BSB: Bradley Ray returns to OMG Racing Yamaha for 2025 campaign

Bradley Ray will make his return to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship next season after re-joining OMG Racing Yamaha.

The 2022 champion is back after two campaigns in the World Superbike Championship with Motoxracing Yamaha. It’s been a difficult two years for the Brit onboard his R1, with the standout result coming at Imola last season when he finished sixth.

• Pick up this week’s issue of MCN for an exclusive interview with Bradley Ray

Ray finished 19^th overall in 2022 and is currently 21^st in the standings with two rounds remaining in 2024. Ray’s results have improved in recent weeks, with a season-best of 11^th at Cremona, as well as point scoring finishes at Magny-Cours and Aragon.

“I’m really pleased and excited to be returning to the OMG Racing UK team and to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in 2025, the same team I won the title with on the Yamaha back in 2022,” Ray said. “I have lots of happy memories there and I’m more than ready to make some more next season.

“The time in WorldSBK has been great, a very hard and very steep learning curve as the level there is so high. I’m returning to the BSB series with very high motivation, I know what I want from my career, I know how much hard work I’ve put in and how much I’ve developed since 2022 and I want to put that hard work, dedication and knowledge to the best possible use for both mine and the team’s advantage.

“I’m now hoping to end this year on a high in both Portugal and Jerez before signing off for now from WSB and then getting straight down to work with Alan, Paul and the team over the winter and start the title attack in 2025 for title number two!”

Ray first joined OMG in 2021 when the team raced BMW machinery. It was the decision to join Yamaha the following season which moved Ray and the team to the front of BSB, and Ray dominated onboard the R1.

In 2022 Ray won nine races and secured a grand total of 23 podiums. Such was his consistency, Ray also finished fourth on five occasions, fifth on two occasions and sixth in the final race of the year. He suffered just two DNFs.

“We’re excited to welcome Brad back to not only BSB but to the OMG Racing Yamaha team,” OMG Racing Team Owner, Alan Gardner said. “We thoroughly enjoyed having him with us in the past and he adapted to the Yamaha R1 machine for his title-winning season with us in 2022. Since then, he’s remained with the Yamaha brand, and we’re excited to welcome him back in 2025.

“The three riders we have on board next year presents a really strong line up, with Kyle a Championship contender this year, Brad being a proven Champion in BSB and Joe with his very experienced team-mates he can learn from. We’re really looking forward to the season and seeing how Brad and his team-mates get on.”

Ray’s return means that OMG Racing will expand to a three-rider effort in 2025. Current championship leader Kyle Ryde stays for a fifth consecutive season, whilst rookie Joe Talbot moves up from the Superstock class. Both riders have a great chance of winning their respective championships this weekend at Brands Hatch.

“I think we have one of the strongest line ups on the grid next year as we welcome Brad back to the team,” OMG Racing Team Principal, Paul Curran concluded. “He knows the R1 package inside out, and although there’s been a few changes to the R1 machine announced, its DNA remains the same of that he took to the BSB title in 2022 and has raced with in WorldSBK.

“We’re excited to give him a race winning package again and see him fighting at the front, giving it his all for OMG Racing alongside Kyle and Joe in 2025. Expanding to three bikes is exciting for us, and we thank all our partners and Yamaha Motor UK for their support in making it possible. We’re all looking forward to getting going over winter.”

• Pick up this week’s issue of MCN for an exclusive interview with Bradley Ray