OMG Racing’s Ryan Vickers held off his team-mate Kyle Ryde to take the first victory of the 2024 season.

The opening round of the Bennetts British Superbikes is upon us, McAMS Yamaha Mar-Train’s Danny Kent took the first pole position of the season, joining Danny on the front row of the grid was Ryan Vickers and Kyle Ryde; an-all Yamaha front row.

Lights out for the first time this season as Vickers lead the field in to turn one. Kent didn’t get a good start being pushed back to third place, Ryde was in second place, a Yamaha trio at the front.

Ducati’s Glenn Irwin was putting Kent under pressure for the third place position. FHO Racing’s Peter Hickman was running strong in sixth place, whilst his team-mate Josh Brookes was down in 16th place. Reigning champion Tommy Bridewell was in 12th place.

Rory Skinner was just on the back of the leading four riders, the young Scott is carrying an arm injury after a testing crash. On lap four Ryde was pilling on the pressure on his team-mate, Kyle made his move for the lead at turn nine and held the first place position.

Vickers ran wide at on lap six, losing a position to Kent, disaster for Brookes as he crashed out at turn nine. Storm Stacey retired to the pits, an early end for the Staffordshire rider.

Behind the leading group there was an eight way battle for sixth place from Christian Iddon to Kawasaki’s Jason O’ Halloran. Alex Olson was the highest placed Pathway rider in 19th place. Tom Neave crashed out for third time of the week at turn one!

On lap 13 Vickers slipstreamed his way passed Kent on the home straight to move back into second and started to study his team-mate Ryde.

With five laps to go Ryde was given a track limits warning for touching the green which he was doing often at the exit of turn four.

Ryde made a mistake at the last corner on lap 17 and Vickers took advantage and retook the lead with three laps remaining and set sights for his first dry BSB victory.

Vickers had pulled out a gap over Ryde and Kent, setting his fastest lap of the race on the penultimate lap.

Ryan Vickers took a fantastic victory in the opening race of the 2024 BSB season, Ryde finished second making it a Grilla OMG Racing one-two and Kent was third making it a Yamaha podium lockout.

Irwin was fourth not having the late race pace of the Yamaha YZF-R1’s with Skinner finishing inside the top five on his return to the championship even with an injured left arm which he sustained from pre-season testing.

Featured Image: OMG Racing