The returning Brad Ray and Raceways Yamaha concluded a shortened 2025 pre-season test schedule today following a productive and promising two outings at the Official R&G Bennetts British Superbike Championship Tests at Donington and Oulton Park.

Raceways Yamaha and Brad Ray marked their Bennetts British Superbike Championship outing in style across the two R&G Official Tests, concluding Donington Park’s running across the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in fifth, and topping the final pre-season running at Oulton Park.

With Raceways Motorcycles announcing their return to the series less than a week prior, the Fleetwood-based squad rolled out for the first time at Donington Park as they got their 2025 assault underway. Ray and his crew, headed by experienced crew chief Mark ‘Brains’ Woodage, took their time to learn from each other and establish a plan for the remainder of testing.

Feeling comfortable from the off, the 27-year-old worked through the testing plan at the East Midlands venue, concluding the two days inside the top five with a positive direction to follow at the rollercoaster of Oulton Park, which took place just days after the first stint of test action.

Heading to Oulton Park for a further two days running, the #28 Yamaha R1 hit the ground running, ending Wednesday’s action under his 2022 lap record and at the top of the timesheets. Three more sessions on Thursday gave the confidence needed to break into the 1:32s, marking a strong outing for the 2022 Champion and the team, who ended the test fastest by 0.330 seconds.

Concluding testing with a dominant display at Oulton Park, Ray and the former championship-winning team are confident ahead of the season’s opening round at the 2.69-mile Cheshire venue between 03 and 05 May, a venue that the Ashford rider secured three victories at in his title-winning season.

In the Pirelli National Sportbike Championship, Ash Barnes enjoyed a fruitful few days of testing. Having competed already this season on the Raceways Yamaha R1 at club level, the former Sportbike victor steadied himself back into the R7 machine, completing valuable laps and ending the tests inside the top five places and confident ahead of his second season.

Bradley Ray
Raceways Yamaha
Donington Park: 5th
Oulton Park: 1st

“I am very happy and it has been a good test. Yesterday was good to get back to Oulton Park and we made some changes overnight and I felt really strong this morning. I am super happy and we have also done some runs on some older tyres and have shown good pace so it has been very positive and we are looking forward to Round 1 now.”