Kent’s Bradley Ray has taken the title fight in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship to the final day of the season, with his second place finish in race one this afternoon.

Scott Redding was victorious in an enthralling race at Brands Hatch, with Kyle Ryde taking the final podium spot.

Bradley Ray set the fastest lap in qualifying this lunchtime, with his good friend Ryde joining him on the front row alongside Christian Iddon.

As the lights went out in front of a packed crowd, Ryde actually got a better start and got the hole shot into the first corner. Ray followed Ryde until lap three and made his move into Paddock Hill Bend.

Ryde stuck with Ray for the next ten laps whilst behind them Iddon and Tommy Bridwell crashed out, meanwhile Redding was moving his way through the pack. Rory Skinner had moved through to third by that point and Redding was right with him.

Ryde waited behind for ten laps before making a move on Ray stick, as he went past into Hawthorns.

This however wasn’t to last long as Redding was charging hard on his PBM Ducati, with it known he comes on strong in races, it was clear it wouldn’t be long before he was challenging for the win.

Redding first made a move on Ray with four laps to go and Hawthorns and then had Ryde in his sights, taking the lead at Surtees a lap later and he was able to hold the edge to the finish.

Ray who then got back past Ryde with a couple of laps to go, charged hard to catch Redding, but he ran out of laps. He crossed the line in second place from Ryde with 27-points between the pair now ahead of tomorrow’s final two races, with 70 points available.

Ray will start tomorrow’s opening race from pole position, with Ryde and Redding joining him on the front row.

Speaking after the race, Ray said: “It was a nice race. Pace was steady enough at the start as it’s probably the first 20-lap run anybody has done all weekend. So didn’t really know how hard to go at the start and wanted to try and save a little bit of rear tyre for the end.

“My first objective was to try and finish in front of Kyle [Ryde]. I got through on him and honestly didn’t think I’d get through on Scott [Redding]. But got a second wind, the old caffeine gel kicked in with two laps to go.

“It was nice to have that sort of pace towards the end of the race and claw a couple of points back. But that was all I could do in this situation. Really enjoyed the race. Nice clean racing and we’ll try again tomorrow.

Images courtesy of the British Superbike Championship