BSB Cadwell Park 2026

BSB Cadwell Park 2026, Saturday 29th August.

The party in the park or Round 8 of the British Superbikes Championship, if you prefer, is one of the biggest events held at Cadwell Park. Driving in on the first official day, we passed fields packed out with fans camping out for the bank holiday weekend. This wasn’t the main campsite, just the overflow. So before we even got to the main gate, we knew it was going to be packed. 

We were not wrong; for what would normally be a Friday practice session, there were a lot of fans already trackside. If this size of crowd was at any other BSB meeting, you could mistake it for a race day. 50,000 fans were estimated to attend the Party in the Park over the weekend and I have no reason to dismiss those numbers. 

So what makes Caldwell so popular? I can’t speak for all of the fans, but for me, it’s the trees, the flowing hills, corners where passing riders create a breeze you can feel. Very similar to Oulton Park, it’s a special old-school race track that stands out from most of the barren treeless tracks around the country with their miles of safety fences.

It’s a shame all of the trees have been cut down on the majority of the UK tracks. Who doesn’t like a bit of shade from the trees, especially this year, which has been very hot? 

Free Practice 

Not that shade was top of my things to find last weekend. Far from it; a damp morning greeted us. With changeable weather, the timetable was reconfigured early to take in the storms due to arrive later in the day. Sheltering under the trees from the rain, not the sun, was on the cards.

BSB Cadwell Park 2026,Combined Free Practice times

1. Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) 1m:25.674s
2. Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) +0.440s
3. Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK) +0.754s
4. Joe Talbot (AJN Steelstock Bimota) +1.083s
5. Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing Ducati) +1.148s

BSB Cadwell 2026, Sunday 30 August 2026

Race day dawned with the Met Office issuing more weather warnings for Lincolnshire. Thunderstorms were due later in the day. As one of the largest counties in the U.K., I wasn’t too concerned. Cadwell looked like it would dodge the storms, but the foul weather kit was packed just in case. 

Before the qualifying and Super Pole, the riders would be out for Free Practice 3. Time for the PistonClick team to warm up our cameras and capture some top-notch motorsport action. Mansfield and the Gooseneck would be my chosen spots. The views of the track from here are great for the fans. It’s a difficult shot into the Gooseneck exit for the spectator photographer, not helped with MSV locating advertising boards in front of one of the best corners on the track. 

The riders appear at this corner with no warning apart from the roar of the engines, so you have to be on it. Once the Free Practice was over, we were into qualifying for the Super Pole. The fastest twelve riders from the three qualifying sessions had booked their places in the Super Pole; three places remained. 

Super Pole

Super Pole is an oddity of Cadwell due to the layout of the split pits. Due to riders entering the track from the upper pits, they could impede a rider on a fast lap, so they have Super Pole. The top fifteen riders have a warm-up lap, then one fast lap to determine their place on the grid. No excuses of “I was held up”; the riders get to go flat out and show us what they have in the bag. I really enjoy this; the riders get to select music to be played as they do their lap. Storm Stacey must be mentioned; the Benny Hill theme booming around the circuit with the screaming Ducati just brought smiles to everyone’s faces.

Rory Skinner was on a mission, holding the top spot after a heroic lap. Elbow down at the Gooseneck, dropping into the downhill blind corner at Mansfield, takes some guts.

Bradley Ray was the quickest all the way through free practice, so was the last to post a lap. It was no surprise to see him bump Skinner off the top spot; Kyle Ryde would start third on the grid for the first race of the weekend.

BSB Cadwell Park Race 1

Rory Skinner celebrated an impressive opening British Superbike Championship victory at Cadwell Park, securing his first win of the season for Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha as Bradley Ray and Storm Stacey crashed from the leading group.

Skinner made a perfect start into Coppice, with Ray close behind and Stacey third, while Kyle Ryde slipped outside the top five. Ryan Vickers initially pushed through the order but ran wide at Park on lap two, dropping to 11th before beginning his recovery.

Ray challenged Skinner for the lead at Park on lap four but could not make the move stick. Haslam then moved into third, but disaster struck a lap later when Ray lost the McAMS Yamaha under braking at Park. Stacey also crashed moments later in a separate incident.

Vickers had recovered strongly and was closing on the podium battle when he crashed at Park, taking Joe Talbot with him.

Skinner then opened a gap at the front as Haslam and Ryde fought over second, with Ryde eventually making his move on lap ten and holding the place to the flag.

Scott Redding produced a determined ride to finish fourth for Hager PBM Racing, ahead of Joe O’Halloran and Lee Jackson. Max Cook marked his return with seventh, followed by Danny Kent, Josh Brookes and Ilya Mikhalchik in the top ten.

The repeated incidents at Park highlighted the difficulty of the corner, with the pronounced bump under braking appearing to unsettle several riders throughout the race.

BSB Cadwell Park 2026, Race One result

1. Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha)
2. Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) +2.346s
3. Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) +3.237s
4. Scott Redding (Hager PBM Ducati) +7.257s
5. Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing UK) +9.171s

BSB Cadwell 2026, Monday 31 August 2026

The final day of the British Superbikes at Cadwell Park saw two races. Bradley Ray, who had crashed out the previous day, secured pole position for the first race after setting the fastest lap yesterday. Rory Skinner lined up next to Ray, aiming for a double.

Third was Kyle Ryde, who explained he was fatigued and generally under the weather. He did explain what was wrong with him; in short, he visited the toilets a lot on the start line. Not a great condition when you are about to go racing!

The second race was a 12-lap sprint. The weather was perfect, so it was a straight sprint to the finish. Vickers took the lead on the opening lap, followed closely by Rory Skinner, Bradley Ray, and Kyle Ryde. However, Skinner couldn’t replicate his victory and crashed out on lap five at Charlie’s.

Vickers maintained his lead throughout the race despite constant pressure from Ray in second. He held off the McAMS Yamaha contender by a mere 0.282 seconds to cross the finish line first. Ryde finished third for the Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing team.

Leon Haslam diligently held off the chasing pack for fourth place with Moto Rapido Racing. Joe Talbot achieved an excellent top five finish in his rookie season for the AJN Steelstock bimota team.

Jason O’Halloran finished sixth for Honda Racing UK, narrowly beating the second AJN Steelstock bimota of Max Cook and Lee Jackson on the leading DAO Racing Honda. Scott Redding finished ninth for the Hager PBM Racing Team, ahead of Danny Kent on the remaining Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha. Redding had a miserable weekend at Cadwell, running off track and generally not looking his usual self. Could he do better in race three? 

BSB Cadwell Park 2026, Race 2 result

1. Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK)
2. Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) +0.282s
3. Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) +2.980s
4. Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) +4.595s
5. Joe Talbot (AJN Steelstock bimota) +4.832s

British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park, Race 3 

Ryan Vickers again launched into a lightning start on the opening lap, overtaking Ray and Kyle Ryde to take the lead. However, Ryde was quick to respond, making a move for second place into Park for the first time. Rory Skinner advanced to third by lap four but unfortunately slid out of the race at the Chicane.

Ray regained second place when he attacked at Mansfield and then pursued Vickers relentlessly. Despite applying immense pressure, Ray couldn’t overcome Vickers’ Honda Racing Fireblade.

Ryde, meanwhile, shared the track with Joe Talbot for most of the race. The rookie delivered his best performance of the season, securing fourth place for the AJN Steelstock bimota team. Ryde, the reigning champion, held on to claim third and with it the coveted Pirelli King of the Mountain trophy.

Leon Haslam, who went off at Park on the warm-up, settled onto the race, edging out Jason O’Halloran and Christian Iddon to take fifth.  Max Cook, Storm Stacey, and Ilya Mikhalchik completed the top ten after an intense battle. Battered and bruised, it must be noted that Cook put in a heroic performance after his big get-off on Race 1 at Thruxton.

Ryan Vickers securing a double victory for Honda Racing UK shows what a class rider he is. The Honda Fireblade is not the most competitive machine this year, but Vickers is riding the wheels off it. Next year sees a new Fireblade introduced; if Vickers stays with the team, I’m sure he is going to put in a serious challenge against Ryde and the Ducati for the BSB crown. 

BSB Cadwell Park 2026, Race 3 result

1. Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK)
2. Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) +0.176s
3. Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) +2.937s
4. Joe Talbot (AJN Steelstock Bimota) +4.302s
5. Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) +7.944s

BSB Cadwell Park Post Script

Honda Racing UK commemorated one of British Superbike Championship’s most iconic eras. Jason O’Halloran and Ryan Vickers lined up for the races at Cadwell Park in a stunning one-off HM Plant tribute livery. Dean Harrison, meanwhile, took out the Ryuichi Kiyonari Official bike for a few demonstration runs during the lunch breaks. 

Cadwell Park, the Lincolnshire circuit, is Honda Racing UK’s home round. The team’s headquarters is just a few miles away in nearby Louth. The unmistakable HM Plant colours propelled Honda to three British Superbike Championship titles with Ryuichi Kiyonari in 2006, 2007, and 2010.  This became one of BSB’s most recognisable liveries and helped establish Honda Racing UK as a championship powerhouse.

It was a shame that Honda only had two sets of bodywork. Ryan Vickers used a black set for free practice and destroyed his set on race two, so reverted back to the racing Honda red for the final race. However, it was still a great experience to see the Hondas in this iconic livery racing around Cadwell one more time.

ZYN British Superbike Championship standings

1. Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) 392
2. Scott Redding (Hager PBM Racing Team) 321
3. Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) 289
4. Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) 260
5. Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK) 235
6. Max Cook (AJN Steelstock Bimota) 198
7. Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) 191
8. Christian Iddon (Sencat Racing Yamaha) 133
9. Joe Talbot (AJN Steelstock Bimota) 124
10. Lee Jackson (DAO Racing Honda) 124

British Superbikes now moves to Assen for round 9 on 18-20 September and the start of the showdown.

Thanks to RPW Photography, Scott Grant, photoQuest Motorsport Photography who have contributed to this BSB Cadwell Park 2026 report. All other images are by the editor.

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