This year’s Bennetts British Superbike rumour mill continues to turn, the latest being fed by the appearance of BSB stars Brad Ray and Tom Sykes in the World Superbike paddock at Portimao.
They were enjoying the Portuguese sunshine but they had other things on their mind. As has PBM team owner Paul Bird. Ray, an almost-certainty to be crowned BSB champion this weekend, was accompanied by his manager Shane Byrne and they seemed pleased with their trip.
The fact that they spent a fair amount of time in Paul Denning’s Yamaha pitbox alongside WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu may have been coincidence as conversations with one or two other teams did take place.
But it increased the likelihood of Ray joining the WSB circus next season. Sykes and his family were spotted having coffee in the Kawasaki hospitality unit but he was also welcomed by Ducati with whom he has a long and valued relationship.