Bradley Ray celebrated an impressive hat trick of Bennetts British Superbike Championship race wins at Snetterton for Raceways Yamaha, as defending champion Kyle Ryde returned to the podium whilst Leon Haslam, celebrated third place after a titanic race-long battle.
At the start of the race, Ray led the pack ahead of Rory Skinner and Ryde, with the reigning champion making a move a lap later on the Cheshire Mouldings Ducati rider at Wilson.
The 2022 champion and Ryde on the OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha were able to break the pack, but behind again there was a titanic battle for the final podium position.
At the start of the third lap, Skinner was holding third place ahead of Haslam and Danny Kent with Tommy Bridewell also in close contention. The Honda Racing UK rider went for a move on the inside into Murrays and lost momentum on the exit.
Bridewell was soon into fifth and then a lap later made his move on Haslam, before then pushing ahead of Skinner by lap eight to hold third place. However, the ‘Pocket Rocket’ was also on the move and he pulled an impressive pass into Riches at the start of the ninth lap to pass both Bridewell and Skinner on the brakes.
Bridewell instantly retaliated to regain the position, but as the trio reached Brundle, the Moto Rapido Ducati Racing rider was into third place again ahead of Bridewell and Skinner.
Skinner was then on the attack and went for a pass into Riches to ease Bridewell back a position, but again the Honda Racing UK rider fought back into Murrays to move back into fourth place.
Bridewell was then looking to get back ahead of Haslam, which he repeated at Murrays, but Haslam was stronger into Riches and again he reclaimed the position.
By lap 14, Haslam had made another of his moves down the inside into Riches, before Bridewell again dived down the inside at Wilson after a mistake from the 2018 champion. However, Bridewell also made a small mistake a few corners later to allow Haslam back ahead.
Ray had crossed the finish line ahead of Ryde, but Haslam claimed his first top three finish of the weekend by holding off Bridewell by 0.074s with Skinner completing the top five.
Josh Brookes carved his way up the order into sixth place for DAO Racing Honda, ahead of Danny Kent on the McAMS Racing Yamaha with Max Cook, Storm Stacey and Charlie Nesbitt completing the top ten.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Snetterton, Race 3 result:
- Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha)
- Kyle Ryde (OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) +1.678s
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) +14.439s
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +14.513s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) +15.043s
- Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) +16.325s
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +16.851s
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +17.609s
- Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing BMW) +19.560s
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +20.066s
For the full race result please click here
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) 140
- Kyle Ryde (OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) 110
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) 102
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 74
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) 74
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 73
- Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) 70
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 57
- Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) 50
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) 43
For the full standings please click here