2025 BSB ROUND 7 | Ryde Takes Charge in Title Fight

Cadwell Park saw three different winners, some bruising battles and a new leader step up

Kyle Ryde took a vital race win and is the new points leader after the latest British Superbike Championship round held at Cadwell Park over the UK Bank Holiday weekend of August 22-25.

Ryde was consistent all weekend, taking second place in the opening two races by small margins before he broke through in the final race to gap the two factory Hondas of Andrew Irwin and Tommy Bridewell by almost three seconds. “It’s been a great weekend! It has been long, quite sweaty, and that last race was very tough but it was nice to have a good bike under my belt for 12 laps,” Ryde said of his Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha R1.

Ryde’s championship rival, Brad Ray (Raceways Yamaha), took the opener with a tiny margin of 0.087 seconds. “The pace of the first few laps was phenomenal,” Ray said. “I defended really well, and I knew it was hard to pass, so I just had to do the best I could up the back straight and defend as best as I could in the areas where I knew he could pass and bring it home.”

Tommy Bridewell took the trophy for the second race ahead of Ryde and Bridewell’s Honda Racing UK teammate Andrew Irwin, but the weekend was far more challenging for Aussie Josh Brookes on the DAO Honda. With a 12-11-10 result, Brookes is still searching for answers. “It was a real emotional rollercoaster here this weekend,” Brookes commented. “We started out in the top three but didn’t really progress like the rest of the group and that trend continued into the weekend. Overnight everyone got their heads together and tried to fight our way out of this hole.”

For the two races on Sunday, Brookes said there was some improvement in the feel of the bike and that the tenth placing was a good result considering what the team had been through. “We just have to accept the position we’re in and keep progressing and moving forward.”

Billy McConnell had an eventful weekend after posting 16-14-16 on the scoresheet, but was hampered by an incident in race one where he was swiped by another rider while running seventh and pushed onto the grass at over 200km/h. “It was shaping up to be a good weekend but obviously we had that excursion at turn one which tweaked my wrist and shoulder,” McConnell explained. “That made Monday a little more difficult with the throttle and direction change. I felt a little battered and bruised. The bike felt amazing so I know the problem was me; I just couldn’t muscle it around but hopefully some rest before Donington will help.”

Currie consolidates

Ben Currie (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) has moved a step closer to his second BSB Supersport title with a fighting third in the feature race at Cadwell. Currie took fourth in the opening sprint and was in the hunt for victory in what was described as a scrappy race with limited passing opportunities. “Cadwell is one of those circuits where you can either feel really good, or really bad,” Currie said. “To be honest I didn’t feel amazing from the get-go, but we worked so hard all the way to the races where I felt like I gave myself a shot to get a podium both days.”

Critically, Currie has recorded points in every race this year and has the most wins (5) but only sits seven points higher than chief rival Rhys Irwin (Suzuki). 2023 champion Currie is now looking forward to Donington where he took a double victory earlier in the year.

Superstock & Sportbike

Prior to the Cadwell Park weekend, Brayden Elliott announced that he would be making his FIM-EWC debut at the Bol d’Or 24 Hour race with the Mana-au Competition team in mid-September, but the Tumut native endured a frustrating weekend in National Superstock.

After qualifying in fifth and running as high as second, Elliott came undone. “I gave it my all but unfortunately crashed out of yesterday’s race but it was nice to be in the mix at a track I don’t typically enjoy.”

Western Australia’s Jayden Martin finished eighth in a jam-packed field of 38 riders in the Sportbike class and had qualified 12th before working his way forward. Brodie Gawith continues his year of learning, qualifying in 24^th and finishing in 19^th.

The British Superbike Championship returns to Donington for the second time this year over September 5-7 with a program that includes the Superteen class, where Henry Snell holds a massive points lead with just four races remaining.

2025 British Superbike Standings