BSB: Ray does the double at Donington

Buildbase Suzuki rider Bradley Ray has backed up his first ever win in the Bennetts British Superbike championship yesterday by making it a double in the second race of the season’s opening weekend at Donington. He controlled the damp race to take the win from Leon Haslam and Dan Linfoot.

Starting the race like most of the field on slick tyres despite the damp but drying track, Ray made his break early from pole position and controlled the race from there. A late charge from Leon Haslam tried to close down the gap but the 2017 runner-up was unable to match Ray and was forced to settle for second.

Dan Linfoot was third on the Honda after starting strong by being one of a handful who elected to run an intermediate front tyre, but was quickly gobbled up by Haslam as the track continued to dry out. Nonetheless, he was able to defend the final podium position from the battle for fourth, with Danny Buchan a surprise finish ahead of reigning champion Shane Byrne.

Christian Iddon was the first of the Tyco BMWs in sixth, ahead of Glenn Irwin and Luke Mossey, while Jason O’Halloran and Michael Laverty rounded out the top ten. Josh Brookes was eleventh after suffering in the early stages of the race, with the McAMS Yamaha rider the only man on the grid electing to run the softer rear Pirelli tyre.