Three riders, three teams, three manufacturers and three races will decide the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship and as Brands Hatch beckons, the pendulum has swung back in the direction of Kyle Ryde and OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing after the penultimate round.
Ryde has a four-point advantage ahead of the final three races, but with the ramped up 105 points tally available, he will need to keep his rivals behind him if he is going to win the title for the first time and give the team their second title victory.
Ryde had started the season leading the final trio in third place in the standings after the Circuito de Navarra season opener with a double podium finish, whilst Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell left without a podium between them and holding fifth and twelfth in the standings.
The early season advantage then went the way of Irwin as the Hager PBM Ducati rider completed the triple at Oulton Park as both Ryde and Bridewell managed a podium apiece. Irwin continued to hold the position at the standings after Donington Park; a victory continued to give him the advantage as Ryde climbed to third with a victory. Meanwhile Bridewell’s hat trick of podiums elevated him to fourth for Honda Racing UK.
In Scotland, there was a complete shake up in the standings as Bridewell took the lead in the standings for the first time in the season with a victory and a further two podium finishes, as Irwin had a challenging weekend with a technical DNF and an eighth and a ninth place finish. Ryde also didn’t have a memorable Knockhill round and a fourth place followed by 14th and 15th meant the pair were then adrift of the defending champion.
The advantage swung back in Irwin’s favour at Snetterton with a double victory to put him back ahead of Bridewell who claimed a pair of second places following a DNF in the opening race following a crash. Ryde’s consistency kept him in contention with a third place followed by a fourth and fifth place.
Brands Hatch put Bridewell back on top of the standings as the season reached the second half; a pair of second places and a fourth as Irwin had a huge crash he had to bounce back from put Honda Racing UK back ahead. Ryde meanwhile was still holding fourth place in the standings and a sixth followed by a double dose of third places kept him well in the fight.
The final three contenders in the title fight scored a single podium finish between them at Thruxton; Bridewell’s best result of fourth kept him in the standings lead, whilst victory for Ryde as Irwin had a torrid time moved the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider up to places into second in the standings.
Cadwell Park saw Irwin regain a place in the standings and move back into third as Bridewell continued to hold the advantage at the top with a victory and second place, whilst a double victory edged Ryde closer.
Ryde took another double win at Oulton Park to move to within six points of Bridewell who crashed out in the opening race, whilst Irwin returned to winning ways to keep his title hopes alive ahead of the penultimate round.
Ryde hit the top of the standings for the first time after Donington Park with now just four points between him and reigning champion Bridewell whilst Irwin still is waiting in the wings to pick up the pieces with 46-points separating him from his OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rival at the top.
Can Ryde take the title for the first time to win the crown back for OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing?
Can Bridewell become the first champion to win consecutive crowns for two different manufacturers?
Can Irwin overhaul the pair for a debut title and make it ten for PBM?
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 398
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 394
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 352