Ray wins again to keep up the pressure in title race

Bradley Ray celebrated his third win in four races at Oulton Park on Sunday to stay in contention for the 2016 Dickies British Supersport Championship. The victory followed up his second place finish in the sprint race the previous day and leaves the 19-yearold Lydd racer third on 209 points, only 45 behind the leader James Westmoreland, ahead of the next round at Donington Park this weekend. Ray said: “I was happy and delighted. I can’t thank my team enough, these results are down to them, they have worked so hard and given a lot to me. “I can’t wait for Donington now. We aren’t far behind the Championship lead and all I need to do keep my head down and pile on the pressure.” Ray ended first free practice session in fifth place, only 0.8 of a second behind fastest man Westmoreland. Tweaks to the set-up on his FABRacing Yamaha R6 saw Ray improve by over three quarters of a second in a shortened session due to spitting rain, meaning the riders wouldn’t be able to push harder, leaving him second, only 0.012 behind Westmoreland who topped the session. Qualifying saw Ray finish the ultra-fast session third place, only three tenths behind Westmoreland. Ray improved in time again, posting 1.38.130 ahead of the sprint race on Saturday. Second after the first corner, he hit a false neutral, dropping back to fifth, before making his way through the pack to grab second, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process. However, he couldn’t find his way past winner Mason Law, crossing the line second. By virtue of his lap time in race one, Ray started from pole for the fourth time this season, picking up another Royal London watch. He battled with Law for the lead, before moving in front, the latter then dropping back due to a technical issue, allowing Ray to take the chequered flag first. He added: “He came past me mid-race and I just sat behind to see where he’s fastest and find out where I needed to improve. The last lap I made my move but I didn’t know he had a problem with his bike and just kept my head down.”

Bradley Ray on his way to victory at Oulton Park, and inset, with his trophy

Picture: Kevin Hall Brett Ince on the attack against Corinthian