British Superbikes. Silverstone National Circuit. 16th/17th April 2022
Bennetts Bike Social Race One.
The Grid:
For race one, it was Glenn Irwin who took pole on the Honda, a great achievement following a nasty pre-season crash. P2 was Kyle Ryde and P3 his teammate Bradley Ray both on the OMG Racing Yamahas. Missing from this first race of the season was current British Champion, Tarran Mackenzie, out with a fractured ankle, again, having only just recovered from the pre-season fracture to his tibia.
The Race: was all about Glen Irwin who was on it from the start and rode a sublime race. However, it was not an “easy win” as both Kyle Ryde and Bradley Ray kept him more than honest throughout. Showing what great talent he has; Rory Skinner brought the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki into P4 at the finish, underpinning his comments made when we interviewed him at the MSN Excel bike show in February (see in the articles).
Results: Glenn Irwin, Honda Racing UK, P1. Kyle Ryde, Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha, P2. Bradley Ray, Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha, P3. Rory Skinner, FS-3 Racing Kawasaki, P4.
Bennetts BSB Race Two:
The Grid:
Kyle Ryde, pole. P2 Bradley Ray. P3 Rory Skinner. P4 Glenn Irwin.
The Race: 30 laps.
Following a solid ride in race one on Saturday, it was Bradley Ray on the Yamaha who led off from the start, with teammate Kyle Ryde P2 and Rory Skinner P3 on the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki.
Lap five and a nasty high side for Tom Sykes had him down and out and causing Chrissy Rouse on the BMW to crash out, having been unsighted for Sykes’s fall. This incident brought out the safety car, and that remained until lap 8, bunching the riders tight for a re-start. Bradley Ray managed the re-start well and led on lap 8, with Kyle Ryde P2, and then Andy Irwin P3, Skinner P4 and Glenn Irwin P5.
By lap 17 it was still Bradley Ray in the lead, with Kyle Ryde P2 and now Glenn Irwin P3 having passed Rory Skinner, now P4. Lap 23 and Ray was holding off the other riders in the front group, but lost the front and slid out, leaving Glenn Irwin in the lead, Kyle Ryde P2 and Rory Skinner very much in the fight in P3.
As the race concluded, it was Glenn Irwin for the win, as he did on Saturday, with Kyle Ryde P2, having closed on Irwin, very close but not quite enough, and a solid ride from Rory Skinner who took P3.
Results: Glenn Irwin, Honda Racing UK, the win. Kyle Ryde, Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha, P2. Rory Skinner, FS-3 Racing Kawasaki, P3.
Bennetts BSB Race Three:
The Grid:
Bradley Ray was on pole for race 3, with teammate Kyle Ryde P2 and Rory Skinner P3. Race two winner Glenn Irwin was P5 with his brother Andy Irwin ahead of him on P4.
The Race: 30 Laps.
Rory Skinner had a scorcher of a start from P3 and took the lead in front of the Irwins, Glenn then Andy. Rory did a great job to hold the lead, but on lap four Glenn Irwin put an emphatic move on him, and soon brother Andy did the same, making it Glenn P1, Andy P2 and Rory P3.
On lap 15, midway through the race, it was Glenn Irwin in the lead, with Andy Irwin P2, Bradley Ray now P3, Jason O’Halloran P4 and Rory Skinner P5. Lap 22 saw Danny Buchan feature in P4 and Jason O’Halloran P6, but it was Rory Skinner who eventually won out for the out of podium P4.
On the final lap Glenn Irwin and Bradley Ray had a slight lead over a feisty bit of racing going on between Rory Skinner, Jason O’Halloran and Danny Buchan, and Andy Irwin, all wanting that final podium place. As Glenn Irwin for the third time over the weekend took the win, with Bradley Ray second, it was oh so close as Andy Irwin took P3 with Rory Skinner and Jason O’Halloran just behind.
Results: Glenn Irwin, Honda Racing UK, the win. Bradley Ray, Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha, P2. Andrew Irwin, SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad, P3. Rory Skinner, FS-3 Racing Kawasaki, P4.
Silverstone was blessed with sunshine for the Easter weekend, and the racing shone through, providing a great spectacle for the first race of what looks like a corker of a season. See you at Oulton for round two!
Author: Martin Northern
Founder of Bike Directory
