Kyle Ryde Sets Lap Record as 2026 British Superbike Season Opens at Oulton Park

Key facts

• Kyle Ryde set a new lap record of 1m32.780s in pre-qualifying at Oulton Park.
• Ryde's time beat the previous record set by Leon Haslam in 2025.
• Glenn Irwin, a three-time runner-up, finished fourth in FP2 but will start in Q1 after failing to secure a top-12 spot.
• Bradley Ray was second in pre-qualifying, 0.228s behind Ryde.
• Max Cook placed fifth on the Bimota, proving the bike's competitiveness.
• The 2026 BSB season opener runs from 2-4 May at Oulton Park.
• Irwin will race at the North West 200 after the Oulton Park round.

Champion Stakes His Claim with Record Lap

Kyle Ryde, the reigning British Superbike champion, delivered a statement of intent on the opening day of the 2026 season at Oulton Park by setting a new lap record in pre-qualifying. The Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Ducati rider left his best for the final moments of the session, clocking a 1m32.780s with purple times in the last two sectors. That effort erased the previous benchmark set by Leon Haslam in 2025 and underscored the speed of the Ducati machinery after the team's switch from Yamaha over the winter. Ryde had already topped the pre-season test at Oulton Park and was the only rider to break into the 1m32s bracket during testing. He repeated that feat in pre-qualifying, while Bradley Ray, his closest rival on the McAMS Yamaha, led for most of the session before finishing 0.228s adrift. Haslam, now on a Moto Rapido Ducati, ended up third but was more than half a second off the new record.

Glenn Irwin's Q1 Surprise Amid Shoulder Concerns

Glenn Irwin, a three-time championship runner-up and Ryde's teammate at Nitrous Competitions Racing, endured a frustrating day. After finishing fourth in FP2, just 0.4 seconds behind Ryde, the 36-year-old Northern Irishman left it late to exit the pits in pre-qualifying but could not replicate his earlier pace. He ended up outside the top 12, meaning he will have to fight through Q1 alongside former double champion Josh Brookes and runner-up Jason O’Halloran. Irwin has been managing an ongoing shoulder niggle but described his pre-season as 'good' as the team adapts to new Ducati machinery. 'We have the package, the tools and I think the best engineers in the paddock,' he told BBC Sport NI. 'The guys have worked flat out around the clock so a huge thanks to them for their effort.' Despite the setback, Irwin remains confident, noting that he 'enjoys and thrives' in the intense BSB environment.

Bimota and New Riders Make Their Mark

Max Cook demonstrated the Bimota's immediate competitiveness by placing fifth in pre-qualifying, just 0.033 seconds behind Storm Stacey. Cook, riding for AJN Steelstock, had previously topped the first test at Donington Park and improved by half a second from FP1 to FP2. The Bimota's pace signals that the new manufacturer is a serious contender in its debut BSB season. Storm Stacey, who moved from BMW to Ducati with Bathams AJN Racing, took fourth but the team is working to resolve a fork issue before Sunday. Joe Talbot, the top rookie in pre-qualifying, finished 13th on his Bimota after being cleared to ride following a crash in the Oulton Park test. He will head to Q1, which is 'brimming with talent' according to reports.

Day One Lap Times and Key Performances

In free practice, Bradley Ray ended FP1 with the fastest time, nearly 0.3 seconds quicker than his test pace, while Ryde topped FP2. Max Cook put the Bimota in the top three in the afternoon session. Honda's Ryan Vickers made it four different manufacturers in the top five with a 1:33.851 in FP2, a 0.5-second improvement over his FP1 time. Scott Redding, who was outside the top 10 in both free practices, climbed to sixth in pre-qualifying, albeit half a second off his testing time. Danny Kent, Rory Skinner, Christian Iddon, and Ryan Vickers completed the top 10 in pre-qualifying, while Lee Jackson and Charlie Nesbitt took the final two automatic Q2 spots. The Q1 line-up includes Glenn Irwin, Josh Brookes, Jason O’Halloran, and Joe Talbot, among others.

Irwin's Dual Campaign: BSB and North West 200

Glenn Irwin is not only focused on the BSB championship but also on the North West 200, which takes place just days after the Oulton Park opener. The Northern Irishman, who holds a record 11 Superbike wins at the road race, took a year off from the event in 2025 but will return in 2026. 'They are two very different things. BSB is a very intense environment, which is one I thoroughly enjoy and thrive on,' he said. 'The North West feels like a holiday for me, as I've always said. I go there for a bit of rest and relaxation, win a few races all being well and come back to Donington recharged.' Irwin's younger brother, Andrew, will also compete in BSB this season, riding a Ducati for his own team after three years with the factory Honda squad. Glenn Irwin described the effort required to make that happen as immense, saying: 'People don't realise the amount of work that has gone in to making this happen.'

What Lies Ahead: Q1 Battles and Season Stakes

The pre-qualifying format, introduced during the final rounds of 2025, returns for 2026 and has already created high drama. Ryde's record lap has set a formidable benchmark, but the depth of the field means no outcome is certain. The Q1 session will feature multiple former champions and race winners, including Glenn Irwin, who will need to fight his way into Q2 to avoid an early points deficit. With the season just beginning, the opening round at Oulton Park offers the first real test of the winter's technical and personnel changes. Ryde's switch to Ducati has paid immediate dividends, but the chasing pack—led by Bradley Ray, Leon Haslam, and the resurgent Bimota—will be eager to close the gap. Sunday's qualifying and races will reveal whether Ryde's record lap is a sign of dominance or a one-off statement.

The bottom line

• Kyle Ryde set a new lap record (1m32.780s) in pre-qualifying, beating Leon Haslam's 2025 mark.
• Glenn Irwin, a three-time runner-up, will start in Q1 after finishing outside the top 12 in pre-qualifying.
• Max Cook placed fifth on the Bimota, proving the new manufacturer's pace in BSB.
• The 2026 BSB season opener runs 2-4 May at Oulton Park, with Sunday's qualifying and races to follow.
• Irwin will also compete at the North West 200 road race after the Oulton Park round.
• The pre-qualifying format returns for 2026, creating a high-stakes Q1 session with multiple former champions.