Bennett’s British Superbikes | Oulton Park | October 2025
The penultimate round of the British Superbikes Showdown delivered everything the title fight needed and probably a bit more. Oulton Park, already one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, became a theatre of chaos and brilliance as Storm Amy battered the Cheshire countryside, turning the weekend into a test of nerve, strategy and outright racecraft.
Across three races, changing conditions, red flags and relentless pressure reshaped the championship picture. Josh Brookes struck first with a perfectly judged tyre gamble, Bradley Ray produced one of the rides of the season, and Scott Redding capped the weekend with an all time classic scrap.
Race 1 – Brookes Plays the Long Game
Race 1 set the tone. Wet conditions forced an early red flag, and when the field reassembled, the track was drying fast enough to make tyre choice a decisive factor.
Josh Brookes and Leon Haslam rolled the dice on intermediate tyres, a call that looked risky but proved inspired. As grip levels evolved lap by lap, Brookes came alive in the closing stages, stalking Haslam before making a decisive move on the final lap to claim his first victory since 2023 for DAO Racing Honda.
Behind them, championship leader Kyle Ryde rode a measured race to third, limiting the damage and protecting his points advantage at that stage of the weekend.
Lee Jackson, Leon Haslam, Kyle Ryde & Josh Brookes shot by Eamon Yates
Race 2 – Ray’s Recovery Ride for the Ages
If Race 1 was about strategy, Race 2 was about pure aggression and belief.
An early red flag following Peter Hickman’s incident and subsequent track contamination shortened the race, but did nothing to reduce the intensity. Starting 14th on the grid, Bradley Ray had everything to do.
What followed was one of the standout performances of the season. Lap after lap, Ray carved through the field with precision, timing passes perfectly and refusing to be drawn into unnecessary risks. On the final lap, he executed decisive moves on Christian Iddon and Leon Haslam to snatch a sensational victory for Raceways Yamaha.
Crucially, the win slashed Kyle Ryde’s championship lead and shifted the momentum firmly toward the Showdown’s final act.
Race 3 – Ten Riders, One Win, Absolute Mayhem
R3 was the race everyone will be talking about long after the season ends.
A ten rider freight train formed at the front, with Redding, Ray, Haslam, Ryde and several others swapping positions almost corner by corner. Oulton Park’s fast, flowing layout left no margin for error, and yet the entire group pushed relentlessly.
Scott Redding emerged on top, controlling the chaos with experience and aggression in equal measure to take a superb victory for Hager PBM Ducati. Bradley Ray followed him home in second, while Leon Haslam completed a remarkable weekend with his third podium from three races.
It was the kind of contest that defines a championship season and instantly earns “race of the year” status.
Championship Picture – All Roads Lead to Brands Hatch
By Sunday evening, the title fight had tightened dramatically. Bradley Ray’s consistency and race winning pace slashed the gap to Kyle Ryde, who now heads to the finale knowing that every point will matter.
BSB at Oulton Park shot by Eamon Yates
With the championship set to be decided at Brands Hatch, the stage could not be better prepared. Momentum has swung, pressure has intensified, and nothing feels settled.
Final Thoughts
Oulton Park delivered a reminder of why British Superbikes remains one of the most compelling championships in world motorsport.
Natural terrain, unpredictable weather and riders willing to commit fully produced a weekend that was raw, dramatic and utterly absorbing.
If this was the appetiser, the Brands Hatch finale promises a showdown worthy of everything that came before it.
