Bradley Ray wins his eighth race of the season in a three way battle with Kyle Ryde and Rory Skinner

It was mixed conditions at Knockhill with the Scottish weather producing heavy wind and spells of rain and some sunshine as well, it was declared a dry race so all riders were on full slicks.

Bradley Ray started from his fourth consecutive pole position ahead of fellow Yamaha rider Kyle Ryde and home favourite Rory Skinner rounded out the front row in third. DAO Racing Honda’s Josh Brookes was fourth and Storm Stacey in fifth and Scott Redding tailed the second row in sixth, all three riders are known for their speed in tricky conditions.

The lights went out and Ryde took the holeshot ahead of Ray and Skinner, Christian Iddon went down at turn three.

Ray took the lead into the chicane on lap three and Ryde was unable to respond. Skinner meanwhile set the fastest lap and he was bringing Redding and Stacey along with him.

Ryde slipped underneath Ray at turn three to retake the lead from the championship leader.

On lap six Skinner out-braked Ray into Taylor’s Hairpin and moved into second place. Redding and Stacey were just starting to lose touch with the front three.

Redding went wide at Taylor’s Hairpin on lap eight and Stacey inherited fourth place. Tommy Bridewell was now on the back of the HAGER PBM Ducati.

On lap 11 Skinner block passed Ryde into Taylor’s Hairpin to take the lead of the race in-front of his home fans. Stacey now lead a five rider group containing Redding, Bridewell, Charlie Nesbitt and Brookes.

Ryde had a look up the inside of Skinner but he just wasn’t close enough to make the move. Brookes after a poor start passed Nesbitt for seventh at Taylor’s Hairpin and was right behind Honda Racing UK’S Bridewell.

On lap 16 Redding moved back into fourth place after Stacey ran a wide entry line at Taylor’s Hairpin. The following lap Ryde tried to pass Skinner into the final corner but out-braked himself and ran wide and Ray moved into second place, Brookes had also passed Bridewell.

On lap 19 Ray sat up Skinner at turn three to retake the lead and Ryde was also able to take profit to pass Skinner for second place.

Ray immediately checked out setting fastest laps of the race and pulled a second over Ryde and Skinner.

With six laps to go Bridewell who had repassed Brookes was able to overtake Stacey at Taylor’s Hairpin to move into the top five, Brookes then passed Stacey on the following lap.

Bridewell and Brookes were duking it out for top Honda rider and for the top five, Brookes tried to pass Bridewell into Taylor’s Hairpin but ran wide.

Ray crossed the line to take his seventh consecutive victory of the season, Ryde took second place reducing the damage in the championship and Skinner took a home rostrum in third. Redding on his return finished fourth ahead of Bridewell in fifth. Brookes took sixth ahead of Stacey in seventh and Nesbitt in eighth.

Ray extends his championship lead to 32 points over Ryde after nine races and Leon Haslam who finished 12th was 53 points behind.

Featured Image: CMC Images.