BSB Pre-Season Testing | Oulton Park | April 2026
Kyle Ryde ended the Bennetts British Superbike Championship's two-day pre-season test at Oulton Park as the quickest rider overall. A 1:32.913 set in the final session was enough to edge Scott Redding and Bradley Ray, and sent the paddock home with plenty to think about ahead of the new season.
Conditions across both days were bright and sunny, with Day 2 feeling slightly warmer underfoot. It was not without incident though. Five red flags punctuated the running across the two days but in between the stoppages, teams found the laps they needed and the pace told an interesting story.
Day 1 — Stacey Sets The Early Benchmark
The opening day got off to an unsettled start. A red flag in Session 1 brought proceedings to a halt after Charlie Nesbitt (86) crashed at Shell Oils Corner approaching Britten's Chicane. The bike cartwheeled heavily and spread fuel across the grass near the lake. Nesbitt walked away unhurt, and the session resumed without further drama.
Once the dust settled, Bradley Ray showed his hand early. The former champion topped Session 1 with a 1:34.578, Glenn Irwin slotting in behind with Scott Redding close behind in third. Ray came back stronger in Session 2, improving to a 1:34.376 with Redding moving to within a tenth in second. The two looked set to trade blows across the day.
Then Storm Stacey arrived at the top of the timesheets. In the final session of Day 1 he produced a 1:33.720 that rewrote the order entirely, going nearly two tenths clear of Ray's 1:33.921. Kyle Ryde rounded out the top three on 1:33.966. It was a statement from a rider with plenty to prove in 2026.
Day 2 — Ryde Takes Control
If Day 1 belonged to Stacey, Day 2 was all about Ryde. The reigning champion arrived with intent and rarely looked like relinquishing top spot once he had it.
The day itself was not without its moments. Guest rider Sam West (62) triggered a red flag in Session 4, one of three stoppages across the opening session alone. Joe Talbot (19) brought Session 5 to a premature end after going down at Old Hall Corner. The lengthy red flag cut that fifth session short. Peter Hickman (60) fell in the closing session, bringing out the final stoppage of the day. Each time, the paddock regrouped and got back out.
Ray led the way in Session 4 with a 1:33.777, but Ryde moved ahead in Session 5 with a 1:33.524 and then really turned the screw in the final hour. His 1:32.913 was the fastest lap of the entire test, with Redding pushing hard to go second on 1:33.172 and Ray completing the top three on 1:33.618.
Also turning heads across both days was road racing legend Michael Dunlop. Running under his iconic number 6 aboard a Ducati prepared by MD Racing, Dunlop joined the BSB field as a guest and was a welcome presence in the Oulton Park paddock.
Overall BSB — Two-Day Combined
- Kyle Ryde (1) — 1:32.913
- Scott Redding (45) — 1:33.172
- Bradley Ray (28) — 1:33.618
Superstock
Connell Dominant Throughout
While the Superbike class grabbed the headlines, the Superstock runners put in two days of equally compelling running, with Declan Connell (33) emerging as the clear benchmark across both days.
Day 1 opened with a genuine three-way battle at the top. Connell, Ben Luxton (99), and Harrison Crosby (69) were separated by just 0.022 seconds in Session 1, as tight as testing gets. Simon Reid (10) muscled his way into contention in Session 2, posting a 1:37.779 that briefly threatened to shake things up. Connell had the final word, though, closing Day 1 with a 1:37.428 to take the overnight honours.
Day 2 saw him go a step further. A 1:36.303 in Session 5 was a significant improvement on anything seen the previous day and put clear daylight between Connell and the rest. Luxton was a model of consistency throughout the test and ended the two days second overall on 1:37.413. Blaze Baker had a strong finish to the test, taking third on 1:37.664 after topping the final Superstock session. John McGuinness (5) also featured in the closing session results, a nod to the experience present even at a pre-season test.
Overall Superstock — Two-Day Combined
- Declan Connell (33) — 1:36.303
- Ben Luxton (99) — 1:37.413
- Blaze Baker (51) — 1:37.664
The Oulton Park test draws a curtain on BSB's winter preparations. The sun was out, the laptimes were falling, and the grid is taking shape. Oulton Park awaits.
