BSB Knockhill Race 1 Results

Bradley Ray Makes it Eight on the Bounce as Scott Redding Impresses on BSB Return

Bradley Ray extended his commanding run in the 2025 British Superbike Championship to eight consecutive victories after a calculated and clinical performance saw him fend off Kyle Ryde and hometown hero Rory Skinner in Race 1 at Knockhill.

Having dominated much of the season already, the championship leader showed patience and racecraft by sitting behind Ryde and Skinner in the early laps before launching a decisive move two-thirds of the way through the contest. Once in front, Ray never looked back, pulling away to yet another dominant win.

The OMG Yamaha star added to his growing tally with a measured ride, bringing it home ahead of reigning champion Ryde, who ensured a Yamaha 1-2 finish, while Skinner secured his third podium of the season on home soil aboard the Cheshire Mouldings TAS Ducati.

One of the standout stories of the day came from Scott Redding. Returning to British Superbikes for the first time since his 2019 title-winning campaign, the former MotoGP and WorldSBK rider slotted into the field like he’d never left. Starting from sixth on the grid, the Hager PBM Ducati rider carved his way into fourth place with a mix of aggression and control, proving he still has the pace to run at the front.

Despite Ray’s remarkable form this season, the first half of Saturday’s race around Knockhill’s compact and technical layout hinted at a more open outcome. Ryde got the jump at the lights, beating polesitter Ray into the steep descent at Duffus Dip. Ray briefly retook the lead on lap three, only for Ryde to retaliate immediately with a robust move at McIntyre’s.

As the front two scrapped for position, Skinner remained firmly in touch, waiting for an opportunity. That came on lap six when he dove inside Ray at Taylor’s Hairpin to claim second— a move straight out of the local rider’s Knockhill playbook. Just a few laps later, Skinner repeated the trick, this time on Ryde, catching him napping with a stealthy inside line to take over at the front.

But as the race moved past halfway, Ryde began turning the screws. A bold attempt to reclaim the lead at Taylor’s saw him run wide, allowing Ray to pounce and snatch second. With clear air ahead, Ray wasted no time closing in on Skinner before executing a firm but fair move at McIntyre’s to seize the lead.

With Ray now in front and a small cushion forming, he upped the tempo, clocking a string of fastest laps to stretch the gap over Ryde to nearly two seconds. From there, the 2022 champion controlled the race with precision, eventually crossing the line 1.8 seconds clear. Skinner, frustrated after losing the lead, eased off late on but still secured third, finishing 3.8 seconds adrift.

Ray’s victory extends his already impressive lead in the championship standings, with Ryde trailing by 32 points after finishing second for the fifth time this year. Meanwhile, Leon Haslam — a potential title rival coming into the round — could only manage 13th, his Moto Rapido Ducati clearly struggling for pace, leaving him 53 points behind Ray.

Scott Redding’s return, however, added some serious spark to proceedings. Despite being out of the series since 2019, the 2019 champion looked race-sharp from the outset. Holding his own in a tight pack, he initially lost fourth to Storm Stacey after a wobble into Taylor’s on lap eight, but dug deep and methodically reeled the BMW rider back in, reclaiming the position in the final laps.

Redding’s overtake seemed to unsettle Stacey, whose pace faded slightly in the closing stages. Both Tommy Bridewell and Josh Brookes made their way past the Bathams AJN Racing rider, pushing Stacey down to seventh.

Charlie Nesbitt brought his machine home in eighth after a steady ride, while Lee Jackson edged Andrew Irwin in a close battle to round out the top ten.

Further back, Fraser Rogers impressed with a hard-fought 11th place, holding off Danny Kent and the out-of-sorts Haslam. Max Cook and John McPhee, both of whom had troubled qualifying sessions, salvaged points by finishing 14th and 15th respectively.

Unfortunately, there was early drama for Christian Iddon, who became the only notable retirement. The AJN Steelstock Kawasaki rider clipped the rear of Andrew Irwin’s Honda at McIntyre’s on lap one, sending him into the gravel and out of the race.

As the chequered flag fell on a dramatic opening race, the momentum clearly remains with Ray. But with Redding back in the mix and plenty of fast riders eager to halt his streak, Knockhill still has plenty more drama in store this weekend.