Bradley Ray was back on track for his home round of the World Superbike Championship last weekend at Donington Park, but unfortunately the results he would have liked didn’t come.

In race one of the weekend Ray started from 17th from the grid, as he made progress during free practice and into qualifying.

With this result he started the first of the weekend’s races from the sixth row of the grid. The Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK rider did not make the best start when the lights went out, but he was able to climb back up to sixteenth position, finishing just outside the points zone.

Speaking after race one, Ray said: “Today’s race was difficult. I struggled out of the turns and with the tyre grip, but I think we know what we need to do for tomorrow’s races.

“I’m pleased with the way I’m riding and with the direction we’ve taken with the bike and the team. We just hope the weather holds for us tomorrow.”

Sunday morning, in cool, cloudy conditions, Brad was out on track for the Superpole Race, which ran over a distance of just ten laps. Getting away from row six, he was unable to find the kind of pace that would allow him to make ground on those in front, which meant he finished nineteenth.

In Race 2, which got underway in the afternoon, Ray was unable to express his full potential or that of the YZF-R1 and finished eighteenth.

Giving his thoughts at the end of the weekend, Ray said: “I’m pleased with my last race here at Donington. We made a step forward with the bike, were in fact 17 seconds quicker than we were in Race 1, and I was able to stick with the chasing group.

“I’m lacking a little grip and acceleration, but today I did my best and know I gave it my all. Thanks to the whole team for their hard work this weekend, and now we’ll focus on the next round, which is already next week at Most.”