The 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship reached its crescendo at Brands Hatch, where tension, weather and raw determination collided on one of the UK’s most iconic circuits. Over three races on the Grand Prix layout, the title fight between reigning champion Kyle Ryde and challenger Bradley Ray came down to nerve, precision and survival. With Scott Redding’s wildcard return adding fresh chaos to the mix, the season’s final act delivered everything that defines British Superbikes — speed, grit, and spectacle — as Ryde held his composure to defend his crown and etch his name deeper into BSB history.
The Stakes: Title in Hand on the Wire
Heading into the weekend, reigning champion Kyle Ryde of OMG Nitrous Competitions Yamaha carried the number-one plate and the pressure that comes with it. His main rival, Bradley Ray of Raceways Yamaha, arrived at Brands Hatch determined to seize any opportunity, while Scott Redding, returning with the Hager PBM Ducati, threatened to upset the title balance entirely.
It was a setup steeped in narrative potential: could Ray pull off a last-round upset, or would Ryde’s cool precision bring him back-to-back championships? The answer would come only after three races of high tension and shifting fortunes.
Friday & Saturday: Practice and Grid Battle
Before the lights went green, the weekend’s tone was set in practice and qualifying. In Free Practice 2, Ray topped the times with a 1m 25.096s lap, edging close to rival Ryde and reminding everyone that Yamaha pace remained formidable.
Ray admitted afterwards,
“I didn’t know how fast to go… I didn’t have a good feeling at all, honestly.”
Saturday’s Bandero Café Shoot-Out qualifying sealed grid positions and subtly shifted momentum. Ray claimed pole with a stunning lap of 1m 24.278s — just 0.115s off the fastest ever on the circuit.
Ryde lined up alongside him, choosing to stay calm and calculated. The stage was set: Ray up front, Ryde ready to strike, and Redding looming from sixth — a grid that practically promised fireworks.
Race 1: Redding Strikes, Title Battle Ignites
The opening race delivered both spectacle and tension. Scott Redding emerged victorious after working his way from sixth on the grid, displaying experience and patience. His decisive move on Ray at Hawthorns was the hallmark of a rider who knows when to strike.
“Started sixth, but I went forward and went back – just too steady at the start,” Redding said. “These boys, they just know how to switch it on straight away. I feel like I’m red wine — I need to age a bit and get going.”
Behind him, Ray and Ryde were locked in a fierce yet respectful duel. Ray’s second place narrowed the points gap, but Ryde’s third — a mature, calculated result — kept him in control.
Photography by Denel Media (left) and Sam Whitworth (right)
Race 2: Double for Redding, Pressure Rises
If the first race set the tone, the second one cranked the pressure. Redding again took victory, this time through a late-race charge that saw him pass both Ray and Ryde in quick succession. His Ducati looked planted, powerful, and utterly relentless.
For Ray, a podium was essential — but not enough.
“I needed to be first or second at least to have a chance,” he admitted. “Obviously I needed to be at the front of the final race and for Kyle to struggle.”
Ryde’s runner-up finish, though not spectacular, put him 30 points clear heading into Sunday. The arithmetic was simple: stay upright and within the top six, and the crown was his to keep.
Race 3: The Decider — Conditions, Tactics & Triumph
Sunday brought the final twist — rain. The drizzle turned the already unforgiving circuit into a greasy test of judgement and nerve. In those moments, championships are often lost through over-commitment. Ryde’s measured sixth place showed precisely why he’s the benchmark for composure.
Out front, Danny Kent produced a stunning wet-weather masterclass to give his McAMS Yamaha team a parting gift before its BSB exit.
Photography by Denel Media (right) and Sam Whitworth (left)
“The team gave me a mega bike,” Kent said. “These conditions are very tricky.”
Ray, running strongly early on, made a small error at Westfield and slipped to second. His hopes of a comeback evaporated as Ryde’s points cushion proved unassailable. With the chequered flag, Kyle Ryde became the first rider since Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne in 2017 to defend a British Superbike title.
“Title defence delivered — a champion’s ride from Ryde to take title number two,” read the official BSB release, perfectly capturing the moment.
What ultimately defined the 2025 BSB finale wasn’t just raw speed, but the consistency and composure shown by Kyle Ryde across a season of relentless pressure. His ability to extract results in every circumstance, from the dry pace battles to the wet decider, proved that championships are built on discipline as much as bravery. Yet, the wildcard factor of Scott Redding reshaped the entire weekend; his pace and aggression injected a third dynamic into a two-man title race, forcing both Ryde and Ray to adapt in real time. Brands Hatch itself, with its treacherous cambers, blind apexes and the unpredictability of Kent’s October weather, acted as the great leveller — a circuit that rewarded commitment but punished excess. Through the lens, it was a weekend rich in visual and emotional texture: Yamaha blue and Ducati red cutting through spray, faces marked with fatigue and relief, and the kind of raw atmosphere that defines British Superbikes at its best. The finale reminded everyone — riders, teams, and fans — that while outright victory makes headlines, it’s the blend of consistency, adaptability, and courage that crowns a champion.
