Ray’s in his element
There’s a real sense of belief surrounding Bradley Ray heading into the new British Superbike season now that the two-time race winner has a Yamaha R1 beneath him.
Ray was fast all weekend at Snetterton and ended the three-day test just 0.098s behind O’Halloran’s McAMS Yamaha, and below the existing lap record. The consistency was there for him, and so was the onelap pace.
It’s a welcome return to the front for Ray, who has endured a tough couple of years on BMW machinery. It’s long been believed that with the right bike, Ray can be one of the frontrunners in the Superbike class, and so far, that thought is becoming reality.
“It’s always been a funny one because I’ve always looked at the Yamaha and thought ‘Do you know what, that would suit my riding style down to a T’,” Ray told MCN. “It seems to like fast corner speed on the edge of the tyre which is how like to ride.
The last time I was on a Yamaha was the R6 in Supersport, and this R1 does just feel like a big R6 to me. I’m feeling right at home. It’s got amazing potential.”
The on-track form is having a positive effect off-track too, with Ray reportedly full of energy, laughter, and jokes within the team garage. He’s enjoying himself.
“I just want to get back to enjoying it, back to smiling, winning races and being at the front and I think this team can do that for me. I’m feeling really positive.” I feel at home straight away. It’s nice to be back up at the sharp end and feel like we’re making good progress with the bike, with the team, and obviously it’s testing so we’re working through quite a bit so just understanding everything, understand a bit myself as it’s a completely different bike for me.”