Bradley Ray

The young charger

HE HAD THE now compulsory grounding in the Spanish Championship plus three invaluable years in the Red Bull Rookies championship that runs at Motogp events, but in 2015 Bradley found himself unemployed. He was good in the Rookies but the 20-year-old from Lydd, Kent couldn’t secure a Moto3 ride. There followed a season of riding anything anywhere – ‘I didn’t know what to do after Rookies’ – before landing in the British Supersport Championship in 2016. He started slowly but won six of the last ten races to finish third overall and immediately moved up to Superbike on the new GSX-R, finishing eleventh as a rookie last season. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know what he did in the first round this year: two wins in differing, difficult conditions to announce himself as a genuine contender. At this point it is worth remembering that Brad does not turn 21 years old until next month. So how does he view BSB, why is he in the domestic championship? The answer is simple: ‘To try and open doors to a world Championship paddock.’ The first objective would be a World Superbike ride and there is no doubt the sort of form Brad is showing at such a tender age gets factories excited. Would he go for the idea of a ride in the Suzuka 8 Hours, a test the big bosses like to see a young rider pass? Brad’s perma-smile breaks out into a massive grin: ‘Bring it on!’ Big, tall lad with milk-bottle-bottom specs, a spectacular barnet, and a great attitude? Japanese fans would love him. Sort it, Suzuki.

‘Milk-bottle-bottom specs and a spectacular barnet. Japanese fans would love him’