BSB Snetterton marked the third round of this year’s British Superbikes Championship. Held at the Norfolk circuit under glorious weather conditions, a full complement of riders and classes participated. In this report, the PistonClick team focuses solely on the British Superbikes. We will publish another article covering some of the other classes in a separate report.

I was only able to attend on Friday for the two BSB practice sessions, while two of the team covered the remainder of the meeting. This arrangement works well for us and for you, the reader. You receive a variety of viewpoints from different photographers, and I avoided standing in the blistering sunshine for three days—a win-win.

BSB Championship Contenders – Bradley Ray

Let’s take a look at the riders before delving further into this BSB Snetterton report. Bradley Ray made an immediate impact in free practice, setting a time under the existing Snetterton lap record—a fantastic start to the weekend. Ray has been dominant so far, with four wins from five previous starts, a strong beginning to his championship bid.

Glen Irwin

Glen Irwin has been challenging Ray, regularly joining him on the podium but yet to secure a win. Unfortunately, Irwin high-sided at Nelson on Saturday. As a precaution, due to experiencing pain, he was transferred to Norwich Hospital. Further tests were needed because no broken bones were initially found, though Irwin was clearly in discomfort. A subsequent CT scan at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital revealed fractures to his hip socket and pelvis.

Irwin is scheduled to undergo surgery this week. Regrettably, these injuries may well end Irwin’s championship bid for the season. By the time he’s passed fit to ride, other contenders could have accumulated too many points for him to catch up.

Kyle Ryde

Kyle Ryde is another strong contender. The current BSB Champion has shown impressive speed, though not quite at Ray’s level. While he’s achieved several podiums, a win has eluded him so far. His bid to reclaim his crown isn’t over, and with the support of the OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha team, he will likely be a significant presence at the final round.

Leon Haslam

Leon Haslam is the only other rider to have secured a win so far. A former BSB Champion, last crowned in 2018, he’s back on a Ducati this season. A win at Donington Park was an excellent result, and the Ducati could be the only bike capable of challenging the Yamahas of Ray and Ryde this year.

Tommy Bridewell

Tommy Bridewell may have something to say about that. Now riding the new Honda Fireblade, the former champion hasn’t hit his stride yet this season. We know the Blade is quick, and Tommy has the talent to reach the podium, but it hasn’t happened yet. Can he turn things around at the Norfolk track?

Rory Skinner

Rory Skinner, riding for Cheshire Mouldings Ducati, is another rider to watch. One of the young guns making his mark in the championship, he’s stood out to me. Last season, injuries hampered his challenge, but now fully fit, he’s smooth, fast, and controlled.

BSB Snetterton Race Results

Three races took place over the weekend. In Race 1, Ray set the fastest-ever BSB lap at Snetterton with a time of 1:46.583. Leading from the front, Ray maintained his position from pole to the chequered flag, leaving the rest to battle for the remaining podium spots. Ryde crossed the line over five seconds behind Ray, with Bridewell 10 seconds adrift.

Snetterton Race 1 Results:

1. Bradley Ray, Raceways Yamaha
2. Kyle Ryde, OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha
3. Tommy Bridewell, Honda Racing UK

Race 2 was a closer, more entertaining affair for the fans. Ray maintained his dominance, securing the lead early after brief pressure from Ryde. The real excitement was the battle for second place.

Skinner, Ryde, and Bridewell fought fiercely, inadvertently helping Ray to extend his lead. The final lap was dramatic: Skinner ran wide, Ryde seized the opportunity only for Skinner to reclaim second. On the final bend, Ryde made another move, but Skinner responded. Bridewell, just behind the battling duo, slipstreamed Ryde to the finish, snatching third by a mere 0.008 seconds.

Snetterton Race 2 Results:

1. Bradley Ray, Raceways Yamaha
2. Rory Skinner, Cheshire Mouldings Ducati
3. Tommy Bridewell, Honda Racing UK

In BSB history, no rider had previously achieved two treble-winning weekends consecutively—until now. Bradley Ray made history by completing this feat. When the final chequered flag fell at Snetterton, Ray had secured seven wins from eight starts. It’s difficult to see who can prevent him from claiming his second BSB title.

Ryde fought valiantly to stay with Ray during Race 3, but the focus shifted to the battle for third. Skinner, Haslam, and Bridewell frequently swapped positions, outbraking each other in a thrilling contest. Ultimately, Leon Haslam secured the final podium spot, 14 seconds behind the race winner, Ray.

Snetterton Race 3 Results:

1. Bradley Ray, Raceways Yamaha
2. Kyle Ryde, OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha
3. Leon Haslam, Moto Rapido Ducati Racing

Photographic Postscript

I’ll be honest—Snetterton isn’t my favourite track for motorsport photography. The long, tedious drive from Lincolnshire to Norfolk doesn’t help, particularly when stuck behind slow-moving agricultural vehicles with no chance to overtake—especially when they’re laden with animal excrement on one of the hottest days of the year!

The track layout also leaves me uninspired. There’s plenty of flat tarmac and grass, which is fine for panning shots, but I prefer variety—something in the background to add visual interest. Snetterton doesn’t offer this like Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, or Cadwell Park.

Nelson

That said, I always enjoy the Snetterton experience, even if it leaves me wanting more from my photos. The Nelson complex is a popular spot for local photographers, with several good shooting angles. However, you’re quite distant from the action, and on hot days, heat haze can soften images.

Crashes do occur at Nelson, as with Irwin’s unfortunate incident, but capturing crashes isn’t my focus. While many photographers wait in anticipation of such events, I prefer action shots that showcase racing skill. I often find myself alone further up, drawn to the S-shape backdrop of Nelson—it adds character to my images.

Brundle

Moving up to Brundle brings you closer to the action, though the elevated viewpoint isn’t ideal. Shooting from a low angle generally yields better results, but that’s not possible here. Nevertheless, it’s a great spot for both photography and spectating.

Murray’s

Another popular corner is Murray’s, where I spent the second practice session. Contrary to my earlier preference for close action, I set up further from the corner, anticipating dynamic shots—not crashes, but skilled manoeuvres.

Once I captured the standard corner shots, I moved towards the start/finish line. Exiting Murray’s, I noticed riders lifting their front wheels and crossing up the bikes—a perfect opportunity for action shots showcasing the skill needed to control a 200bhp motorcycle.

The Shooters

Mic and RPW, the other photographers at the event, captured different perspectives to mine. Friday practice is fantastic for clean track shots—fewer people mean more location options. However, with only two Superbike sessions, the variety of shots is limited, which explains the reduced ticket price for Fridays.

Race day brings the full BSB experience: pit walks, rider appearances, autograph sessions, and more dynamic racing. This atmosphere, coupled with critical qualifying and races, provides excellent opportunities for action photography.

Next year, I’ll aim to attend the British Superbikes race days at Snetterton. Hopefully, I’ll avoid the smelly tractor convoy, which might brighten my outlook on the track and inspire some exceptional motorsport photos—after all, that’s what my visits to the Snetterton Circuit are all about.

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Thanks to Mic Pringle and RPW Photography for the images used in this report.

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Our British Superbike reports from 2025.

Our previous British Superbike reports 2018 – 2025 can be found here: