Ryde tops opening day of Thruxton action with a stunning 1:14.530 as BSB riders battle for Q2 places

Kyle Ryde made the perfect start to the seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Thruxton, setting the fastest time of the opening day with a new outright BSB lap record.

The Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Ducati rider needed just a single flying lap during Friday afternoon’s Pre-Qualifying session to stamp his authority on proceedings. Ryde’s 1:14.530 was enough to put him clear at the top of the timesheets and provided an early answer to questions over whether the Ducati would be competitive around the notoriously fast Hampshire circuit.

Ryde’s performance was particularly impressive given his approach to the final session. The reigning number one rider had planned to complete an out lap, produce one quick effort and return to the pits. The strategy worked perfectly.

His lap was also below the previous benchmark, underlining the pace available from both Ryde and the Ducati around Thruxton.

With qualifying now in focus, Ryde heads into Saturday as the rider everyone will be looking to beat.

Ryde Produces a Record-Breaking Lap

Ducati rider needs just one flying lap to top Friday

Ryde’s record-breaking performance came early in the Pre-Qualifying session.

The Ducati rider initially headed out behind Bradley Ray and Ilya Mikhalchik, but once the riders began to separate, Ryde was able to put together a clear lap without traffic interfering with his rhythm.

The result was a blistering 1:14.530.

Having completed the lap, Ryde returned to the pits and did not need another attempt.

It was a calculated gamble that paid off handsomely, with none of his rivals able to match the pace during the remainder of the session.

The result is an encouraging sign for the Ducati package at a circuit where there had been some concerns about its performance.

Thruxton’s combination of high-speed corners, heavy braking zones and long periods spent at full throttle places considerable demands on both machinery and riders. Ryde’s pace suggests the Ducati has found a strong balance heading into the weekend.

Cook Leads the Bimota Challenge

Max Cook finishes second after another limited running strategy

Max Cook came closest to Ryde’s benchmark aboard the AJN Steelstock Bimota.

Like Ryde, Cook adopted a relatively short-session approach, heading onto the circuit during the final ten minutes before completing his run and returning to the pits.

The Bimota rider eventually stopped the clock at 1:14.839, leaving him 0.309 seconds away from Ryde.

It was another positive result for the manufacturer, which continues to establish itself within the BSB field.

Cook’s second position also ensured that Bimota remained firmly represented at the sharp end of the standings.

Redding Continues Strong Thruxton Form

Hager PBM Ducati rider completes the top three

Scott Redding was third fastest for Hager PBM Ducati after another relatively short outing.

Redding had already shown his potential earlier in the day, becoming the first rider to dip below the 1:15 barrier on Friday.

The former WorldSBK race winner ultimately completed only three laps during Pre-Qualifying but retained third place on the timesheets.

His pace will be one of the key stories to follow heading into Saturday, particularly given the importance of qualifying at a circuit where overtaking can be difficult despite the long straights.

Talbot Completes Bimota’s Strong Day

Rookie ends Friday fourth fastest

Joe Talbot provided another boost for the Bimota team by finishing fourth.

The rookie’s final position represented a significant turnaround after he had been down in 15th and 16th during the earlier practice sessions.

Talbot’s improvement throughout Friday was one of the day’s more encouraging performances, and he finished as the leading rookie.

He was also the final rider to finish within half a second of Ryde’s record-setting benchmark, demonstrating just how competitive the front of the field could be when qualifying begins.

Skinner Leads Yamaha Charge

Cheshire Mouldings rider secures fifth

Rory Skinner was the leading Yamaha rider in fifth place for Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha.

The Scottish rider has shown strong pace at various stages of the season and was once again among the leading group at Thruxton.

Christian Iddon also enjoyed a much-improved session for Sencat Yamaha, finishing sixth and continuing to build momentum after a less convincing start to the day.

Danny Kent completed the top seven on the second Cheshire Mouldings machine.

Although Kent was lower on the timesheets than he had been during the earlier sessions, seventh was still enough to secure direct progression into Q2.

That could prove important when qualifying gets underway, as avoiding the additional Q1 session will allow Kent to focus immediately on setting a competitive grid position.

Vickers Leads Honda Riders

Ryan Vickers drops from second but remains safely inside Q2

Ryan Vickers experienced a small drop down the order after finishing second in FP2.

The number seven rider ultimately ended Friday eighth fastest, but more importantly remained the leading Honda rider.

His position ensures direct passage into Q2 and leaves him well placed to challenge for the front rows on Saturday.

Bradley Ray, who had topped the Friday classification at the previous round at Oulton Park, could only manage ninth for McAMS Yamaha.

The former BSB champion will be looking for a stronger Saturday after ending the opening day just outside the leading eight.

O’Halloran Makes Late Progress

Honda Racing UK rider climbs four positions

Jason O’Halloran produced one of the more notable late improvements during Pre-Qualifying.

The Honda Racing UK rider moved up four places during the closing stages to finish tenth on the second Honda machine.

O’Halloran’s progress came at a crucial time, with the final Q2 positions being decided during the closing minutes.

His tenth place leaves him in a useful position heading into Saturday, although he will need to find further pace if he is to challenge for the leading positions.

Jackson Earns Direct Q2 Place

DAO Racing rider makes an impressive return to Thruxton

Lee Jackson continued the strong Friday form of the DAO Racing team by finishing 11th.

The result was particularly notable given Jackson’s absence from the corresponding round last season.

He was comfortably ahead of teammate Josh Brookes, who endured a much more difficult opening day and finished 17th.

Jackson’s 11th place means he will progress directly to Q2, putting him within touching distance of the leading group.

For Brookes, Saturday will need to bring a significant improvement if he is to recover from a challenging opening day.

Mikhalchik Takes the Final Q2 Spot

BMW rider holds on despite late pressure

Ilya Mikhalchik secured the final automatic Q2 position in 12th.

The rookie was the only BMW rider remaining in the BSB field and faced late pressure as several riders attempted to break into the top 12.

Despite that challenge, Mikhalchik held his position and will now go directly into Q2.

His performance represents another important step in his adaptation to the BSB championship and the demands of Thruxton.

Haslam Frustrated by Cancelled Lap

Former champion forced to settle for 13th

Leon Haslam appeared to have the pace to challenge much higher up the order after topping Q2 earlier in the day.

However, his Pre-Qualifying session did not go according to plan.

The Moto Rapido Ducati rider left the pits late and saw his first flying lap cancelled for course cutting.

His next effort was not enough to move him into the top 12, leaving the former champion 13th.

Haslam’s pace remains encouraging, but he will need a clean qualifying session on Saturday to convert that potential into a strong grid position.

Irwin Suffers Electrical Problems

Glenn Irwin loses valuable track time

Glenn Irwin endured one of the more frustrating Fridays in the field.

The second Nitrous Competitions rider encountered several electrical problems throughout the day, severely limiting his time on track.

The lack of running left Irwin 19th at the end of Pre-Qualifying.

Given his experience and previous results in BSB, the position is unlikely to reflect his true pace.

However, the team will need to resolve the technical issues quickly if Irwin is to make progress during Saturday’s qualifying sessions and race.

Stacey Misses Final Session

Oil cooler problem leaves Bathams AJN rider without a lap

Storm Stacey’s day ended even more frustratingly.

The Bathams AJN rider was unable to take part in Pre-Qualifying after an oil cooler problem could not be repaired in time.

As a result, Stacey finished the session at the bottom of the classification without recording a lap.

The team now faces a race against time to get the bike fully prepared before Saturday’s action.

With qualifying determining the starting positions for the weekend’s races, Stacey will have plenty of work to do if he is to recover from the setback.

Cover Riders Continue at Thruxton

Graeme Irwin and Sheldon-Shaw remain in the field

The weekend also sees several riders continuing in substitute roles.

Graeme Irwin finished 22nd as he continues to stand in for his brother Andrew at MET fonaCAB Racing.

Joe Sheldon-Shaw, meanwhile, returned to action as cover for Luke Hedger at Whitecliffe CDH Racing.

Hedger has been ruled out after suffering an injury at work ahead of the previous round at Oulton Park.

For both replacement riders, the weekend provides valuable track time and an opportunity to demonstrate their potential in the highly competitive BSB field.

Kyle Ryde Heads into Saturday as the Rider to Beat

Friday’s running at Thruxton has provided an intriguing picture ahead of qualifying and the opening races.

Ryde’s 1:14.530 has established a new benchmark and, perhaps more importantly, demonstrated that the Ducati has the pace required to compete at the front of the field.

Cook and Talbot have given Bimota plenty to be encouraged about, while Redding, Skinner and Iddon have kept the Yamaha challenge firmly in contention.

Honda also has several riders inside the top 12, with Vickers leading the manufacturer charge.

However, the biggest talking point remains Ryde.

The championship leader has shown devastating one-lap pace and needed only a single flying lap to put the rest of the field on notice.

The real test will come when the riders return to the circuit on Saturday and begin fighting for grid positions.

With qualifying still to come and multiple riders showing the potential to challenge at the front, the seventh round of the British Superbike Championship is already shaping up to be another fiercely contested weekend at Thruxton.

Images: Nitrous Competitions Racing