Ryde defeats O'Halloran in last lap duel | BSB Donington National Race 1 Results

JASON O’Halloran started from pole position for the first BSB Sprint Race of 2022, but it was Rory Skinner who made the holeshot with a brilliant outside move in the first turn. 

Skinner’s time at the front did not last, and in the second half of the race he ended up fading to outside the top six, while O’Halloran would go on to fight for the win. 

It was impressive from O’Halloran to challenge for the win at all, in reality. The McAMS Yamaha rider lost a second or so while fighting with Lee Jackson mid-race, and that allowed the OMG Racing Yamaha riders - Kyle Ryde and Bradley Ray - to escape. 

Of the two OMG riders, it was Ray who came into the race the favoured, having won in Oulton Park, and been the fastest rider in Friday practice. But it was Ryde who led in the race. 

As O’Halloran closed in on the back of Ryde and Ray, it became clear that Ryde had slightly more pace at the end of the race than Ray, and the #28 was passed by O’Halloran with two laps to go. 

That pass from O’Halloran set up a fantastic last lap duel between himself and Ryde, with O’Halloran making two attempts on the #77 in Saturday's final tour of the Donington National circuit, only to be denied on both occasions. 

Ryde’s stern defence on the final lap brought him a first race win of the season, and one that he was forced to fight extremely hard for. 

For O’Halloran, the late race pace displayed in the sprint race will be of encouragement ahead of tomorrow’s longer races, while Bradley Ray’s third place shows a solid continuation of the strong form with which he has started the year. 

Lee Jackson was not able to recover with the same success as O’Halloran from their mid-race scrap, but he was able to secure fourth place in the end, ahead of Glenn Irwin and Christian Iddon, who had a great race to go from 14th on the grid to sixth at the chequered flag.

Rory Skinner ended the race seventh, and will be looking for improvements ahead of Sunday’s two races, while Tommy Bridewell was the top Ducati in eighth, Peter Hickman the top BMW in ninth, and Tarran Mackenzie made his racing return in 10th place.

Full BSB race one results from Donington National are below.

2022 British Superbike Championship (BSB) | Donington National | Race 1 Results