Scott Redding delivered an incredible victory in the opening ZYN British Superbike Championship race of the weekend at Brands Hatch, keeping the title fight alive ahead of tomorrow’s season finale. The Hager PBM Racing Team rider was bullish as he battled from eleventh on the opening lap to win the race to keep his title hopes alive, reducing the gap to 48 points ahead of tomorrow's two races with 70 points still available.
At the start of the race, Ryde hit the front of the pack from Ryan Vickers and Max Cook and the three were leading the podium fight, whilst Redding was languishing down the order in eleventh place on the opening laps.
However, the ‘Comeback Kid’, delivered just that and after holding a position in the top eight until the seventh lap, he soon began carving through the order in bullish style as the rain flags were displayed and withdrawn throughout the race.
Redding was relentless in his attack and he claimed sixth place from Bradley Ray and as his rivals played it cautious because of the changing conditions, the 2019 champion was hunting and was up to fourth by lap ten.
At the front, Cook also saw his opportunity and he grabbed the lead at Surtees on lap 10, passing Ryan Vickers at Graham Hill Bend and then making his move on Ryde to hit the front of the pack.
A lap later and Ryde was having to hold off Redding, but the Hager PBM Racing Team dived down the inside at Paddock Hill Bend to move ahead and he then had Vickers to contend with for the next position. The Honda Racing UK rider traded places with Redding, before he was able to hold the edge, but Ryde wasn’t settling for less than a podium and was into third as Cook dropped to fourth.
Redding held the edge before the race was red flagged for rain on lap 15 with Redding claiming the important victory ahead of Ryde, who had forced his way ahead of Vickers at Hawthorns two laps earlier.
It means that the title fight goes down to the final day of the season at Brands Hatch tomorrow, with Ryde aiming for the threepeat as Redding aims to make the most sensational BSB title fight comeback in history.
ZYN British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race 1 result:
1. Scott Redding (Hager PBM Ducati)
2. Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) +0.841s
3. Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK) +1.461s
4. Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) +1.557s
5. Max Cook (AJN Steelstock bimota) +1.968s
6. Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) +2.206s
7. Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) +2.636s
8. Joe Talbot (AJN Steelstock bimota) +3.740s
9. Danny Kent (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) +3.857s
10. Lee Jackson (DAO Racing Honda) +4.160s
ZYN British Superbike Championship standings:
1. Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) 539
2. Scott Redding (Hager PBM Racing Team) 491
3. Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) 423
4. Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK) 378
5. Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) 332
6. Max Cook (AJN Steelstock bimota) 316
7. Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) 253
8. Danny Kent (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) 185
9. Joe Talbot (AJN Steelstock bimota) 176
10. Lee Jackson (DAO Racing Honda) 174
For the full session result please click here.