{"id":1868230,"date":"2026-04-05T14:47:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T11:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1868230"},"modified":"2026-04-05T14:47:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T11:47:58","slug":"ryan-vickers-makes-big-steps-after-tough-start-to-donington-bsb-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1868230","title":{"rendered":"Ryan Vickers makes \u201cbig steps\u201d after \u201ctough\u201d start to Donington BSB test"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;]<\/p>\n<article>\n<header id=\"lbs-article\" class=\"article header article-header section layout layout--article-header\">\n<div class=\"col headline\">\n<div>\n<h1>Ryan Vickers makes \u201cbig steps\u201d after \u201ctough\u201d start to Donington BSB test<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Ryan Vickers\u2019 Donington BSB test turned out positively, he says, despite a \u201ctough\u201d first day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section two-column\">\n<div class=\"col article-info\">\n<div>\n<address> Alex Whitworth <\/address>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><time datetime=\"2026-04-05T15:47:58+01:00\">05 Apr 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col article-actions\">\n<div class=\"block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block\">\n<div class=\"social-sharing-buttons\"><span class=\"ssb-title\"> Share<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div id=\"lbs-content\" class=\"content wide-two-column-sticky section layout layout--wide-two-column-sticky\">\n<div class=\"col first-column\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Ryan Vickers, 2026 Donington Park BSB Test. Credit: Ian Hopgood Photography.<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Ian Hopgood Photography<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-preferred-source\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source-cta\">  Add as a preferred source <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Fourth place for Ryan Vickers at the Donington Park BSB test was achieved after making \u201cbig steps\u201d on the Honda on the second of two days.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Vickers\u2019 Donington BSB test saw him end the two days behind the two TAS Racing Yamahas and Bimota\u2019s Max Cook who was almost 0.3 seconds clear at the top of the combined times.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">It took until the final session of day two for Vickers to use more than one tyre in a session and he felt he\u2019d been able to make progress on Saturday after a \u201ctough\u201d day one.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cPretty solid,\u201d Ryan Vickers summarised at the end of Saturday\u2019s running, speaking to Crash.net.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201c[Friday] was a tough day.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe had four days in Spain that was great, really got a good setup with the bike. We came here, it was a little bit different yesterday, also track conditions: very cold, windy \u2013 very different to Spain.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cHonestly, we made big steps [on Saturday], learnt a lot with the bike, did quite a lot of exits with a lot of different things and trying different things, and understanding what works and doesn\u2019t work with the bike.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-5f60ec9624f305471b2304aa47c02032ef33a5efd05030c7533066fe3337abe0\">  Rory Skinner heads home \u201cwith a smile\u201d after third-best Donington BSB test time   Max Cook revels in \u201cmega\u201d Bimota performance after topping Donington BSB test <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe\u2019ve still got more to go, there\u2019s a lot more to come out of me and the bike. We know the direction now, which is good, so a very positive test.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Vickers added that he had settled on a chassis setup during his first test at Jerez last November.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI rode the bike back in November [2025], I think it was, we did a test at Jerez,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-76471bda523e6f49b44eba20f197718176dc47e2b922275ebd78ef76e57ba1a2\">  Donington BSB \u201cnot the easiest\u201d for one former race winner   Bradley Ray clear about areas to improve for BSB 2026 <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI got on the bike and I instantly said that we needed to make a certain change to it, we made that change, and honestly I haven\u2019t changed the chassis since. I knew that it would work, and it did, and we went fast straight away.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI felt comfortable in Spain, I was really comfortable at both circuits [Andalucia and Monteblanco], super-fast as well \u2013 did some really good lap times.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019ve not quite got that feeling back yet; I think some temperature would help, to be honest \u2013 I always perform better when it\u2019s hotter, anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut we\u2019re not far away.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cConsidering we\u2019re not fully there with the bike and there\u2019s a lot to improve on, we\u2019ve been inside the top-three, top-two, most of the session, and honestly that last session was the only time that I put two tyres in, every other session was only one tyre.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cSo, the lap times were quite good considering we were only [using] one tyre.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Comparing to Yamaha<\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Vickers\u2019 last season in BSB saw him win more races than any other rider in 2024 aboard the OMG Racing Yamaha.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Kyle Ryde won the title that year as Vickers\u2019 teammate, and backed it up last year with a successful defence against Bradley Ray on the Raceways Yamaha. Ray was champion back in 2022 on the OMG Yamaha, and Tarran Mackenzie won with a McAMS-backed Raceways Yamaha team in 2021.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The R1\u2019s success over the past five seasons means it has established itself as the benchmark in the championship, but Vickers thinks the Honda is not far away from matching the R1 in terms of performance.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThe lap times I did on that bike [Yamaha] are still competitive now, so it\u2019s a very good reference,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cHonestly, the Honda is very similar in a lot of areas, but there are a couple of areas where it just needs a little bit more compared to the Yamaha.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut, honestly, we\u2019re really happy, to be honest. We\u2019re not on the strongest bike, but we\u2019re at the sharp end, which is great.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI know how the bike likes to be ridden, and we\u2019ve got to keep working in that way to extract the most out of it every weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>In this article<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Ryan Vickers<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">British Superbikes<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Donington Park<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-next-prev\">\n<div class=\"next-prev-pager contextual-region\">\n<div class=\"items\">\n<div class=\"item prev\">\n<h3>  Previous<\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Rory Skinner heads home \u201cwith a smile\u201d after third-best Donington BSB test time<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-block block block-configurable-views-block\">\n<div class=\"author-view grid-view js-view-dom-id-ed5e17c55472e9b4b47da0b9fc10ad12cc3af3544eab70acba0d30abbb7580c7\">\n<div class=\"card user default\">\n<div class=\"image\"> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/picture-100393850-1649415070.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp 270w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/picture-100393850-1649415070.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp 180w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/picture-100393850-1649415070.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"header\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"name\">Alex Whitworth<\/div>\n<div class=\"role\">Journalist<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"desc\">\n<p>Alex joined the Crash.net team in August of 2024 having covered consumer and racing motorcycle news at Visordown for two years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"views-element-container block block-views-blockrelated-content-related-content-block\">\n<h3>More News<\/h3>\n<div class=\"grid-view grid-2 js-view-dom-id-b17886ad82b271a62fa13b82d2768a3f13efb4bb7188c119cc0aef9aa3e8f0f7\">\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> British Superbikes  Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>2026 BSB Donington Park Test Results: Day 2 Lap Times<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775320260\"> 04\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01653.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Max Cook, 2026 Donington BSB Test. Credit: Ian Hopgood Photography.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> British Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Returning Honda BSB rider enjoys bike setup \u201cnovelty\u201d at Spanish test<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774348200\"> 24\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/ohalloran.png?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Jason O'Halloran at Honda BSB Andalucia test, 2026. Credit: Honda Racing UK.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> British Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Scottish Superstock rider was \u201ctouch and go\u201d after horror Donington crash<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1764776266\"> 03\/12\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-09\/grigor.png?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Callum Grigor. Credit: Facebook\/Grigor Racing.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> British Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>FIRST LOOK: Ryan Vickers gets Honda debut ahead of BSB return<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1761149437\"> 22\/10\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-10\/05732_jdr_testjerez_2025_action.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Ryan Vickers, 2025 October Jerez WorldSBK Test. Credit: WorldSBK.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> British Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ryan Vickers set for BSB return as Honda ends relationship with past winner<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1760515420\"> 15\/10\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-10\/gng_1272286_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Ryan Vickers, 2025 Estoril WorldSBK, pit box. Credit: Gold and Goose.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> British Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Kyle Ryde gets first triple on \u201cabsolutely amazing\u201d return to Donington Park<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1757271602\"> 07\/09\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-09\/ih_bsb_donington-park_171715-ryde-trophy.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Kyle Ryde, BSB, 2025, Donington Park\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Ryan Vickers\u2019 Donington BSB test turned out positively, he says, despite a \u201ctough\u201d first day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Fourth place for Ryan Vickers at the Donington Park BSB test was achieved after making \u201cbig steps\u201d on the Honda on the second of two days.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Vickers\u2019 Donington BSB test saw him end the two days behind the two TAS Racing Yamahas and Bimota\u2019s Max Cook who was almost 0.3 seconds clear at the top of the combined times.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">It took until the final session of day two for Vickers to use more than one tyre in a session and he felt he\u2019d been able to make progress on Saturday after a \u201ctough\u201d day one.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cPretty solid,\u201d Ryan Vickers summarised at the end of Saturday\u2019s running, speaking to Crash.net.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201c[Friday] was a tough day.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe had four days in Spain that was great, really got a good setup with the bike. We came here, it was a little bit different yesterday, also track conditions: very cold, windy \u2013 very different to Spain.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cHonestly, we made big steps [on Saturday], learnt a lot with the bike, did quite a lot of exits with a lot of different things and trying different things, and understanding what works and doesn\u2019t work with the bike.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-5f60ec9624f305471b2304aa47c02032ef33a5efd05030c7533066fe3337abe0\">  Rory Skinner heads home \u201cwith a smile\u201d after third-best Donington BSB test time   Max Cook revels in \u201cmega\u201d Bimota performance after topping Donington BSB test <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe\u2019ve still got more to go, there\u2019s a lot more to come out of me and the bike. We know the direction now, which is good, so a very positive test.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Vickers added that he had settled on a chassis setup during his first test at Jerez last November.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI rode the bike back in November [2025], I think it was, we did a test at Jerez,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-76471bda523e6f49b44eba20f197718176dc47e2b922275ebd78ef76e57ba1a2\">  Donington BSB \u201cnot the easiest\u201d for one former race winner   Bradley Ray clear about areas to improve for BSB 2026 <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI got on the bike and I instantly said that we needed to make a certain change to it, we made that change, and honestly I haven\u2019t changed the chassis since. I knew that it would work, and it did, and we went fast straight away.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI felt comfortable in Spain, I was really comfortable at both circuits [Andalucia and Monteblanco], super-fast as well \u2013 did some really good lap times.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019ve not quite got that feeling back yet; I think some temperature would help, to be honest \u2013 I always perform better when it\u2019s hotter, anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut we\u2019re not far away.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cConsidering we\u2019re not fully there with the bike and there\u2019s a lot to improve on, we\u2019ve been inside the top-three, top-two, most of the session, and honestly that last session was the only time that I put two tyres in, every other session was only one tyre.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cSo, the lap times were quite good considering we were only [using] one tyre.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Comparing to Yamaha<\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Vickers\u2019 last season in BSB saw him win more races than any other rider in 2024 aboard the OMG Racing Yamaha.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Kyle Ryde won the title that year as Vickers\u2019 teammate, and backed it up last year with a successful defence against Bradley Ray on the Raceways Yamaha. Ray was champion back in 2022 on the OMG Yamaha, and Tarran Mackenzie won with a McAMS-backed Raceways Yamaha team in 2021.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The R1\u2019s success over the past five seasons means it has established itself as the benchmark in the championship, but Vickers thinks the Honda is not far away from matching the R1 in terms of performance.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThe lap times I did on that bike [Yamaha] are still competitive now, so it\u2019s a very good reference,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cHonestly, the Honda is very similar in a lot of areas, but there are a couple of areas where it just needs a little bit more compared to the Yamaha.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut, honestly, we\u2019re really happy, to be honest. We\u2019re not on the strongest bike, but we\u2019re at the sharp end, which is great.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI know how the bike likes to be ridden, and we\u2019ve got to keep working in that way to extract the most out of it every weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Fourth place for Ryan Vickers at the Donington Park BSB test was achieved after making \u201cbig steps\u201d on the Honda on the second of two days.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Vickers\u2019 Donington BSB test saw him end the two days behind the two TAS Racing Yamahas and Bimota\u2019s Max Cook who was almost 0.3 seconds clear at the top of the combined times.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">It took until the final session of day two for Vickers to use more than one tyre in a session and he felt he\u2019d been able to make progress on Saturday after a \u201ctough\u201d day one.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cPretty solid,\u201d Ryan Vickers summarised at the end of Saturday\u2019s running, speaking to Crash.net.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201c[Friday] was a tough day.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe had four days in Spain that was great, really got a good setup with the bike. We came here, it was a little bit different yesterday, also track conditions: very cold, windy \u2013 very different to Spain.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cHonestly, we made big steps [on Saturday], learnt a lot with the bike, did quite a lot of exits with a lot of different things and trying different things, and understanding what works and doesn\u2019t work with the bike.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-5f60ec9624f305471b2304aa47c02032ef33a5efd05030c7533066fe3337abe0\">  Rory Skinner heads home \u201cwith a smile\u201d after third-best Donington BSB test time   Max Cook revels in \u201cmega\u201d Bimota performance after topping Donington BSB test <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe\u2019ve still got more to go, there\u2019s a lot more to come out of me and the bike. We know the direction now, which is good, so a very positive test.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Vickers added that he had settled on a chassis setup during his first test at Jerez last November.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI rode the bike back in November [2025], I think it was, we did a test at Jerez,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-76471bda523e6f49b44eba20f197718176dc47e2b922275ebd78ef76e57ba1a2\">  Donington BSB \u201cnot the easiest\u201d for one former race winner   Bradley Ray clear about areas to improve for BSB 2026 <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI got on the bike and I instantly said that we needed to make a certain change to it, we made that change, and honestly I haven\u2019t changed the chassis since. I knew that it would work, and it did, and we went fast straight away.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI felt comfortable in Spain, I was really comfortable at both circuits [Andalucia and Monteblanco], super-fast as well \u2013 did some really good lap times.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019ve not quite got that feeling back yet; I think some temperature would help, to be honest \u2013 I always perform better when it\u2019s hotter, anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut we\u2019re not far away.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cConsidering we\u2019re not fully there with the bike and there\u2019s a lot to improve on, we\u2019ve been inside the top-three, top-two, most of the session, and honestly that last session was the only time that I put two tyres in, every other session was only one tyre.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cSo, the lap times were quite good considering we were only [using] one tyre.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Comparing to Yamaha<\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Vickers\u2019 last season in BSB saw him win more races than any other rider in 2024 aboard the OMG Racing Yamaha.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Kyle Ryde won the title that year as Vickers\u2019 teammate, and backed it up last year with a successful defence against Bradley Ray on the Raceways Yamaha. Ray was champion back in 2022 on the OMG Yamaha, and Tarran Mackenzie won with a McAMS-backed Raceways Yamaha team in 2021.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The R1\u2019s success over the past five seasons means it has established itself as the benchmark in the championship, but Vickers thinks the Honda is not far away from matching the R1 in terms of performance.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThe lap times I did on that bike [Yamaha] are still competitive now, so it\u2019s a very good reference,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cHonestly, the Honda is very similar in a lot of areas, but there are a couple of areas where it just needs a little bit more compared to the Yamaha.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut, honestly, we\u2019re really happy, to be honest. We\u2019re not on the strongest bike, but we\u2019re at the sharp end, which is great.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI know how the bike likes to be ridden, and we\u2019ve got to keep working in that way to extract the most out of it every weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/crash.net\/bsb\/news\/1092882\/1\/ryan-vickers-makes-big-steps-after-tough-start-donington-bsb-test&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;] Ryan Vickers makes \u201cbig steps\u201d after \u201ctough\u201d start to Donington BSB test Ryan Vickers\u2019 Donington BSB test turned out positively, he says, despite a \u201ctough\u201d first day. Alex Whitworth 05 Apr 2026 Share Ryan Vickers, 2026 Donington Park BSB Test. Credit: Ian Hopgood Photography. \u00a9\u00a0Ian Hopgood Photography Add as a preferred source [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[47,226],"class_list":["post-1868230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crash-net","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1868230"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868230\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1868230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1868230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1868230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}