Scott Redding delivered when it mattered at the 2026 BSB Donington Park round, taking Race 1 victory on the Hager PBM Ducati on Saturday afternoon. Redding had topped FP1 on Friday and backed it up when the flag dropped. Max Cook gave the Bimota a stunning second place and Kyle Ryde, who had smashed the all-time Donington lap record in pre-qualifying, had to settle for third. Redding is on the board.
John McGuinness was in the field at the Oulton Park BSB opener, using the race weekend to stay race-sharp ahead of his appearances at the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT. McGuinness set his fastest ever lap of Oulton Park during the weekend, finishing 25th in the final race. The TT legend acknowledged the result was hard to frame positively but said he felt sharp and ready to get on with the road racing season ahead of him.
Ryde Delivers Perfect Oulton Park Weekend With Hat-Trick on New DucatiKyle Ryde completed the first hat-trick of his Oulton Park career, winning all three races at the opening BSB round of 2026 on the new Ducati Panigale V4R. It was only the second hat-trick of his career, the first having come at Donington Park. Ryde leaves Oulton Park with the maximum 54 points, six clear of Leon Haslam, with Bradley Ray third on 42.
TAS Racing returned to Yamaha machinery for the 2026 season opener at Oulton Park. Rory Skinner led the team with an eighth place finish after a progressive weekend. Teammate Danny Kent recovered from a difficult qualifying to secure 14th in the opening race. The team is still finding the limit of the R1 after two years using different manufacturers. Progress remains the priority.
Storm Stacey produced a career best performance to finish fourth in the opening race of 2026. The Bathams AJN Racing rider stayed with the lead group for the entire distance. Stacey narrowly missed out on a podium after a fierce battle with Bradley Ray and Leon Haslam. This result proves the young rider is now a genuine contender for the top positions.
Scott Redding delivered a solid performance on his debut for the Hager PBM Racing Team. The former champion finished fifth after a late overtake on Max Cook. Redding showed consistent pace on the Ducati Panigale throughout the weekend. He admitted to feeling the physical demands of the narrow track but remains optimistic. This top five finish provides a strong foundation.
Leon Haslam proved his veteran class by clinching second place in a thrilling season opener. The Moto Rapido Ducati rider fought off Bradley Ray in a race long duel that saw multiple overtakes. Haslam grabbed the lead early but eventually settled for a strong podium finish. His result confirms the Italian machinery is the bike to beat at the Cheshire circuit.
Kyle Ryde launched his title defence with a clinical victory in the opening race at Oulton Park. The Nitrous Competitions Racing Ducati rider recovered from a slow start to lead by lap four. Ryde eventually crossed the finish line over five seconds clear of the chasing pack. This win marks a perfect start for the reigning champion and his new Ducati team.
The 2026 BSB season enters its 30th anniversary year and gets underway at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend from May 2 to 4, with two official pre season tests completed at Donington Park and a second scheduled at Oulton Park from April 22 to 23 before the competitive action begins. The 11 round season concludes at Brands Hatch in October.
Ryan Vickers says his experience in WorldSBK means he returns to BSB in 2026 as a better rider than when he left, with the Englishman having spent time on the world stage before coming back to the domestic championship. The Donington Park pre season test gave him his first laps back on British soil.