‘I put everything into it. I had to fry people’s heads’
‘I enjoyed every race and gave it
everything’
podium at Oulton. A double win at Donington in 2018 saw Ray become a superstar overnight. Suddenly he was the next big thing.
A Showdown spot was rewarded with a Suzuka 8-Hour ride, AND a test on Suzuki’s MotoGP bike. Ray had the world at his feet, but also plenty of pressure.
“Usually, the only pressure you should get is what you put on yourself, you shouldn’t think about what others think or say. But it’s hard when you’ve done a good job and suddenly everybody wants to talk to you. I went from nothing to everything in a couple of weeks.
“I had to learn to deal with it. I’ve learned over the years to ignore all of that, take it in my stride and just crack on with the job, but back then it was daunting.”
Success didn’t last. A tough 2019 saw Ray join SYNETIQ BMW for 2020, but a niggly wrist injury and inconsistent bike caused problems. He joined OMG Racing BMW, but failed to make the Showdown. Did he think his chance had gone?
“A little bit, maybe. It’s easy to doubt yourself, but deep down, I always believed in myself and knew I was capable based what I’d already done in my career. You don’t just get given BSB wins and podiums, so I clearly had something.”
Yamaha breakthrough
The team turned to Yamaha for 2022 and suddenly Ray’s title dream was back on. He instantly clicked with the R1, breaking the lap record at Cartagena before securing wins and podiums in the opening rounds.
“Straight away I felt at home. It’s basically a big R6, and the R6 for me was the perfect bike. It allows fast corner speed; I can let the brakes off and have lots of lean. I knew it would suit my style.”
Ray hardly changed the bike all year and no matter the circuit, was on top and was almost unbeatable. Qualifying laps at Cadwell and in the Showdown round at Oulton
Park will live long in the memory.
“It’s easy to settle for the front two rows, get a good start and settle into the Showdown with no mistakes, but at Oulton I wanted to put everything into it. I needed to fry people’s heads. That’s the best and cleanest lap that I’ve done, I didn’t feel out of control and just felt good whilst on the absolute limit.”
Ray weathered the storm when Jason O’Halloran and Tarran Mackenzie caught up mid-season, and never really looked like being beaten. For him, Cadwell was where he realised the title was on.
“I knew it would be a strong round, but that Jason normally goes well there too. Winning Race One and taking two seconds on Sunday, and not seeing another Yamaha in sight was a turning point and a real statement from me.”
BSB’s Mr Cool
All year long Ray had a smile on his face, laughing and joking. He was not fazed in the slightest.
“Over the years I’ve learnt to
take things in my stride and to just enjoying riding the bike, because if you’re not enjoying it, there’s no point. I speak a lot with Shakey and my dad, they both tell me to enjoy it and come back smiling.
“You can become obsessed with trying to achieve great things, but this year I thought ‘I’ve got a chance of winning the championship with this bike and package, the pressure will be on because it’s a Yamaha and if you’re on a Yamaha, you win, but I’ll put all of that to one side’. I didn’t worry about anything.”
Ray clinched the title with two races to spare at Brands Hatch. The dream had become a reality.
“I enjoyed every race and gave it absolutely everything. That’s the only way you’re ever going to win the championship. If you start settling for results off the podium because you don’t want to risk too much, you won’t win the title. It was special for the team, it was a big thing to do it for them, and to also bring the trophy back for the Lydd Massive! Lydd’s on the map!”