blah, blah.
09:43Different way the bike works.
09:45Stress member engine.
09:47This is all right for you, son.
09:48Getting there.
09:49As you said, it's all different.
09:50It's different for me.
09:51It's different for the team.
09:52And we're just working together, and we're getting there.
09:54You know, the boys at Cheshire, Mons, Ducati,
09:55have worked relentlessly all winter to get it right.
09:57And I think now it's started to kind of come to fruition.
10:00You know, we're getting there.
10:01We're kind of getting closer to the top of each session as we go.
10:03And, yeah, I'm happy.
10:05I'm feeling a lot more comfortable than I have been for the last,
10:07I'd say, a couple of years, to be honest.
10:09And I feel like Rory's coming back out again.
10:11Feels like you're back.
10:12Yeah.
10:13Good luck, Rory.
10:14Cheers.
10:14Yeah, Rory Skinner's, we've known, has had the talent for some time.
10:17Been desperately unlucky.
10:18The last couple of years hurt himself when he wanted his fault
10:21and broke his leg and knocked him out.
10:22So, yeah, let's all look.
10:24Kyle is...
10:25Oh, yeah.
10:27There he is.
10:28You all right?
10:30Yeah.
10:30Right, Kyle, right.
10:31Kyle, good.
10:32Looks stolid and steady all weekend, really.
10:35Yeah, great Friday.
10:37Bit disappointed with qualifying.
10:38Felt like I could do a 46.
10:39Don't think I'd have matched Brad's time,
10:41but I think it would have been a bit more respectable.
10:43But, yeah, riding the bike really good.
10:45Done some great changes this weekend,
10:46which made me feel a lot better on the bike.
10:48So, hopefully we can do a solid 16 laps now
10:50and chase him down.
10:52Crack on, lad.
10:53Cheers, mate.
10:54Kyle, yeah, never stops working either.
10:56Kyle's a real set-up man.
10:59Tends to be a rider who likes it just so.
11:01When it is, he's got a lot of talent.
11:04Right.
11:04Man of the weekend so far.
11:07Championship leader.
11:08And he's definitely going to be the man to beat
11:11or catch in this race.
11:12Brad Ray.
11:13If you get a couple of laps on your own son,
11:16you might be disappearing into the middle distance, I think.
11:19Ah, it's fair.
11:20It's always a good plan,
11:21but, you know, BSB's like,
11:23you can't make a plan.
11:25But if we just get off the start
11:27and can lead the first lap,
11:30then try and do my own thing.
11:33But the plans always change
11:34and we're ready for it all.
11:36Quick word on track temperature.
11:3945 degrees.
11:40That's quite hard for you.
11:41Any problems tire-wise?
11:42Shouldn't be,
11:43but we haven't had this temperature all weekend.
11:45So that's going to be another factor in the race.
11:48But just try and do my own race,
11:49set my own rhythm and see where we are.
11:52Good luck.
11:54Brad's another rider.
11:55He's had the last two years in World Superbikes.
11:57He'll have races at places that are really super hot.
11:59But this is really, really warm for the UK.
12:0245 track temperature, massive.
12:03I think it will have a bearing on the way the tyres work.
12:06They get hotter and they'll lose grip.
12:07We've seen that in all the other races.
12:09Got to be a belter.
12:12It sure is.
12:13Can't wait for this one then.
12:14Brad Ray defending that championship lead
12:16from pole position
12:18at a scorching hot Snetterton.
12:20BSB race one.
12:21He's coming up next.
12:22Welcome to Snetterton in Norfolk.
12:34It's round three of Bennett's BSB for 2025.
12:40Can they stop Brad Ray,
12:42who starts from pole position?
12:44Five races down,
12:46four wins for the returning champion of 2022.
12:50We're getting ourselves ready here.
12:54It is a hot one.
12:56James Whittam,
12:57over the years,
12:58when you've returned to the coffee box from the grid,
13:00very, very rare that I see you with a sweaty brow.
13:04Yeah, and the breeze has dropped.
13:06There's nothing to help the riders
13:07other than the fact they're going through the air.
13:08But the air's hot.
13:1035 degrees air temperature,
13:1145 track temperature.
13:13Clearly, the track temperature
13:14will have more effect on the bike.
13:16But certainly, the air temperature,
13:17you sit up at the end of a straight,
13:18what you want,
13:19they've got vented lead.
13:20You want that big whoosh of cold air
13:22just to cool you down.
13:23They're all fit, lads,
13:24but you do need that.
13:25And they're not going to get much of it.
13:27We wish Glenn Irwin all the best, of course.
13:29And hopefully, we can see him back later in the paddock.
13:32But it's Brad Ray that starts on pole,
13:34defending a 12-point lead in the championship
13:36ahead of the reigning champion, Kyle Ryde.
13:38Rory Skinner could do some damage this weekend.
13:39He starts from third,
13:40ahead of Tommy Bridewell.
13:42Nesbitt is fifth.
13:43Leon Haslam, sixth overall.
13:45Remember, Haslam, fourth in the championship,
13:47not far behind.
13:48And as the rest of the riders all line up there on the grid.
13:52James, it has been a dominant start for Brad Ray.
13:55Four wins out of five.
13:56On paper, looks spectacular.
13:57But the way the points work in BSB,
13:5918 for a win, 16 for second, 14 for third,
14:03it could unravel quickly.
14:04Is it's only 12 points?
14:06Yep.
14:06You need to keep finishing.
14:07But the way that Brad looks at the Mini is faster than anybody else.
14:11But actually, he looks safer as well.
14:12If he can get a little bit of track space on his own,
14:16maybe get a couple of laps.
14:17I think just set his own pace.
14:19I think that pace is going to be difficult for anybody to keep up with him.
14:21I walked past the brand-new Ixon fan zone earlier on,
14:24and I heard Dave Neal having a chat with Kyle Ryder.
14:27Kyle said exactly that, James.
14:28He expects Brad to try and bolt and put in blistering laps early on,
14:32and he's got to try and hang on in there.
14:34Yeah, exactly what he's got to do.
14:35Or get in front of him early on, put him out of his rhythm.
14:38It's going to be difficult, though, isn't it?
14:40When you're half a second quicker than anybody in track time we've had so far,
14:45that's a big gap to bridge.
14:48Al Gardner keeps an eye on his rider, of course, Kyle Ryder.
14:52The Raceway's Yamaha team are hoping for another belting result from Brad Ray.
14:56And upstairs, series director Stuart Higgs looks ready to press the button
15:00to get us going here.
15:02It's going to be eyes on the lights.
15:03It's going to be a 16-lap race to kick things off here
15:07in a baking, hot, Snetterton circuit.
15:11We're just waiting for the final rider to make it to the grid.
15:14That's Charlie Nesbitt.
15:15The green flag will wave at the back,
15:17and then we keep our eyes on the lights in the top left corner.
15:2116 laps coming up here.
15:23Brad Ray starting off pole.
15:26We're underway.
15:28Good start from Brad Ray from pole position.
15:30Not so for Kyle Ryder.
15:32Rory Skinner also got a bit bogged down.
15:34The Kawasaki's made a decent start.
15:36Number 28, though, it is Brad Ray.
15:37That gets through and takes the lead.
15:39Yeah, perfect launch for Brad.
15:41Just no looking back.
15:41No wheelie off the line perfectly.
15:44But Kyle salvaged that.
15:45Looked like he was going to get bogged down a little bit.
15:47And hasn't?
15:48It's all right.
15:48Nice move there from Tommy Bridewell on Rory Skinner.
15:50He goes up into third over at the hairpin at Wilson.
15:54Yeah.
15:55Oh, repaid the favour, though, immediately.
15:56Exactly that.
15:57Yeah, yeah.
15:58So, that one off 16.
16:00The Kawasaki's, by the way, don't look out for green machines.
16:03They're in a one-off design here this weekend.
16:06They're in yellow and black.
16:07There is Christian Hiddin, in fact, number 21.
16:09Just in.
16:10This spot's going a bit wide, actually.
16:11Going really, really wide, yeah.
16:13This is a doff of the cap to a 1970s and 80s Kawasaki colour scheme.
16:22It's nice.
16:22I like it, yeah.
16:23The candy yellow, Kawasaki Z1.
16:25Correct.
16:25Right is the lead, hitting his markers early on.
16:31He will want to try and ballpark.
16:33As he said on the grid to you, these are conditions they've not faced so far this weekend.
16:37It's slightly hotter.
16:38That breeze has dropped.
16:39Yeah, he's done a 20-lap run, and he said at the end, the tyre was still able to do some really decent times.
16:45So, I think they have a plan.
16:48You've got to be really careful with tyre pressures.
16:50With the track temperature like this, the heat gets into the tyres.
16:55The air inside the tyre, that's air, it's not nitrogen or any fancy gas.
16:59Expands because it gets hotter, and that pushes the temperature up, and sometimes above what is required for this grid.
17:05Decent crowd in here on Saturday as we go into Murray's.
17:08Car ride's done well here in the opening lap just to stick with Brad Ray.
17:10He's not letting him out of his sight.
17:12Out of Murray's corner, onto the start-finish straight we go.
17:15Number 28, Ray, leads from the reigning champion car ride, and it's Skinner, Bridewell, Haslam fifth, Nesbit sixth.
17:21Storm Stacey, good start for him.
17:24He's just tussling it out there with Christian Iden.
17:30Yeah, good start.
17:31I hope he's got something done with the bike, or at least got a decent tyre on it,
17:36because we saw him in qualifying.
17:38The bike looked really difficult to ride.
17:41Tommy Bridewell there, you just saw from that shot going up the inside of Rory Skinner into Wilson again,
17:45but this time making it stick on the Honda.
17:47Let's have another look at it.
17:50Yeah, it's a little bit of a late move.
17:54Rory had to sit up slightly, but not too bad at all.
17:58Well, they're still tussling.
17:59Oh, yeah, and they're losing ground here on the two out front as well.
18:02Yeah, yeah.
18:03Tommy wrestles his way back into third, and I have to say,
18:06if he ends up finishing third in this race, it'll be such a job.
18:09That will be a victory for where the team and Tommy have been so far this season.
18:13They'll miss that one a little bit, but, you know, they are holding themselves up a little bit,
18:18Rory Skinner and Tommy Bridewell, but from where Tommy's been, he needs to do this.
18:22He needs to get racing past some people.
18:24Just feel competitive.
18:25Yeah, and that's what gets him going.
18:27That's his drive.
18:28That is his whole thing.
18:30Going under the bridge into Brundle and Nelson.
18:33Brad Ray leading from Kyle Wright, who's looking strong in second.
18:38There is the Cheshire Mouldings Ducati.
18:39I've always get it in fourth.
18:41Another Ducati behind him in Haslam.
18:44Rest of the pack going through.
18:46Danny Kent's set-up woes seem to be continuing here.
18:49He's in tenth.
18:51He's got Max Cook out of him, Lee Jackson behind him.
18:53Yeah, Danny's another rider that seems to have suffered from the change of tyre.
18:58It typically gives a little bit more grip than the tyre they have to run.
19:02But in mind, the rear tyre, they've got a choice of two fronts, but they only have a choice of one.
19:06They've no choice.
19:07They have to run a single rear.
19:09Everybody has to run.
19:09It suits some bikes better than others, but more importantly, it suits some riders' style differently.
19:14And I think Danny's just suffered from that a little bit.
19:16We have a brand-new best race lap record that's just been set.
19:21It was held by Taron McKenzie at 47.079 back in 22 as Davey Todd pulls into pit lane at the end of lap two.
19:29Well, he's not pit lane.
19:30He's on the start-finish straight, so he's pulling it off at the end.
19:33So that is completely unplanned.
19:35Yeah, that's a mechanical for him.
19:36But a 1.46.8 is a new race lap record.
19:41Yeah, first race lap record under the 47s.
19:44But he is only half a second up on Kyle Ride.
19:49Let's see what Tommy Bridewell can do now.
19:51He's had a lap or so of clean air.
19:54Yeah, we're looking at Kyle Ride there.
19:56Kyle will be hoping at least that trying to stay with Brad will drag him away from everybody else.
20:02It doesn't look like he has the pace to stay with Brad.
20:05He's a real thinking rider, is Kyle.
20:08He'll understand all this.
20:09He looks at the bigger picture.
20:10He looks at the championship.
20:11Oh, Stacey.
20:15And that...
20:16I said early on that I hope he's got something sorted with that bike.
20:21And I think a little bit of that is coming from the fact he's trying so very hard.
20:25But actually, the bike's not working with him.
20:27There he is on the Batham's AGN BMW up ahead of the two AGN steel stock Kawasaki's of Iden and Cook.
20:35This would be a good result for Stacey.
20:37He outlined at the start of the weekend he needs regular top tens.
20:40Just up ahead of him, Charlie Nesbitt holding his own nicely.
20:43It's hard to go around the outside at Corham Curve.
20:46It is, without it being a complete block pass, it does happen.
20:51Over the line again.
20:52Let's check the laps.
20:53At 46.5 now for Bradley Ray.
20:55This is exactly what Kyle Ray feared.
20:58It's now 1.2 seconds, the gap at the top.
21:01Ray leads from Ray.
21:02What a lap.
21:03Eight tenths of a second.
21:04It pulled out on your second place, man, in one lap.
21:07That's massive.
21:08That's huge.
21:09This is Haslam number 91.
21:11Currently fifth.
21:11Charlie Nesbitt up behind him on the Honda, doing a great job.
21:14Storm Stacey joining them as well.
21:17Really impressed, actually.
21:18When you think Storm Stacey nearly didn't make it through Q1,
21:21it would have been a very different weekend if he hadn't managed to do that.
21:24Yeah.
21:24And he's fought his way through here on a bike that is not looking settled at all.
21:29Listen, a little bit of that might be the fact that we're riding it.
21:32You can soon make a bike look unstable.
21:33That's perfectly good handling, but I think there's a bit of both.
21:38Oh, a big crash in the background there.
21:40Yeah.
21:40That is Lee Jackson, and he's involved with Andy Irwin.
21:43Andy Irwin's claiming responsibility for that one.
21:46Seems to be apologising.
21:47Yeah, he's putting his arms up.
21:49The good thing is they're both on their feet, and they're both OK,
21:52but the shake of the head there from Lee,
21:53it doesn't take a body language expert to understand that this.
21:56I think Andy's gone underneath it.
21:58Yeah, he's nearly on in the corner,
22:00and that's down into Agostini's back of the pits here.
22:05That's a shame.
22:05They're 11th and 12th in the race,
22:07and here we're trying to make progress after poor qualifying show.
22:10This is the battle for sixth place.
22:17The mastermind Honda of Nesbitt up ahead of Stacey, number 79.
22:21Who, uh, I'm led to bow.
22:26Oh, that was a move from Iden.
22:28That was a move.
22:29Iden really keen to get past.
22:31Must think he has extra pace,
22:34and that Storm was holding him up to make that move in at Coram's.
22:38Nice move, then, from Iden.
22:39He moves up into seventh spot.
22:42Over the line for Brad Ray.
22:43Yeah, Christian isn't trying the old trick of saying,
22:47stay behind me, you're holding me up.
22:48I will help you to go quicker.
22:49Never works.
22:51But I think that would mean that the Kawasaki doesn't just have the top speed
22:55that the BMW of Stacey has.
22:58Stacey, of course, was on a Kawasaki last year.
23:01Wanted the BMW for that very reason.
23:03Yeah, I mean, he's been with Brick Gladwin's team for the last three or four years.
23:07They've stuck with him, and no matter what he says,
23:09he, well, he does say that they helped him.
23:11He wouldn't have been in this championship
23:13and had this opportunity on the BMW in Brent
23:15and stayed with him for as long as he did.
23:17On that last lap, Ray did a 46.9.
23:20No one else was in the 46s.
23:22His lead is almost two seconds now.
23:24Interestingly, Tommy Bridewell is reeling in Kyle Ryde.
23:28Do you know, I thought this might happen.
23:30Kyle really quite...
23:32Black and orange flag for Luke Hedger.
23:34Yeah.
23:35His bike was smoking, and he sinned that and pulled off immediately,
23:38which is the correct thing to do.
23:39You've been seen by the marshals.
23:40Sometimes you don't know something's going wrong with your bike,
23:43and not only might it have a kind of implication for your health,
23:48but it might have an implication for everybody else who's on track as well,
23:51if you're dumping it on, obviously.
23:52So you get off the track as soon as possible.
23:54Look at this man.
23:55Just unreal.
23:56Look at the lean angle.
23:57Look at the kind of ease and the comfort he's doing it with.
23:59Just lovely.
24:01Yeah, here is the battle for second place,
24:03and then it is a battle now.
24:04Tommy Bridewell, where has he wrestled this from?
24:06He's a mystery, isn't he?
24:07He really is.
24:07Yeah, I just...
24:09I mean, they've hit on something, obviously, with the bike set up,
24:12but I think a little bit of that will come from him as well once he sees...
24:17Because he had his head right down at the beginning of this weekend,
24:20and look at him now.
24:21He did say they wanted to make some changes.
24:23They made some changes internally.
24:24He wanted to make some changes as well.
24:26And he did say that if this weekend doesn't go to plan,
24:28they really are back to the drawing board.
24:30Yeah.
24:30But this would be such a boost for him, for Honda.
24:34And you know when you're that back to the drawing board with set up
24:37and bike sort of weight distribution and all the rest of it,
24:42you're clutching at straws.
24:43And it's so difficult because every single setting you change on these bikes,
24:47you change the head angle, the yoke offset,
24:49the swing arm pivot position, it alters every single thing else.
24:52You can't do it one at a time.
24:54It all has an effect.
24:55And more importantly, you don't want to be going back to the drawing board
24:58at round four of the championship.
25:00The idea is by round four, you've got a base setting from your testing,
25:03pre-season from the races you've done that so far this season,
25:06and you go to the, you set your bike up to suit that particular circuit
25:12with a click here, click there, maybe a different spring.
25:22The year before that, Tommy Bribeswell, these two, of course,
25:25had that memorable, spectacular battle for the championship
25:29at Brands Hatch last October.
25:33Yep.
25:34It was one of the best finishes to a championship ever, I think.
25:37Look how much the lap times of truck chains.
25:39Out front, Rad Ray's still lapping very well, a 47 flat,
25:43a 48.5 for Kyle Rye.
25:45Yeah.
25:45It's one and a half seconds.
25:47Yeah, and I think that might be due to the fact
25:51that he's lost a little bit of feeling from the front
25:53as the front tyre warms up.
25:55Like I said, the air inside that tyre expands,
25:59and then you get an increase in tempest.
26:01You've got to be really careful.
26:03And Kyle is, what's the word, sensitive to this,
26:06I know he's had issues when he's gone really fast
26:09at the beginning of the race,
26:10and the problem has been the bike's used a tank for the fuel,
26:13and although the tank is centrally battered,
26:16what you think's the tank is a cover.
26:18The tank is a little bit in front of the rider's crotch
26:20and underneath his backside,
26:22so when it uses the fuel,
26:23it doesn't make a big difference to the front,
26:25but it actually does alter the weight of the overall bike quite a lot,
26:27by about 18 kilos as the race unwinds.
26:30Just saw the leg dangling from Brad Ray,
26:33smoke pouring up his boot.
26:34Yeah, but even he's feeling the effects of this warm track temperature,
26:38I think, because he was sliding there.
26:39Here we go.
26:40Look at that, no weight on the back, hard on the front brakes.
26:42Rear brake will be used at this point
26:44as they lean the bike in.
26:46Look at smoke.
26:47Like, until mud.
26:49You'll have to be careful here.
26:50They'll be getting a bit hot after 16 laps.
26:52Not half.
26:53Yeah.
26:53We're on lap 7 of 16.
26:56This is a proper battle going on for 5th place now.
26:59Yeah.
26:59Leon Haslam at the front of it on the Moto Rapido Ducati.
27:02Then Nesbit there, Iden, Stacey, Cook and Kent.
27:08This is 5th all the way back to 10.
27:16Just imagine that even after 7 laps of this race,
27:19the likes of Skinner and Haslam will feel
27:21that they want to make a couple of setting changes
27:23for tomorrow.
27:24Last that round, Kyle Ride, your man in second,
27:26was back in, albeit just, into the 47s.
27:30So he's rallied somewhat.
27:32And then there's just about 10 riders
27:35all lapping exactly the same,
27:36all in the mid-148s.
27:39Yeah, sometimes it's like that when you realise
27:41you're not going to be able to get away.
27:43You don't really want to push that hard
27:45to get to the front.
27:46You're quite happy, especially in conditions like this
27:48that might have a big effect on the tyres as well.
27:50And you physically,
27:51you might just be happy-ish to sit in the group
27:55and try and do something with the last couple of three laps.
27:58James, you've ridden all over the world
27:59in conditions that are hotter than theirs,
28:02more humid than this,
28:03but it is up there, isn't it?
28:04Completely, yeah, absolutely.
28:06Yeah, I would say that.
28:06I mean, I'm old now and I'm feeling it out there
28:08without any leathers on and without a helmet on
28:11and without a bike that's creating so much heat
28:14within the engine and brakes and everything else
28:16that this is what people don't understand.
28:18I think, oh, you've got leathers,
28:19aren't you sat in the breeze?
28:20No.
28:21Behind that bubble that you've chucked in
28:23all the time down any straight bits,
28:25there's just heat coming off of that
28:27because the engine produces so much heat
28:29and it has to go somewhere.
28:30Yeah, it certainly does.
28:31As you just saw there,
28:32Christian was thinking about a move on Nesbitt,
28:35but Nesbitt himself was also eyeing up a move on Haslam.
28:38One of the things,
28:39an engine to produce another 10% power
28:42when you tune your engine,
28:44it produces nearly double the amount of heat.
28:46It's exponential the amount of heat that's produced.
28:48That's why they have to have horrendously big radiators,
28:51very expensive to put on,
28:52but they need them.
28:53Not so much in a normal summer's day in the UK,
28:56not that bad,
28:57but a place like Japan
28:58and certainly a day like today in the UK,
29:00they're going to be...
29:01He is an issue from the engine.
29:04An issue at the moment for Bradley Ray out front.
29:06He is 4.2 seconds ahead.
29:09He has been a cut above the rest so far.
29:12Yeah.
29:13Yeah, you know,
29:14when you come back from a world championship,
29:16yeah, that storm again, I think.
29:19Yeah, doing a bit of grass cutting.
29:23There's a couple of things going for you.
29:25You've been racing with some fast men.
29:26You're sharp,
29:27even if you've been finishing 10th, 11th, 12th
29:29in a world championship,
29:30and that's still quicker
29:31than most of the guys in any domestic championship.
29:34We've got a really good one here.
29:36One of the things is,
29:38are you going to get yourself on a bike
29:39that works around
29:40these typically British quirky circuits?
29:43That's one thing.
29:44Second thing is,
29:45are you going to want to race around places
29:47that are very different
29:48to the ones you've been used to?
29:50They're designed on a drawing board
29:51or a CAD system,
29:52flat,
29:53good camber,
29:55flat surroundings for the most part,
29:57constant radius corners,
29:58and it would appear that
29:59Brad Ray's not having a problem with it.
30:01At the moment,
30:02particularly sector two for Bradley Ray,
30:04he's just eating into everybody else.
30:07He's extended his lead once more,
30:09almost five seconds.
30:09The gap between Ride and Bridewell in second
30:11is half a second between Ride and Tom.
30:14Yeah,
30:14and Brad's a really intelligent lad.
30:16He's been racing pretty much all his life
30:18since he's been about three or four years old
30:21on minibikes
30:21and right through just about every class.
30:23So he'll know what the crack is.
30:25He won't want to overeat his bike.
30:27He won't want to destroy anything about his bike.
30:30He's got to race again this weekend.
30:31Give the team an easy time.
30:32Give himself physically an easier time.
30:34He could probably afford to sit up down the...
30:36Ooh, hands in.
30:37He could afford to sit up down the streets,
30:39get a little bit of that kind of whatever cool breezer is
30:42onto his chest there.
30:45This, what you're looking at at the moment,
30:47is the battle for fifths.
30:48Leon Haslam has just given himself
30:50a bit of breathing space there,
30:51number 91.
30:52Just behind him, 86.
30:54Nesbitt has got a train of riders behind him.
30:57Yeah, a lot of time for number 91 there,
30:59Leon Haslam,
31:00because he's one of the older statesmen now.
31:04But he's kept himself fit
31:05and he doesn't suffer with the heat.
31:08Yeah, that's him on the green.
31:09He says, yeah, it's all right.
31:10Just back from Japan.
31:11And it's a lot hotter there.
31:13So, good on him.
31:14Yeah, absolutely.
31:16It's going to be...
31:17Probably, Suzuka,
31:17eight hours,
31:18probably the Japanese climate
31:19was probably the worst.
31:20Not so much the heat,
31:21no hotter than this
31:22in terms of temperature,
31:24but humidity,
31:25that just killed you.
31:26It was stifling.
31:27Yeah, absolutely.
31:28Of course,
31:28he'll be getting himself ready
31:30for another play out at Suzuka
31:32where he's been successful before.
31:34Yeah, bonus time.
31:35Third Leon.
31:36Oh, he can't be true.
31:37Christian isn't.
31:38I'll tell you what,
31:38that is...
31:39He's been quite...
31:42What's the word?
31:43Savage.
31:44For Christian, yeah.
31:45Yeah, for Christian,
31:46the nicest man on the grid.
31:49But he obviously feels like
31:50he's got the speed now
31:51to try and challenge Leon.
31:52How's that?
31:52That's exactly what it is.
31:53You wouldn't try that move
31:54around there
31:55if you didn't think
31:57you could do something
31:57once you got the position.
31:59Christian isn't.
32:00A race winner here,
32:01Rory Skinner.
32:02Rory Skinner is out.
32:03Oh, it's a mechanical for him.
32:04He's fourth at the moment.
32:06Well, he was.
32:07He pulls over to the side
32:08on the Cheshire Mouldings Ducati.
32:09What a shame for him.
32:10It's looking like
32:11a solid top five.
32:12So this battle you're watching now
32:14becomes the fight
32:14for fourth.
32:20Danny Kent
32:20on the McCams Yamaha
32:21just at the tail end of that
32:23in the distance,
32:23in the background,
32:24you can just about see
32:25Josh Brooks
32:26a frustrated
32:27Rory Skinner
32:28walks away from his back.
32:29You wouldn't do.
32:30Yeah, you wouldn't be frustrated.
32:31Just finally getting
32:32to grips with that bike.
32:33I think the team,
32:34especially Stuart Shenton,
32:36worked on
32:36lots of different bikes.
32:38Two strokes,
32:38four strokes,
32:39really well respected
32:40by me
32:41but in the paddock generally.
32:43Lovely look as well.
32:44As he's Rory
32:45and I think they were
32:46just getting to grips
32:47with the other team.
32:50Out front,
32:51Ray is just
32:52managing
32:54the gap
32:55ahead of Kyle Ride.
32:56I just wonder
32:57if Tommy Bridewell
32:58was that another
32:59chunk of grass?
33:00I'm just going to say
33:00he likes that
33:01wide line on the grass
33:02doesn't he?
33:02Tom says.
33:03Yeah,
33:03they don't need
33:04the lawnmowers
33:06out there
33:06at this moment in time.
33:09Just going back
33:10to Tommy Bridewell,
33:11I just wonder
33:11at what point
33:12Tommy says,
33:13do you know what?
33:14Third here
33:15would be a fine result.
33:17I might give up
33:18the ghost
33:18in trying to do
33:19push beyond
33:20my limit
33:21to try and fight
33:22Ride for second.
33:23Yeah,
33:23we don't know
33:24how hard he's riding
33:25how likely he is
33:26to slip off.
33:26He'll know what
33:27conditions are like.
33:27He'll probably be feeling
33:28a lack of grip.
33:30Certainly the tyres
33:30won't be enjoying
33:32the track temperature
33:33such that it is
33:34this far into the race.
33:36So yeah,
33:36I would have said
33:37Tommy,
33:38is it for all you
33:39don't think
33:40he thinks about
33:41things a lot,
33:42Tommy's a cleverer.
33:42So this group of riders
33:45all fighting
33:46for fourth place.
33:48That's fourth down
33:49tonight.
33:50That's Danny Kent
33:50and then in the background
33:51just at the top
33:51of your picture,
33:52number 25,
33:53Josh Brooks
33:53has put in
33:54his personal best lap
33:55of 48.5.
33:56So the Aussie
33:57wants to be
33:58a part of this.
33:59Christian has managed
34:05to hunt down
34:07Leon Haslam
34:08for the most part
34:10at least
34:11and he's,
34:11look,
34:12he's dragged
34:13Charlie Nesbitt
34:14with him,
34:14I think.
34:15So are we expecting
34:16another,
34:17two of the oldest
34:17people,
34:18we're going to expect
34:20a bit of a
34:21duff up by Christian
34:22at some point,
34:22I think.
34:2342-year-old Haslam,
34:2440-year-old
34:25Nesbitt.
34:26Christian.
34:27Christian,
34:28sorry.
34:28Yeah, he's a bit young.
34:3026, I think.
34:30Yeah.
34:32We just saw there
34:33briefly as well,
34:34Fraser, Rogers
34:35and John McAfee
34:35fighting out
34:36for 11 and 12.
34:37Behind them,
34:38McConnell,
34:38Vance,
34:39Calriss,
34:40Scott Swan.
34:42I think we're doing
34:43Charlie Nesbitt
34:43a disservice.
34:44He's 24.
34:45Brooksy then is
34:46catching this big
34:48group of riders.
34:49Christian Hiddin
34:49trying to get to
34:50the front of it there,
34:51number 21.
34:52Sorry, Charlie.
34:53Took a shot.
34:54Well, to be fair,
34:55I just called him 40,
34:56so.
34:56I'll tell you what,
34:59Charlie looks really well.
35:00Been very impressed
35:01with him this year,
35:01which is why I have to
35:02chat with him
35:02on the grid.
35:07Brooks,
35:07who was on the podium
35:08last time out,
35:09remember,
35:09he has a habit
35:10of coming on strong
35:12late in races,
35:13managing his tyres.
35:14He did that
35:15when he got his third
35:16place at Donington.
35:17Over the years,
35:18Josh Brooks has been
35:20unbelievable with tyres.
35:22I've seen him start
35:23completely wet races
35:25on slicks
35:26because he knew
35:27he was going to dry out.
35:29We all did,
35:30but you've got to
35:31stay on your bike
35:31on the slicks
35:32on a wet track
35:33to get to that point
35:34where you can make
35:34the best use of them,
35:35and he's very clever
35:36at that.
35:37You'll just see there
35:38a bit of a change.
35:39Danny Kent has gone
35:40through on Max Cook,
35:41so in this big group,
35:42number 52 is in eight,
35:43ahead of number 30.
35:45Cook,
35:45this is your race leader
35:46heading into Agos,
35:47Bradley Ray,
35:48not put a foot wrong.
35:49Still just lapping
35:50in those 47s comfortably.
35:52Ride second,
35:53Tommy Bridewell there
35:54in third,
35:54does look like he's
35:55settled there.
35:56He's a second back on Kyle.
35:58And can you blame him?
35:59No, not at all.
36:00This will be
36:00a proper,
36:02I was not expecting
36:03Tommy to be able
36:04to fight
36:05for the top three
36:06here on that Honda,
36:07given what we've seen
36:08so far this year.
36:10This is more like it
36:11from last year,
36:11but you've chatted
36:12with him at length
36:13off camera,
36:15and you've said
36:15his head's down.
36:16That was before
36:17we even like Max Cook.
36:20Haslam still leading
36:21this charge
36:22for fourth place.
36:23There he is.
36:24You know,
36:25if you're riding
36:25like Storm is,
36:27really super hard,
36:29trying very hard,
36:30for whatever reason,
36:31it's him,
36:31how he's riding
36:32or it's the bike
36:33that isn't right for him
36:33or whatever,
36:34the combination
36:35does look a bit ragged.
36:36You are going to use
36:37more tyre.
36:38That's just a fact.
36:39Look at that,
36:42sliding the whole way
36:43into the air fit.
36:45I think Brooks
36:45is going to make
36:46light work of that movie.
36:48Eden still in fifth,
36:50trying to find a way
36:50through on Haslam.
36:51At the moment,
36:52he's in line
36:52for his best result
36:53of the season so far.
36:56As Max Cook.
36:56One and a half seconds
36:57different between,
36:58sorry,
36:59no,
36:59one and a half seconds
37:01difference.
37:02Yeah,
37:0249.8 for Storm Stacey,
37:0548.3 for Brooks
37:06this quickest
37:07last time round.
37:08So,
37:08big difference.
37:09Very big.
37:11There is Haslam.
37:12Just got himself,
37:13what,
37:13a good half a second there.
37:14Yep.
37:15And Brooks now,
37:16desperate to get through
37:16on Stacey.
37:17He's dropped right back.
37:18The move's coming
37:19from the Australian.
37:21Danny Kent,
37:22another rider
37:22who's been on
37:23the world stage
37:24for a long time.
37:25He's living in places
37:25like Indonesia
37:26and higher summer.
37:29Yeah,
37:29and they are
37:30horrendously
37:31hot,
37:31albeit not on a big
37:33bike like this
37:34producing as much heat.
37:36Haslam then
37:37still fourth.
37:38There is Josh Brooks
37:39now making his move
37:40on Storm Stacey
37:41who's helpless.
37:42Completely.
37:42There's no way
37:43back now for Storm.
37:44I think he's
37:44struggling with the tyre.
37:45His lap times have dropped.
37:48Sorry,
37:48Brooks moves up
37:49into ninth place.
37:52We're about to start
37:52lap 14 of 16.
37:54Brad Ray,
37:55five and a bit
37:56seconds clear.
37:56He's just gone past
37:57our commentary box window
37:58here on the start
37:59finish straight.
38:00Another
38:0047.6 for him.
38:02It's all he has to do
38:03and I think that
38:04is reasonably easy
38:06for what he's capable of.
38:09This is how they would
38:09line up on the grid
38:10for the first race
38:11tomorrow.
38:11Bradley Ray on pole
38:12as you would expect
38:13ahead of Kyle Ride.
38:14Ridewell would be third
38:15with Skinner,
38:15Stacey and Cook
38:16on row two.
38:18Brad Ray,
38:18by the way,
38:19on his way here
38:20to taking five wins
38:22out of the first six races.
38:24The last time that
38:25happened in Bennett's BSB,
38:27shaky burn 2014,
38:2911 years ago.
38:31Wide from Haslam
38:31and that allows
38:32Christian Hiddens route.
38:34Hiddens not had to work
38:35too hard for that one.
38:37It was given to him
38:37on a plate.
38:38Yeah.
38:39Haslam went into the hairpin
38:41a little bit hot there.
38:42Had to run wide.
38:42No other way.
38:43You just can't turn it in
38:44when you're going
38:45three or four miles
38:46an hour too quick.
38:47The thing had pulled
38:47from under you.
38:48He's fought back though.
38:49Has he got it stopped?
38:50Stopped.
38:51The danger wouldn't.
38:51Yeah, he has.
38:52He has.
38:52Good move.
38:54He's not keen
38:55to hold on
38:57to this fifth spot.
38:59It would be another
39:00solid points haul
39:02for Leon.
39:03Yeah, 44
39:04and he still loves his crap.
39:05He'll be enjoying that.
39:06Let's have another look
39:12at this then.
39:13This is down into Wilson.
39:15Yeah, he got a big lift
39:16on the rear.
39:17That front brake's hard on.
39:18The rear lifted.
39:19At that point,
39:20to keep the rear under control,
39:21you've got to release
39:22some pressure on your
39:23right hand,
39:24your front brake
39:25and that then
39:26is going to push you wide
39:27only by about
39:28a couple of yards
39:29but that's all
39:30Christian needed.
39:32Through Brandler Nelson
39:34that used to be known
39:34as the S's.
39:35This isn't over yet.
39:36Yeah, this is punching
39:36right up again.
39:37It is and Danny Kent's
39:38just started to find
39:39a bit of speed
39:40later on as well.
39:44Coram's
39:44one of the kind of
39:46most, what's the word,
39:47fearsome corners
39:48in British racing.
39:49Very flat
39:50as most corners are
39:51on old airfields
39:52and really quick,
39:55quite bumpy.
39:55It's been resurfaced
39:56better than it used to be
39:57and then you've got
39:58to put your brakes on
39:59while the bike
39:59is completely
40:00leant over.
40:01It's a real balancing act
40:02is that.
40:02Quite a good fun corner
40:03though.
40:03Yeah, absolutely.
40:04Yeah, yeah.
40:04I mean, this was your
40:05local track, wasn't it?
40:06Spun a few.
40:07Yeah.
40:08I personally quite like
40:09Russell's chicade.
40:11Great overtaking opportunity.
40:13Yeah, a blockbuster.
40:13At the end of Coramont.
40:15Yeah, you know.
40:15I thought you were nice, man.
40:18Most of the moves
40:19made on me, James.
40:20I wasn't the one to do.
40:22So maybe I probably
40:23would have preferred Murray.
40:24This is the battle still
40:25for fourth place.
40:27Leon Haslam and Iden.
40:28If you're just tuning in,
40:30Bradley Ray is away with it
40:32out front.
40:33He's almost six seconds
40:34clear of Kyle Ride
40:35with Tommy Bridewell
40:36looking to make a return
40:38to the podium.
40:39This is the battle
40:39behind Haslam
40:41defending fourth
40:43from Christian Iden.
40:44Number 86 there.
40:46Charlie Nesbitt,
40:47Danny Kent,
40:47and Max Cooke
40:48with Brooks now
40:49in the picture as well,
40:51although he's just
40:51in the back of that shot.
40:56One and a half laps remain.
40:59Christian's really,
41:00really good there.
41:00Dragged probably
41:01six or seven metres
41:03back on.
41:04Race winner here as well.
41:05Don't forget,
41:06Christian back in 2020.
41:12Yeah, on the bike
41:13that's in front of him.
41:14Yeah.
41:14Yeah.
41:15On a Ducati.
41:16I think he was with TV,
41:16isn't it?
41:17All right.
41:172020.
41:18But, yeah,
41:19on the same bike.
41:22Danny Kent goes through
41:23nicely on Charlie Nesbitt.
41:25That's another space
41:25made up into
41:26the top six then
41:27for Danny.
41:28There is a little
41:29cutback there.
41:29You go into that chicane
41:30and you do cost yourself
41:32time going under
41:33some day
41:33and there's a little
41:34bit of a payback
41:35coming out
41:36and sometimes
41:36you can nick the man
41:37back going into the
41:38bottom of Christian
41:39is in there.
41:39I'm looking at it.
41:40He's having another
41:41think about it.
41:42There's only one lap
41:43left.
41:44Bradley Ray has
41:44crossed the line
41:45to begin his final lap.
41:47I do feel
41:48if Christian's
41:48going to do anything
41:49about Leonhardt
41:51it's going to be
41:51something of a lunge
41:52but there,
41:53again,
41:53he's got a little bit
41:54of form this race for him.
41:55It's been a couple.
41:57Three Richies.
41:59You'd have to
41:59be very big and brave
42:01to make the move there.
42:02Now he's your first opportunity.
42:04He's not close enough
42:04into Wilson
42:06because that's another chance
42:07gone begging.
42:08It does look to have
42:08a little bit of an advantage
42:10on tyres,
42:10does Christian have.
42:11But I do think
42:12the Decay will be
42:12a little bit quicker
42:13than the ZX10 out
42:16Kawasaki.
42:17They go left
42:17through Palmers.
42:18He's now a look
42:19to try and get the drive
42:20to maybe have a look
42:21into Agostini.
42:23Don't think he's got
42:23the lift out of the corners
42:24to put himself in a position
42:25to have a try at that.
42:26No.
42:27What he needs
42:27is a really,
42:28really good run
42:29onto the back straight
42:30and a decent slipstream
42:31and try and combine
42:32the two together
42:33into the end of the straight.
42:34Flicker left into
42:35turn five.
42:38Hamilton corner.
42:40He's not close enough here.
42:41This seems to be
42:41a strong point for Leon.
42:42Yes.
42:43Meanwhile,
42:44out front,
42:45looking so good,
42:47so confident
42:48and so smooth
42:49on the raceway's Yamaha.
42:51Bradley Ray
42:51nearly home and dry.
42:52Kyle Wright second
42:53and Tommy Bridewell.
42:54Good ride.
42:55Very good ride
42:56to get himself back
42:57into podium contention
42:58in the background there.
42:59That's Charlie Nesbitt
43:00and Max Cook.
43:01Two good friends.
43:02Two riders in there.
43:03Second season of BSB
43:05and Cook goes up the inside
43:06into Brundle.
43:08Can he get it stopped though?
43:09Because,
43:10yeah,
43:10I think he has.
43:11He might lose a bit of time.
43:12Charlie might swap back
43:13to the inside.
43:14No,
43:14no chance.
43:15Coming in though
43:15to take the chequered flag.
43:17What a ride it's been.
43:18Another dazzling display.
43:19Ray's remarkable run
43:21continues here.
43:23He smokes them once more.
43:25Absolutely outstanding.
43:27Four on the trot
43:28for him at Snetterton.
43:30Kyle Wright second.
43:31Had no answers
43:32but a good result for him.
43:33Tommy Bridewell third.
43:34Who will take fourth?
43:35It is going to be Haslam
43:36that holds on
43:37to that fourth spot
43:38ahead of Christian Iden.
43:40Good ride though
43:41from Iden
43:41on the AGM
43:42still.
43:42Scott Kawasaki,
43:43his best of the season.
43:44Danny Kent,
43:45sixth on the McCams Yamaha.
43:47Then Cook,
43:47Nesbitt,
43:48Josh Brooks
43:49and Storm Stacey.
43:51They are.
43:52They are.
43:52They should be.
43:54They should be.
43:54Yeah.
43:55Yeah.
43:55Tommy's crew.
43:59Well,
44:00it has to be said,
44:01James,
44:01that wasn't even close.
44:03Not at all.
44:03No,
44:03he wasn't.
44:04You've got to see how it is
44:05and that was a,
44:06what do you say,
44:06smoked him.
44:07Yeah.
44:08I agree.
44:09Yeah.
44:10And a new lap record
44:11to boot.
44:13A treble winner here
44:14in 2022.
44:16He's picked up
44:16his first win
44:17and now it is
44:17the first rider
44:19since shaky burn
44:20in 2014,
44:2211 years ago
44:23to win five
44:24of the opening six.
44:25And I'll tell you,
44:25if he wins six
44:26out of the opening seven,
44:29then I'll let you
44:31into a lovely stat tomorrow.
44:32We'll see
44:33how that goes.
44:34But based on what we've seen,
44:36you'd be silly
44:37to bet against it.
44:38You would.
44:38Yep.
44:38Yep.
44:39There'll be a few sunburnt folk
44:41on the end of today
44:43here at Snetterton.
44:44Weather set to be
44:45similar here tomorrow
44:46as well.
44:4713th for Billy McCoddell,
44:48number three.
44:49We just saw him
44:49being off in qualifying.
44:52Unhurt though.
44:52Bit of damage to the bike,
44:53but all part of the job.
44:56Kyle Ride.
44:57Just steady from Kyle.
44:59I think he'll be
44:59reasonably happy with that.
45:01I think anybody on the grid,
45:02if they thought
45:03they were going to go with
45:03Brad Ray,
45:05were kidding themselves
45:06a little bit.
45:07So second for Kyle
45:08is probably what he expected
45:10or what he hoped for,
45:11to be honest.
45:11I don't think
45:12he'd be too disappointed
45:12either, James,
45:13because I don't think
45:15he's ever won here
45:15at Snetterton.
45:16So it's not necessarily
45:17the strong point.
45:19Exactly.
45:19So if you can only lose
45:20two points to Brad Ray.
45:22Well, you're not strong.
45:22There you go.
45:23Yeah.
45:24And an on-form,
45:25confident Brad Ray,
45:26nobody was going to beat him.
45:28And this is the other thing.
45:29We mentioned it at the start
45:30and I'll mention it again.
45:31That win,
45:32of course,
45:33with no Glenn Irwin,
45:34it's going to extend
45:35Brad Ray's championship advantage,
45:37but he's still got to do the job.
45:39He can't rest Brad
45:40if he wants to continue this fall.
45:43Yeah.
45:43And the points differences,
45:45the points differences
45:46less at the beginning
45:47of the season
45:48to the last three rounds.
45:49So you're not gaining
45:51that much.
45:53Let's get the results
45:53and standings.
45:54I make it about 22,
45:55but we'll see
45:56if the maths are correct.
45:58Bradley Ray,
45:58unstoppable.
45:595.3 seconds ahead
46:01of Kyle Ryde
46:02to win here
46:03at Snetterton
46:03race one of the weekend.
46:04Tommy Bridewell
46:05on the podium
46:06for the first time
46:07in 2025 for third.
46:08And then a big battle
46:09for fourth
46:10was won by Leon Haslam.
46:11Iden was fifth
46:12and Kent, Cook,
46:13Nesbitt, Brooks and Stacey.
46:16Final points
46:17going to John McPhee.
46:19Fraser Rogers
46:20was 12th ahead
46:21of McConnell,
46:21Swan and Vancey-Kelris.
46:2316th for Kerr.
46:25Skinner did not finish.
46:26Likewise,
46:27Hedger,
46:28Jackson
46:28and Andy Irwin
46:29who had a coming together
46:30at Argos.
46:36So in the championship
46:37then with no Glenn
46:38Irwin,
46:39the championship lead
46:40has been extended
46:41to 22 points
46:42ahead of Kyle Ryde
46:43who jumps up ahead
46:44of Irwin.
46:45Haslam's fourth spot
46:47moves him up
46:48to third overall.
46:49Glenn Irwin then
46:50drops down to fourth.
46:52Josh Brooks
46:52fifth in the championship.
46:54He moves ahead
46:55of Skinner.
46:55Bridewell
46:56up to seventh.
46:58Danny Kent
46:58is eighth
46:59and Iden
46:59and Storm Stacey.
47:03Charlie Nesbitt
47:04scores some good points there.
47:06He's 11th ahead
47:06of Cook,
47:07McPhee,
47:07Andy Irwin,
47:08Jackson,
47:09Swan,
47:09Rogers,
47:10McConnell,
47:10Hickman and Hedger.
47:16We will hear
47:17from race winner
47:18Bradley Ray
47:19in a few moments time.
47:20We're going to take
47:21a quick break here
47:21from Snek.
47:22TNT Sports.
47:29Powered.
47:29I'm down with
47:31Tommy Bridewell.
47:31Tommy, we had a quick
47:32chat after qualifying.
47:33I was quite impressed
47:34with the fourth place
47:35on the grid.
47:35You said that
47:36you didn't know
47:37if you had a bike
47:37that could fight
47:38for podiums,
47:38but here you are
47:39on the podium.
47:39We're rebuilding for sure.
47:43The podium was hard.
47:46He was probably still
47:46a little bit out
47:47of our reach.
47:48I see Brad go off
47:49with unbelievable pace.
47:51And me and Rory
47:53were sort of ding-donging
47:53a bit,
47:54which allowed Carl
47:54to get away.
47:55But honestly,
47:56I've got to be happy.
47:57Credit to Honda.
48:00No,
48:00I'm not hiding it.
48:01It's taken a lot
48:02of wrestling around.
48:03The bike's sort of
48:04probably wanting to finish
48:05fifth or sixth
48:06at the minute,
48:07and I'm making it
48:07finish third.
48:08So I'm really happy.
48:10Check with my ride in.
48:11Really,
48:12really thankful for Honda
48:14and really almost credit
48:16to them because
48:17I've given some stick
48:18the last couple of rounds
48:19as you probably
48:20can imagine
48:20and they've not
48:21dropped their head.
48:22They've come out fighting
48:23and honestly,
48:24I believe over the next
48:25two or three rounds,
48:26we have to be realistic.
48:27We need to just
48:28consolidate points
48:29and then I think
48:29we should be aiming
48:31for race wins and on.
48:33So yeah,
48:33credit to Brad and Carl.
48:34I couldn't match that pace.
48:35I tried.
48:36But honestly,
48:37yeah,
48:38it was all I had.
48:39Tommy,
48:39it was a great ride.
48:40Well done.
48:40Good to see you back
48:41on the podium.
48:41Cheers.
48:41Thanks, guys.
48:42Right,
48:43second place then,
48:44Kyle Wright.
48:44Kyle,
48:45what a fantastic performance
48:46that was.
48:46Second on the grid,
48:47second in the race.
48:48You hung in there
48:48for a few laps.
48:50And the race pace
48:50was really,
48:51really strong,
48:51but just lost
48:52that gap in the middle.
48:53Yeah,
48:54lap four to seven,
48:55Brad was really
48:55fast and consistent.
48:57He kept drilling me
48:58in the middle sector.
48:59He has been on the
48:59timesheets all weekend.
49:01Tried my best to learn,
49:02but absolutely no chance.
49:03So yeah,
49:04fair play to Brad there.
49:0616-lap races
49:06I've ever seen.
49:08So yeah,
49:09I'm pleased with our road
49:10as well.
49:11Consistent.
49:11Pulled away from Tommy
49:12at the end as well.
49:13So the race pace is good,
49:14just not quite fast enough
49:15to keep up with Brad.
49:15So second place is good for me.
49:18Snetterton's never been
49:19a podium hunting circuit
49:20for me.
49:21So yeah,
49:21over the moon.
49:22Two more races tomorrow,
49:23Kyle.
49:23Best of luck.
49:23Thanks, Shane.
49:24Cheers.
49:25Right on,
49:25your race one winner,
49:26Bradley Wright.
49:27How's your afternoon?
49:28Very good now, mate.
49:29Yeah,
49:30I was a bit nervous
49:30before the race,
49:31but yeah,
49:32just had a plan.
49:34You know what it's like
49:35in racing?
49:35Sometimes you have a plan
49:36and it doesn't go to plan.
49:37So yeah,
49:38got the whole shot.
49:38I thought,
49:39right,
49:39I'm going to put two good laps
49:40at the start,
49:41see what happens
49:42and then set into the rhythm
49:44that I knew I could do
49:44what we've done
49:45in free practice.
49:46So yeah,
49:47over the moon,
49:48just overheating a little bit.
49:49Were you expecting
49:50to have to go that fast
49:51in the beginning of the race
49:51to make the gap?
49:53Honestly not.
49:54I wasn't expecting
49:54them lap times.
49:55I think that's similar
49:56to qualifying.
49:57Sorry.
49:58But yeah,
50:00I just kept digging in.
50:01I felt good on the bike.
50:02I saw a little gap
50:03at the start,
50:04so I went again
50:05at the next lap
50:06and then it just about
50:08broke carl.
50:09So I was unable
50:09to set into the rhythm
50:10and do my own race.
50:12But yeah,
50:12I enjoyed that.
50:13Incredible performance.
50:14Well done Bradley.
50:14Cheers mate,
50:14thank you.
50:15Yeah, sensational ride
50:20from Brad Ray there
50:21to take the win.
50:22Great to see Tommy Bridewell
50:23back on the podium as well.
50:24First time this season
50:25on the Honda.
50:26We've got the gaffer here
50:27with us now
50:27as I'll have Beltran.
50:29You must be really pleased
50:30to see Tommy on the podium.
50:31Obviously this has been
50:31a lot of hard work
50:32and he said in his interview
50:33there he's been
50:34drilling you guys pretty hard
50:35to get the thing
50:36back up to speed again.
50:37For sure.
50:38Yeah, definitely.
50:38We've had a tough six weeks
50:40like many teams
50:41and we've found it hard
50:42first few rounds
50:43not getting the best
50:44out of the rear tyre
50:45not the same as other teams.
50:48Fair play to Bradley
50:49and Carl there.
50:50They had a hot pace
50:51and got away
50:51but for sure
50:52we're making that game back
50:54and that step back
50:54and made some changes
50:55in the team
50:56made some changes
50:57to the bike
50:57and it's starting to show
50:59the right direction
51:00that we need.
51:01Can I ask you
51:02what changes?
51:03The tyre's different, right?
51:05So the back's
51:07going to react differently
51:08to the rider
51:08like a certain tyre
51:10or a certain feel
51:11from a tyre
51:12but that's a big difference
51:15in your pace
51:16and your position
51:17from a rider
51:18who was right bang
51:19at the front last year
51:19with a slightly different tyre.
51:21Yeah, I think
51:21this year
51:22we've not been using
51:24wearing the tyre out
51:25anywhere near
51:26to what we were last year.
51:28So that was our downfall
51:31with it
51:31and it was just
51:32getting that balance.
51:33Every time
51:33the guys made it
51:35better for the rear
51:36we were losing
51:37on the front.
51:37Couldn't stop it
51:38couldn't turn it
51:39and everything else
51:40so that compromise
51:40or that advantage
51:42or whatever you want
51:42to call it
51:42we had last year
51:43we lost this year
51:44and so getting
51:45that sweet spot back
51:46and trying to keep
51:47Tommy confident
51:48and strong
51:48has been a tough one
51:49but fair play
51:50Tommy's done a great job
51:51and the team have as well.
51:52Good stuff.
51:53Cheers, Av.
51:53Pleased with that.
51:54Good to see you.
51:54Two more tomorrow
51:55we'll see you then
51:55let's get back to Steve
51:57for today's podium.
51:59Yeah, thanks guys
52:00you can see how much
52:01that means to Tommy Bridewell
52:02he's 107th PSB podium
52:04but more importantly
52:05the first of the season.
52:06Kyle Ryde
52:06the reigning champion
52:07that's podium number 43
52:09for him in Bennett's PSB
52:11but for the championship leader
52:13his 39th career podium
52:1516th win
52:16but it's now six races
52:17six podiums
52:19and five wins
52:21for Brad Ray
52:22and the raceway's Yamaha team
52:24he's victorious here
52:25in race one.
52:41Baltimore!
52:46There was a national anthem there
53:06I promise you
53:07looks like Kyle's gone off
53:09a little bit early
53:10as well with the champagne.
53:11All right, fantastic stuff here
53:12two more BSB races
53:14to come of course tomorrow
53:15but we're not done yet today
53:16the Super Sports
53:17will be coming up
53:18after the break.
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