BSB Thruxton – Round 6

The British Superbikes Championship round at Thruxton historically hasn’t generated much interest for me as a spectator photographer. A high-speed triangle of a circuit with limited spectator viewpoints, it’s not a track I make a point of visiting during the season. As a spectator photographer, I like to walk around the circuit, taking in as many different locations as possible. At Thruxton, about half of the track is not accessible, so it limits your opportunities for taking a variety of photographs, but it can be done.

The owners at Thruxton are aware of this and have pushed forward with opening up new areas for the spectators. Woodham Hill is the latest, a large raised area before the chicane. Lots of Thruxton viewing areas are raised; this gives you great views of the track, but as a photographer, it’s not so good. Looking down on vehicles is not the best viewpoint for motorsport photography. Fortunately, photography is only part of my reason for going to watch live motorsports, so being able to access more of the track at Thruxton is very welcome.

Hager PBM Ducati

The opening of Woodham Hill in June was quite the talking point on the run-up to the British Superbikes visiting Thruxton. This topic faded away very quickly last week as it emerged Glen Irwin and the Hager PBM Ducati team were going to part ways. Glen had sustained fractures to his hip socket and pelvis after crashing at Snetterton in June. He subsequently had surgery on his sacrum and was not expected to return to racing for some time.

To fill the seat on the Ducati, PBM pulled Scott Redding from World Superbikes on a round-by-round basis. Glenn and Scott appeared happy with the situation, and all of the chat prior to Thruxton was of a two-bike PBM team once Glenn was fit to ride. All of this came crashing down when Glenn announced his doctors had given him the ok to ride. The PBM team were not so sure, wanting Glenn to return at Cadwell, round 7 or later. Only the people at that meeting will know what was said, as the official statements were vague. 

Hager PBM Ducati statement: “contractual relationship has been terminated by mutual consent”. 

Glenn Irwin “as a result of a point of conflict”

Glenn Irwin Nitrous Competitions OMG Racing Yamaha

Unsurprisingly, there was lots of talk about the split. Duty of care to the rider, a second Ducati not being available, not to mention a crew to spanner for Glenn. Whatever the reason, they parted ways amicably, on the surface.

An hour on BSB is not a long time. Bennetts British Superbike Champions Nitrous Competitions OMG Racing Yamaha announced #2 Glenn Irwin would be joining them. Alongside #1 Kyle Ryde, this is one strong team to challenge the leaders in the championship, Raceways Yamaha with Bradley Ray. It will take Glenn some time to be race-fit and adapt to the Yamaha, but it was great to see him slot into a team so quickly. 

If one team was going to pick up Irwin, it was going to be Nitrous Competitions OMG Racing. The plan at the start of the season was to race with two riders, Ryde and Ray, but that plan fell through after the operations budget was pulled by a sponsor. The kit was there but not the money. A little shuffling went on in the pits regarding teams at Thruxton. I’m sure I saw the hardest-working man in motorsport, Michael Laverty, putting on a crew chief hat!

BSB Thruxton Race 1

Kyle Ryde posted an amazing lap, 0.512s under the Thruxton lap record, to take pole position for race 1. Bradley Ray on the Raceways Yamaha was only 0.175s behind, with Leon Haslam third. Haslam on a Ducati would have a tough race to keep or better P3; Thruxton is historically a Yamaha track.

True to form, Bradley Ray shot off the line to lead on this high-speed circuit. With the hot weather, abrasive track, and high-speed corners, this race would be all about tyre management. The 20-lap race meant the soft compound tyres were not available, so no chance of recording a lap record. Back on form, Danny Kent on McAMS Racing Yamaha was looking good in the early stages. Coming into the chicane, he looked to be braking later and getting his bike turned in well. 

The young guns of #86 Charlie Nesbitt and #30 Max Cook battled for the lead, which had been held by Ray, Bridewell, and eventually Ryde, who took the checkered flag. Kent took second from Cook on the final lap, a great opening race and a great result for Max Cook to get onto the podium. Cook also recorded the fastest lap; he had pole for the sprint race.

1. Kyle Ryde, Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha
2. Danny Kent, McAMS Racing Yamaha +0.179s
3. Max Cook, AJN Steelstock Kawasaki +0.793s

BSB Thruxton Race 2

Blaze Baker and Danny Webb crashed out on lap 5 of the sprint race, resulting in a red flag. The restart would be a reduced 8-lap race. The soft compound tyres were authorised, and duly Bradley Ray broke the lap record with a 1:14.539. It wasn’t enough to win the race.

Danny Kent was confident and committed after his P2 in race one and went one better to win the sprint race. Kyle Ryde second, and championship leader Bradley Ray third. An honourable mention must go to #21 Christian Iddon in fourth place and AJN Steelstock Kawasaki teammate #30 Max Cook fifth.

1. Danny Kent, McAMS Racing Yamaha
2. Kyle Ryde, Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha +0.097s
3. Bradley Ray, Raceways Yamaha +0.232s

BSB Thruxton Race 3

Danny Kent completed his first double win of the season after a close, cut-and-thrust race. Bradley Ray and Kent battled to the last corner; Ray ran wide, Kent cut back to take the win. #21 Christian Iddon was third, capping off for a great weekend with a second podium for the AJN Steelstock Kawasaki team.

1. Danny Kent, McAMS Racing Yamaha
2. Bradley Ray Raceways Yamaha +0.196s
3. Christian Iddon AJN Steelstock Kawasaki +0.338s

BSB Championship Standing

So with BSB Thruxton complete Bradley Ray still leads the championship. Ryde stays second but closer to Ray with Kent appertaining in the top three for the first time. With all of the rider movements, one thing is for sure. The BSB fans can look forward to great racers on great bikes for the second half of the season. The next round is my personal favourite, Cadwell Park 23-25 August.

1. Bradley Ray Raceways Yamaha 260.
2. Kyle Ryde Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha 234.
3. Danny Kent McAMS Racing Yamaha 170.
4. Rory Skinner Cheshire Mouldings Ducati 167.
5. Leon Haslam Moto Rapido Ducati Racing 163.
6. Christian Iddon AJN Steelstock Kawasaki 139.
7. Tommy Bridewell Honda Racing UK 134.
8. Josh Brookes DAO Racing Honda 115.
9. Max Cook AJN Steelstock Kawasaki 114.
10. Charlie Nesbitt MasterMac Honda 91.

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