Editorial Note: Americans Julian Correa, Joshua Raymond, Jr., and Eli Banish finished third, ninth, and 20th, respectively, in British Talent Cup Race Two Sunday at Thruxton Circuit.
More, from a press release issued by MSVR:
Vickers strikes twice as Cook and McConnell celebrate podium success
Ryan Vickers was an unstoppable force in today’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship races at Thruxton as the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider stormed to a double victory, holding off the his title rivals to celebrate his seventh win of the season in race three.
Kyle Ryde had given the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing team the first victory of the weekend in Saturday’s race, but Vickers delivered a high-speed masterclass in Hampshire to take the double in two very different contests.
Vickers stormed from his fifteenth place grid position to take the victory in a dramatic second Bennetts race as he continued the team’s winning momentum.
Max Cook had fired off the Omologato Pole position to take the lead on the opening lap ahead of Storm Stacey and Glenn Irwin, but there was drama for the Hager PBM Ducati rider who crashed out after a huge highside at Campbell, which meant the race was red flagged.
On the restart, Stacey launched the Team LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki into the lead ahead of Cook and Josh Brookes, but on the second lap, Alex Olsen and Franco Bourne crashed out at Village and the BMW Safety Car was deployed.
When the race got back underway, it became a five-lap sprint to the finish and Cook was holding the lead until the penultimate lap when Vickers gained two places to return to the front, making his move into the Complex.
Cook then had Brookes and Danny Kent for company, as the McAMS Racing Yamaha rider carved his way through the pack and he was pushing for a return to the podium. Cook was able to hold second to the line to celebrate a career first podium finish in Bennetts BSB.
Brookes narrowly missed out on his first podium of the season for FHO Racing BMW Motorrad as Kent stole third on the final lap.
In race three, Kent launched to the front of the field ahead of Tommy Bridewell and McConnell and on the opening lap the lead changed three times with the trio all having a spell before the reigning champion held the edge.
Bridewell was holding the advantage from McConnell when he dramatically slowed on the exit of the chicane caused by a quickshifter problem and the pack concertinaed and the Honda Racing UK rider lost ground that dropped him down the order before he recovered to sixth at the chequered flag.
Vickers had swept into the lead on the fifth lap and then was trying to manage the race, whilst McConnell and BSB Pathway Lewis Rollo were initially the front of the chasing pack. The IN Competition SENCAT Aprilia rider later dropped to just outside the top ten, whilst Kent got embroiled in the battle for the podium.
Vickers had enough to take the chequered flag despite a last corner moment, when the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing R1 slid out of line, with Kent able to move into second with five laps remaining and then he held off McConnell.
The podium for the Australian marked the C&L Fairburn Properties/Look Forward Racing Honda team’s first since joining the championship this year as he became the 14th different rider to take a top three finish in 2024, whilst the achievement marked the eleventh different team to celebrate podium success.
Bridewell continues his title defence by leading the standings ahead of Honda Racing UK’s home round at Cadwell Park on the August Bank Holiday weekend. He holds a 25-point advantage over Ryde as Christian Iddon moved ahead of Glenn Irwin in the standings as Vickers elevated himself into the top five.
Ryan Vickers
OMG GRILLA Racing Yamaha
“It’s been a strong weekend for us and the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Team, taking two wins today. It was always going to be difficult starting 15th in what was planned to be a ten-lap race, but it’s even harder to go from 15th to 1st in six laps!
“I’m really happy with how I rode in that race, I attacked in the right places at the right time and managed to pick up a handful of positions each lap and eventually took the lead when Max Cook had a moment ahead. The last lap I just pushed, hit my markers and brought it home.
“The final race of the weekend didn’t actually go to my plan because I hit the front early on. I could see Billy was quick but it maybe wasn’t coming quite as easy. I got by and just ticked the laps off. Had a bit of a moment on the final corner, but it’s all good and I’m delighted to take the lucky number seven R1 to a seventh win of 2024. I’m now looking forward to continuing this form on to Cadwell Park over the Bank Holiday weekend.”
