Lydd's Bradley Ray retains British Superbike Championship lead but misses chance to win £25,000 bonus at Donington Park

Lydd's Bradley Ray continued his excellent start to the British Superbike Championship season with two second places and a third at Donington Park - although he lost out on a hefty bonus.

The RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha rider went to Donington with the chance to cash in should he win all three races as part of sponsor Milwaukee Tools' two-race Spring Grand Slam contest.

The incentive began at the previous round at Oulton Park, where Ray won twice. Five wins from both races was worth £25,000 and four wins £10,000.

However, third place in race one, behind team-mate Kyle Ryde and McAMS Yamaha's Jason O'Halloran, and second spot in races two and three, O'Halloran winning, left Ray empty-handed - but he did finish the weekend top of the championship with a 28-point lead and maintained his run of a podium finish in every race he's finished so far in 2022.

"I can’t complain about another three podium finishes, that’s eight in nine so the consistency is there and that’s exactly what we want at this stage of the season," he said.

"Jason had a little bit more than me this weekend, but the RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha was exceptional as always so a huge thanks to my team for that.

"We have a break now while the boys head to the [Isle of Man] TT so we’ll reflect on the opening three rounds and then look forward to Knockhill.”

Ray, starting race one from second, initially dropped to fourth but was leading by lap eight until he was passed mid-distance by Ryde. And when O'Halloran's pace picked up in the closing stages he also overtook.

Ryde's win, meanwhile, was his first for RICH Energy OMG Racing.

O’Halloran got the jump on Ray at the start of race two and although the Kent rider enjoyed a spell at the front he finished