BSB: Rookie Ray 'speechless' after debut podium

MCE British Superbike young gun Bradley Ray was left ‘speechless’ after taking his debut BSB podium, finishing just 0.1 seconds off race winner Dan Linfoot at Oulton Park this weekend.   

The 20-year-old Buildbase Suzuki star came out of nowhere to challenge the frontrunners towards the end of the dry second race and looked set to challenge for the win at one point before he began struggling with arm pump and decided to settle for third. 

Ray has impressed this year, consistently beating Suzuki team-mates Sylvain Guintoli and Taylor Mackenzie, and has been steadily pushing towards the top six since relatively early in the year. 

Tipped as a big name for the future, Ray held his own to fight past names such as BSB champions Shane Byrne and Josh Brookes before holding his own in a battle with the vastly more experienced race leaders Dan Linfoot and Leon Haslam.

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“That was unbelievable!” said an overjoyed Ray after the race. “I was a bit worried this morning as the weather wasn’t looking too great and I’ve been struggling to find confidence with the Superbike in the wet.

“We managed to find something with our wet setting in warm-up and I felt good on the bike in the wet for the first time and was able to run with the front group and finish seventh in race one. 

“That second race has left me speechless. I saw I was catching the lead group but I kept making mistakes so if I’m honest I decided to settle down but they ended up coming back towards me. I’m gobsmacked I ended up fighting with them! We’ve got the bike working well, we just need to sort out qualifying out now.” 

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