Kyle Ryde lifted the Bennetts British Superbike Championship title at Brands Hatch in the season finale on Sunday afternoon.
The season came down to the final race and the final corner, in a battle that was just as epic as Kent’s Tommy Hill beating John Hopkins to the 2011 title.
It was fitting then that Ryde who is now managed by Hill, along with defending champion Tommy Bridewell produced an absolutely epic final race. It was Ryde who took the lead once again on the final lap and managed to hold on coming round Clearways into Clark Curve and onto the Brabham Straight to cross the line and win the title by a solitary point.
Bridewell initially led the race from the front of the grid with Honda Racing UK teammate Andrew Irwin slotting into second after rocketing from seventh on the grid whilst Ryde settled into third. Glenn Irwin was the man on the move early on astride the Hager PBM Ducati to pass Ryde on the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing machine.
Andrew Irwin held brother Glenn’s advances off for a few laps, defending the title contending race leader. But Glenn Irwin worked his way past both Hondas in typically determined fashion to lead by lap six. Behind that, Ryde passed Andrew Irwin with a bold move at Sheene a lap later as both he and Bridewell hunted down Glenn Irwin at the front.
Shortly after that, Ryde moved into the box seat with quick successive moves on Bridewell and Glenn Irwin, who proceeded to scrap for position. This allowed Ryde to build a small gap as the race reached the halfway point, but after passing Glenn Irwin decisively, Bridewell began to set the timing screens alight.
Bridewell set a new all-time Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit lap record with a time of 1m24.759s on lap 11, and he was back in the lead a lap later after passing Ryde at Stirlings. The leading pair then duelled to the flag, offering up a repeat of the entertaining dogfight which ensued in race two.
Ryde several times managed to seize the lead at Hawthorn, but each time Bridewell seemed to have an answer – often relying on his signature manoeuvre into Stirlings to remain in the ‘on the road’ championship lead. After swapping positions repeatedly during the closing laps, it all came down to the final lap of the famous circuit for a second year in succession.
Ryde made what proved to be the crucial move at Hawthorn with just three more corners left for Bridewell to fight back. A strong defense into Stirlings from Ryde left Bridewell needing to make a move at the last corner and he was just unable to get the required drag to the line, falling short by just 0.296s.
The reversal of the earlier race result meant that Ryde claimed the title by the same single point which separated him from Bridewell at the start of the day.
Ryan Vickers completed the final podium of the season, with Danny Kent and Max Cook rounding out the top-five. Josh Brookes was sixth whilst Glenn and Andrew Irwin were seventh and ninth, separated only by Charlie Nesbitt, after running at the front early on. Billy McConnell completed the top-10.
Speaking after becoming champion, Ryde said: “It been a great day! It was hard fought and close all day between me and Tommy. At least 50 passes were made between us both!
“I watched the race from this morning and I tried to defend into Stirlings in the last one, but he still managed to find a way past me a few times. But I did something right on the last lap to keep him behind me.
“The pace was incredible, Tommy set a new lap record [even though] it was about six degrees outside. It hasn’t sunk in yet, but what a day. To have become British Superbike Champion, is something we have worked so hard for. It’s going to take a while to sink in!”
Images courtesy of British Superbike Championship