{"id":1899630,"date":"2026-04-23T10:37:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T07:37:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1899630"},"modified":"2026-04-23T10:37:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T07:37:06","slug":"ducati-forcing-bradley-ray-to-find-different-direction-with-yamaha-in-bsb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1899630","title":{"rendered":"Ducati forcing Bradley Ray to find \u201cdifferent direction\u201d with Yamaha in BSB"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_17760.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>Ducati forcing Bradley Ray to find \u201cdifferent direction\u201d with Yamaha in BSB<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Bradley Ray admits he and the McAMS Yamaha team \u201ccan\u2019t stand still\u201d in BSB given the performance of the new Ducati.<\/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=\"2026-04-23T17:38:16+00:00\">Updated: 23 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_oulton-park-test_17760.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_17760.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_17760.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_17760.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_17760.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_17760.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_17760.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_17760.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_17760.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>Bradley Ray, 2026 Oulton 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\">Bradley Ray says he was looking for a new \u201cdirection\u201d to follow with the Yamaha R1 during BSB testing, the former champion feeling he and the McAMS Yamaha team \u201ccan\u2019t stand still\u201d given the strength of the new Ducati.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">2025 BSB runner-up Ray was fastest in three out of the six sessions across the two days at Oulton Park, but was 0.7 seconds adrift of the final benchmark set by Kyle Ryde on the new Panigale V4 R in the final session.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ray was one of the dominant riders during last season, finishing on the podium in each of the first 12 races, winning 10 of those. So, approaching a new season in which he will ride the same bike for the same team, needing substantial changes to be competitive might not be expected, but the performance of the new Ducati has pushed Ray and the Raceways team to look for a \u201cdifferent direction\u201d with the R1.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt was good,\u201d Bradley Ray said, speaking to Crash.net after the Oulton Park test.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cA lot of changes to the bike, trying to find a different direction with it.\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\">\u201cObviously, the package is good but we can\u2019t stand still, especially with the new Ducati, so we\u2019ve got to try and find small improvements where we can. That was the most important thing over these two days.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI think after that last session we found something good with the bike, and putting it all together for Oulton race weekend is quite exciting. So, looking forward to next week.\u201d<\/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-6d4b6f10789cd310b95fc7cc19db775cc666d1b951dd989f887922a8ecb2891a\">  Bradley Ray clear about areas to improve for BSB 2026   Bradley Ray \u201cunbelievable\u201d in BSB return despite missing title <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ray was vague on the details of the new direction he\u2019s trying to pursue with the Yamaha, but said he feels good with the bike after the final preseason test of 2026.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cNothing massively in particular, to be honest, just finding literally tenth here and a tenth there, that\u2019s all we need to find and over a 20-lap race that makes a difference,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI think today we found a good direction and that\u2019s the most important thing.\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<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-ffaed6a09a52a631757065a6c4a688a2b15f12f8e64ca80aaf6b7a8244e22a67\">  Bradley Ray \u201cready to go now\u201d for BSB 2026 after Kyle Ryde defeat   Bradley Ray \u201chad nothing to lose\u201d fighting at the front as Ryde takes British Superbike 2025 title <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cObviously, we didn\u2019t top the time sheets, but the feeling is there with the bike and we have a good direction now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Having been making changes to the bike throughout testing, Ray is looking forward to riding a stable platform at the opening round on 2-4 May.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI enjoy Oulton Park, had some good success over the years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cLooking forward to getting back here in race trim.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cTesting has been hectic, a lot of changes, so it will be nice to come to a race weekend with the bike and not change too much \u2013 that\u2019s what I\u2019m looking forward to and I think we\u2019ll definitely be alright.\u201d<\/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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>In this article<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">British Superbikes<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Bradley Ray<\/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\"> Bimota BSB team issues Joe Talbot update after Oulton Park test crash<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15762.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15762.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15762.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15762.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15762.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15762.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15762.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15762.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15762.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 class=\"item next\">\n<h3> Next <\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Honda BSB debut to be about \u201csurvival\u201d for Ryan Vickers<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15754.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15754.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15754.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15754.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15754.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15754.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15754.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15754.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_15754.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-2e1ec45fe165df9e88649a7c6b9f212940ac4495d8ba84abe1044df0e114798b\">\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-ef137d51a96d9f0b12406ae759d790af73accbddc4a40456128cac00bda04f61\">\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>2025 British Superbikes: Brands Hatch (Showdown) &#8211; Race Results (3)<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1760889563\"> 19\/10\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-10\/ih_bsb_brands-hatch_216085-kent-sd1.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Danny Kent, BSB, 2025, Brands Hatch, Showdown\" 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>\u201cSecond wind\u201d takes Bradley Ray to second to keep title hopes alive at Brands Hatch<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1760813670\"> 18\/10\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-10\/ih_bsb_brands-hatch_213756-ray-2-sd.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Bradley Ray, BSB, 2025, Brands Hatch\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\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>2025 British Superbikes: Brands Hatch (Showdown) &#8211; Qualifying Results<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1760790009\"> 18\/10\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-10\/ih_bsb_brands-hatch_213342-ray-sd.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Bradley Ray, BSB, 2025, Brands Hatch, Showdown\" 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>Bradley Ray \u201crelaxed\u201d for Brands Hatch BSB decider after \u201cspecial\u201d Oulton Park<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1760610274\"> 16\/10\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-10\/ih_bsb_oulton-park_203082.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Bradley Ray, 2025 Oulton Park (2) BSB. 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>Bradley Ray to approach BSB finale as \u201cnormal race\u201d despite title chance<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1760158800\"> 11\/10\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-10\/ih_bsb_oulton-park_205216.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Bradley Ray, 2025 Oulton Park (2) BSB. 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>Bradley Ray gifted second in race three after Haslam gear issue: \u201cthird was all I had\u201d <\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1759699834\"> 05\/10\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-10\/ih_bsb_oulton-park_208605-podium-2-showdown-ft-ray-iddon-haslam.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Bradley Ray, BSB, 2025, Oulton Park, race 2, podium\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Bradley Ray admits he and the McAMS Yamaha team \u201ccan\u2019t stand still\u201d in BSB given the performance of the new Ducati.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Bradley Ray says he was looking for a new \u201cdirection\u201d to follow with the Yamaha R1 during BSB testing, the former champion feeling he and the McAMS Yamaha team \u201ccan\u2019t stand still\u201d given the strength of the new Ducati.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">2025 BSB runner-up Ray was fastest in three out of the six sessions across the two days at Oulton Park, but was 0.7 seconds adrift of the final benchmark set by Kyle Ryde on the new Panigale V4 R in the final session.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ray was one of the dominant riders during last season, finishing on the podium in each of the first 12 races, winning 10 of those. So, approaching a new season in which he will ride the same bike for the same team, needing substantial changes to be competitive might not be expected, but the performance of the new Ducati has pushed Ray and the Raceways team to look for a \u201cdifferent direction\u201d with the R1.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt was good,\u201d Bradley Ray said, speaking to Crash.net after the Oulton Park test.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cA lot of changes to the bike, trying to find a different direction with it.\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\">\u201cObviously, the package is good but we can\u2019t stand still, especially with the new Ducati, so we\u2019ve got to try and find small improvements where we can. That was the most important thing over these two days.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI think after that last session we found something good with the bike, and putting it all together for Oulton race weekend is quite exciting. So, looking forward to next week.\u201d<\/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-6d4b6f10789cd310b95fc7cc19db775cc666d1b951dd989f887922a8ecb2891a\">  Bradley Ray clear about areas to improve for BSB 2026   Bradley Ray \u201cunbelievable\u201d in BSB return despite missing title <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ray was vague on the details of the new direction he\u2019s trying to pursue with the Yamaha, but said he feels good with the bike after the final preseason test of 2026.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cNothing massively in particular, to be honest, just finding literally tenth here and a tenth there, that\u2019s all we need to find and over a 20-lap race that makes a difference,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI think today we found a good direction and that\u2019s the most important thing.\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<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-ffaed6a09a52a631757065a6c4a688a2b15f12f8e64ca80aaf6b7a8244e22a67\">  Bradley Ray \u201cready to go now\u201d for BSB 2026 after Kyle Ryde defeat   Bradley Ray \u201chad nothing to lose\u201d fighting at the front as Ryde takes British Superbike 2025 title <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cObviously, we didn\u2019t top the time sheets, but the feeling is there with the bike and we have a good direction now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Having been making changes to the bike throughout testing, Ray is looking forward to riding a stable platform at the opening round on 2-4 May.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI enjoy Oulton Park, had some good success over the years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cLooking forward to getting back here in race trim.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cTesting has been hectic, a lot of changes, so it will be nice to come to a race weekend with the bike and not change too much \u2013 that\u2019s what I\u2019m looking forward to and I think we\u2019ll definitely be alright.\u201d<\/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<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Bradley Ray says he was looking for a new \u201cdirection\u201d to follow with the Yamaha R1 during BSB testing, the former champion feeling he and the McAMS Yamaha team \u201ccan\u2019t stand still\u201d given the strength of the new Ducati.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">2025 BSB runner-up Ray was fastest in three out of the six sessions across the two days at Oulton Park, but was 0.7 seconds adrift of the final benchmark set by Kyle Ryde on the new Panigale V4 R in the final session.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ray was one of the dominant riders during last season, finishing on the podium in each of the first 12 races, winning 10 of those. So, approaching a new season in which he will ride the same bike for the same team, needing substantial changes to be competitive might not be expected, but the performance of the new Ducati has pushed Ray and the Raceways team to look for a \u201cdifferent direction\u201d with the R1.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt was good,\u201d Bradley Ray said, speaking to Crash.net after the Oulton Park test.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cA lot of changes to the bike, trying to find a different direction with it.\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\">\u201cObviously, the package is good but we can\u2019t stand still, especially with the new Ducati, so we\u2019ve got to try and find small improvements where we can. That was the most important thing over these two days.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI think after that last session we found something good with the bike, and putting it all together for Oulton race weekend is quite exciting. So, looking forward to next week.\u201d<\/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-6d4b6f10789cd310b95fc7cc19db775cc666d1b951dd989f887922a8ecb2891a\">  Bradley Ray clear about areas to improve for BSB 2026   Bradley Ray \u201cunbelievable\u201d in BSB return despite missing title <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ray was vague on the details of the new direction he\u2019s trying to pursue with the Yamaha, but said he feels good with the bike after the final preseason test of 2026.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cNothing massively in particular, to be honest, just finding literally tenth here and a tenth there, that\u2019s all we need to find and over a 20-lap race that makes a difference,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI think today we found a good direction and that\u2019s the most important thing.\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<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-ffaed6a09a52a631757065a6c4a688a2b15f12f8e64ca80aaf6b7a8244e22a67\">  Bradley Ray \u201cready to go now\u201d for BSB 2026 after Kyle Ryde defeat   Bradley Ray \u201chad nothing to lose\u201d fighting at the front as Ryde takes British Superbike 2025 title <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cObviously, we didn\u2019t top the time sheets, but the feeling is there with the bike and we have a good direction now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Having been making changes to the bike throughout testing, Ray is looking forward to riding a stable platform at the opening round on 2-4 May.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI enjoy Oulton Park, had some good success over the years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cLooking forward to getting back here in race trim.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cTesting has been hectic, a lot of changes, so it will be nice to come to a race weekend with the bike and not change too much \u2013 that\u2019s what I\u2019m looking forward to and I think we\u2019ll definitely be alright.\u201d<\/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<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/crash.net\/bsb\/news\/1093309\/1\/ducati-forcing-bradley-ray-find-different-direction-yamaha-bsb&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_oulton-park-test_17760.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;] Ducati forcing Bradley Ray to find \u201cdifferent direction\u201d with Yamaha in BSB Bradley Ray admits he and the McAMS Yamaha team \u201ccan\u2019t stand still\u201d in BSB given the performance of the new Ducati. Alex Whitworth Updated: 23 Apr 2026 Share Bradley Ray, 2026 Oulton Park BSB Test. Credit: Ian Hopgood Photography. \u00a9\u00a0Ian [&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-1899630","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\/1899630","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=1899630"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1899630\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1899630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1899630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1899630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}