Kentish Express Ashford & District

Ray getting closer to a win

Motorsport

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Brad Ray celebrated the 28th podium of his career and his second in successive weekends, at Thruxton on Sunday.

The Lydd teenager followed up his fourth place in the sprint race the previous day, to finish second in the weekend feature and move up to ninth in the Dickies British Supersport standings with 78 points.

He also went home with a new watch after claiming pole position.

Ray arrived at the Andover circuit full of confidence, following his third place at Snetterton last time out.

He said: “We were so happy after Snetterton now we have another one (podium).

“I know we can run up with the front boys and push for the win.

“The bike is feeling great and I’m feeling good, my confidence is high and I’ve just got to keep the ball rolling ahead of Brands Hatch in two weeks.

“We have three chances at Brands, it’s a triple header and I’ll be pushing hard to get on that top step of the box.”

Ray enjoyed good times in free practice sessions, seventh fastest, 1.2 seconds behind the quickest man first time out, despite being on used tyres, before improving in the second, having worked on the set-up of his FAB-Racing Yamaha R6, by almost a full second.

He qualified on Saturday in fourth place, only half a second behind pole man James Westmorela­nd, despite running times good enough to line him up on the front row, before dropping down the order after being bumped by Andy Reid.

Ray got a great start in the sprint race on Saturday, leading after the first lap, making some great moves on the top-three, only to drop back into the pack after running wide, eventually finishing fourth.

Brad’s lap time in the race put him on pole on Sunday.

He made a great start and ran with the front group, all of whom were dicing for the lead.

He dropped to fourth at one stage, but battled hard until passing Mason Law to take second, before running out of time to overtake winner Reid. Brad Ray celebrates on the podium at Thruxton

‘I know we can run up with the front boys and push for the win’

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