Bradley Ray delivered a determined performance to take victory in the opening ZYN British Superbike Championship race at Oulton Park as the McAMS Yamaha team celebrated victory after a six-way battle, with Kyle Ryde and Leon Haslam completing the podium.
At the start of the race, the AJN Steelstock bimotas both launched off the line to lead the pack with Max Cook leading rookie teammate Joe Talbot into Old Hall for the first time ahead of Bradley Ray, Storm Stacey and Leon Haslam with Kyle Ryde in eighth.
Storm Stacey had moved ahead of Ray on the opening lap but the McAMS Yamaha rider instantly fought back and by lap five he had moved into second place.
Talbot meanwhile had a moment at Cascades and that gave Stacey and Haslam the chance to move ahead on lap five. The lead group was a freight train of riders not wanting to give an inch and Cook was still holding the advantage ahead of Ray, Stacey, Haslam, Ryan Vickers and Scott Redding.
Ray grabbed the lead of the race on lap eight from Cook and there was a real tussle as Stacey fought back too, putting the Bathams AJN Racing Ducati at the front.
By lap nine Stacey was still holding the lead from Ray, Cook and Haslam with Ryde and Redding also part of the lead group after a tussle between the pair earlier in the race.
Ray first made a move on Haslam at Lodge with a stunning move around the outside on lap 11, before carrying the momentum into Old Hall on the next lap to regain the lead.
Ryde was on the attack too and the defending champion made his move on Stacey at Lodge on lap 12 as the champions held the leading three positions.
A focused Ray was pushing hard; he was holding off his rivals as Haslam continued to try to grasp the lead, which he nearly did at Island on lap 14 but his McAMS Yamaha rival held a determined line to deny him the opportunity.
Ray then held the edge to the finish, but Ryde was pushing Haslam for second place over the final laps, making his move on lap 16 and despite the Moto Rapido Racing rider trying to regain the advantage, he had to settle for third place behind the reigning champion at the chequered flag.
Stacey equalled his best result of the season in fourth place, but there was disappointment for Cook as he crashed out at high-speed at Cascades with three laps to go whilst holding fifth place in the pack.
Redding claimed fifth place for the Hager PBM Racing Team ahead of Vickers who held off Talbot and his Honda Racing UK teammate Jason O'Halloran. Christian Iddon and Glenn Irwin completed the top ten.
ZYN British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race 1 result:
- Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha)
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) +0.651s
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) +1.995s
- Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing Ducati) +2.093s
- Scott Redding (Hager PBM Racing Team) +2.287s
- Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK) +6.513s
- Joe Talbot (AJN Steelstock bimota) +8.429s
- Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing UK) +19.786s
- Christian Iddon (Sencat Racing Yamaha) +20.089s
- Glenn Irwin (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) +20.182s
For the full race result please click here
ZYN British Superbike Championship standings:
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) 268
- Scott Redding (Hager PBM Racing Team) 244
- Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) 185
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) 179
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock bimota) 151
- Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK) 125
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) 123
- Christian Iddon (Sencat Racing Yamaha) 100
- Glenn Irwin (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) 95
- Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing Ducati) 83