Tough Test At Catalunya For Ray

Lydd’s Bradley Ray failed to finish the second round of the European CEV Moto2 Championship at the Catalunya circuit in Barcelona, after machine problems all weekend long hindered his progress. 

Following his difficult result in the National Superstock 600 race at Donington Park, Brad set his sights on the second round of the European CEV Moto2 Championship in Barcelona. 

During the untimed Friday test sessions, Brad struggled with the setup of the front end of the Vyrus, and to add to the problems he had an engine blow out, forcing the team to replace the motor.

After the day’s proceedings, the team worked hard during the night to improve the front suspension of the Vyrus to give Brad more feeling. But the first qualifying session saw Brad fail to get out on circuit due to problems with the front suspension, and the team worked hard to replace the old setup. In Q2, Brad rode hard to post a time of a 1:53.717, after only completing two laps of the session. 

Come race day Brad and the team was confident of achieving a points scoring result from his grid position of 31st. Brad made a great start from the line, and was up to 16^th position after the first sector, but by the middle of the race he had dropped to 22^nd before disaster on lap 11, when his machine stopped due to a technical problem, forcing the 18 year old to retire from the race. 

After the weekend a frustrated Ray said: “Well that was a tough weekend, from the start we knew that we were going to have problem with how the bike was handling, and we knew that it wouldn’t be sorted for this race. We tried a new part on the front of the bike for the first qualifying but it made it a lot worse, so I only did one lap in the first qualifying. The team had to adapt the new part they made for Q2 just for a lap time to get me on the grid for the race. 

“For the race we went back to the original setting that we ran on Friday and throughout testing, the bike still wouldn't handle but it was ride able. I got a mega start and was 16 in the first sector from 31st on the grid, during the race I was running in 22nd and was catching the guy in front, but then unfortunately my bike stopped so I had to retire from the race. It’s not been the best weekend but I’ve just got to keep my chin up and focus on the next race.”

Brad’s next European CEV Moto2 race will be at the Motorland Aragon circuit, where he will be ready to improve his current form.

Silverware for Ray At Oulton Park

Lydd’s Bradley Ray took a second place finish at Oulton Park this weekend, in the Pirelli National Superstock 600 championship on board the Motobreakers Kawasaki.

After his fantastic result in his first CEV outing of the season, Brad travelled to Cheshire in high hopes of improving his luck from his last race on the Motobreakers Superstock 600.

And from the off Brad started the weekend well, ending the first free practice session in 10^th place, only nine tenths of a second behind the first place man, Mason Law.

But during the break between sessions the weather took a turn for the worse with the rain pouring down over the 2.6 mile circuit. But that didn’t stop Brad finishing the first qualifying session in 13^th.

But Sunday saw the sun dry the circuit out after overnight rain drenching the Cheshire tarmac. Brad improved his time by two seconds in the final qualifying session, meaning he would start Monday’s race in 6^th place on the grid, even after suffering from arm pump.

Brad made a great start and was immediately running with the front group and staying there for the first few laps.  He then made his move and overtook Joe Francis into the final corner, but then the lap later, an incident involving Francis and Tarran Mackenzie pushed Brad up to second place, and he then started to chase down the race leader Mason Law.

Brad worked hard to catch Law, cutting the gap down from 1.5 second to under half a second in one lap, and put in a new lap record in the process. Until Law was given the hurry up by his team, subsequently taking the lap record away from Brad and took the flag in first, leaving Brad to take a creditable second place, in only his second race on the Superstock 600 machine.

Dad Kev cheers Brad across the line...

After the weekend, an ecstatic Ray said: “The start of the weekend I was more or less on the back foot, we were on the new 2014 Kawasaki, compared to Brands which was the 2013 model. So the free practice session I was working hard on trying to find a good setup ahead of qualifying.

“I went out on my own in qualifying two and put the lap times in on my way to get a good feel ahead of the race, and it worked really well and I ended up 6^th for the race start.

“The start went really well and I got away with the front group, but the first three pulled away a little until Taz and Joe had a little collision which moved me up to second, and I kept that gap between myself and Joe until the flag. But then as I started to chase Mason, arm pump crept in and I started to make a few mistakes, but I’m over the moon with second place.

“Just a massive thank you to everyone who’s helped me out this weekend, Dad and all my family, Shaun and all the Motobreakers team, 100% Suspension, just everyone who helps me out and supports me.” 

Solid Start To Moto2 Season For Bradley Ray

Lydd’s Brad Ray achieved a 20th and 16th place finishes in the first round of the European Moto2 Championship at Portimao this weekend. 

Brad arrived at the Portuguese circuit high in confidence after working hard in the pre season test’s, improving the set up of his Vyrus to give him more confidence on the front end. 

In the untimed free practice sessions on Friday, Brad worked hard with his team to gain more confidence on board his Moto2 machinery, focusing on the suspension and chassis.

Come Saturday and the qualifying sessions, Brad and his Vyrus Racing team made a further step forward. Brad put in his fastest lap of the session, in the second session posting a 1:49.7, to place him in 25th on the grid. 

Overnight, Brad worked with the team to improve the bike and they made further improvements ahead of the races. From the lights Brad got a great start and after lap one he had climbed nine places to 16th. But due to running on a stock engine, he had a lack of power coming out of the corners and down the straights. But Brad fought hard, eventually taking the flag in 20th position. 

Race two and Brad made a much better start from the line and was running with the group who were battling for 12th position. Due to the weather taking a turn for the worse during the race, Brad took advantage of the rain and made his way up to 14th, but then the red flag came out and it was declared a result from the previous lap, putting Brad back to 16th. 

After the weekend, Brad said: “I’m very happy with the progress of the bike and I’m extremely happy with how hard the team worked over the weekend. For me to be running close to the points in my first Moto2 race is fantastic, I just can’t wait to get back out there. 

“I just want to thank all my team and family, and everyone who helped me with this opportunity.”

Brad’s attention will now shift his attentions to the second round of the European Moto2 Championship, which takes place at Catalunya in June. 

Mechanical Issues Hinder Ray At Brands

Brad Ray suffered a difficult end to his weekend at Brands Hatch, after suffering mechanical issues in the race.

After a mad dash from his three days of testing his Vyrus Moto2 at the Potimao Circuit in Portugal, Brad made it to Brands Hatch in time for the second round of the British Superbike Championship, after agreeing to a one off ride for the Moto-Breakers Superstock 600 team.

From the start on Friday morning Brad worked hard on his setup, to achieve a better feeling with the bike, and in the free practice session Brad was only one second shy of the fastest man in the session, Ben Currie. An impressive start, to say it was Brad’s first time out on the bike. 

Prior to qualifying, Brad and the Moto-Breakers team worked hard to improve the setup on his Kawasaki ZX6-R and saw with Brad improving his time by eight tenths of a second, placing him in 22nd position and ahead of a number of well established stock 600 ridersCome the start of the race, drama struck with Brad’s gear selector breaking as he came to the grid, forcing him to start the race from the pit lane. But on the first lap, there was a four-rider crash, leading to a 90 minute delay. 

Come the restart, Brad lined up in his original grid position, but as soon as the race got under he realised his machine wasn’t the same. It wouldn’t even pull top gear and he lost down speed down the straights. But the youngster rode hard to take the 29th place. 

After the race, Brad said: “This weekend started well and I made good progress, and I started to improve my times. Qualifying went well and I was only six tenths behind the pole man. 

“I felt good in the race, but then the bike would just not pull away in top gear. But although I’ve enjoyed my weekend, and I can’t wait for this weekend where I start my CEV season at Portimao.” 

This weekend is the start of the Spanish CEV Moto2 Championship, where he will compete on the factory Vyrus.

Photography: 

Bonnie Lane

Dream Start To 2015 For Ray

Bradley Ray took to the podium twice this weekend at Donington Park, achieving his first win of the season.

After loaning a bike from Redline KTM prior to the weekend, the Kent teenager came into the first round of the British season in high spirits, confident of achieving two good results.

The weekend got off to the best of starts for the youngster, in a cold and cloudy free practice session. Brad put in a time good enough for second place, only half a second behind Taz Taylor.

The first qualifying session on Saturday afternoon saw Brad improve in time by 1.3 seconds, posting a 1:39.525. Only two tenths of a second behind the provisional pole man, Scott Deroue.

Come Sunday, Brad made improvements with the setup of his Redline KTM, but he couldn’t achieve pole position, and would start from second on the grid, for Sunday’s race.

With the sun blazing over the circuit for the first time all weekend, Brad made a great leap from the lights and battled with Deroue and Taylor for the lead. But after one lap, the Dutchman Deroue crashed leaving it to Brad and Taz Taylor to battle it out.

On the final lap Taylor pushed his way past on the back straight, but Brad regained the lead heading into the ‘Foggy’ esses with a late breaking move. And he held the lead all the way to the take the flag, to achieve his first victory of the 2015 season.

Come race two on Monday, in the hottest conditions that were seen over the three days, Brad made a great start and ran with the front two riders of Deroue and Taylor.

Constant over taking ensued throughout the race, but on the final lap back markers got in Brad’s way heading into the ‘Foggy’ esses. And after Taz Taylor made a mistake on the final lap, Brad just couldn’t catch Deroue in the run to the run to the line, and took the flag in second place.

After the weekend an ecstatic Ray said: “I was on the pace from the off, Taz was quicker than me in the first free practice and he tested here a couple of weeks ago. But after that I was always 0.2 or 0.3 seconds off first place, so I knew I’d have the race pace.

“Before the race I thought I wasn’t too far off but then when I got out there, there was quite a difference in speed between my bike and the factory KTM’s. Every breaking opportunity I had I was breaking later and pushing harder into the corner to make up the difference.

“It all worked out in the end but I knew I wasn’t going to win them both, but I knew I had the chance of a podium so I pushed hard and got second in race two, so I’m very happy.

“A massive thanks to Tim at Redline for loaning the bike this weekend and all the hard work put in by my Dad and everyone involved.”

Brad now turns his attention to his final test on the Vyrus Moto2 in Portimao next week, to put the final touches to his racing machine, before the first round at the end of April.

Photography: 

Bonnie Lane

Bradley Ray To Ride For The Vyrus Factory

Lydd’s Brad Ray is ready to do battle in the FIM CEV Moto2 European Championship on board a brand new machine after signing for the Vyrus Factory Race Team.

After turning many heads in a successful 2014 season, the 17 year old now steps up onto the 600cc machine in the search of the 2015 European Moto2 title.

‘The Bard” completed a very positive two day test late on in 2014 for the Vyrus Factory Team at the Valencia Ricardo Tormo circuit, in which he impressed the bosses of the team after regularly chipping away at his times on his first outing on a 600cc machine.

Brad completed his hectic 2014 calendar with a fourth in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup with three podiums along the way, third place in the Motul British Motostar 125cc Championship after many dominant performances throughout the season, and 11^th in the CEV Moto3 Championship despite missing some rounds in both the Motostar and CEV Championships due to date clashes.

All smiles ahead of the new season...

Vyrus are privately an exclusive motorcycle brand creating exciting and beautiful machines to be ridden on the road, but have now turned their attentions to fielding a racing machine.

After months of research and development, and many days of testing, the team are now ready to move forward and launch an attack on the Moto2 European Championship with the radical Vyrus machine.

A jubilant Brad said after signing for the team: “This is a really exciting project and I can't wait to race and help develop the Vyrus with the team and their sponsors for the up and coming season on their Moto2 bike.

“This is a great opportunity for me and I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in setting up this project.”

Brad’s first official test on the Vyrus Factory machine will be run on the 20th/21st/22nd of February at the Cartagena circuit in Spain. 

Photography By: 

Bonnie Lane & Andrea Bardi