2026 Tue 28 Apr

Anticipation Builds at McAMS Yamaha as 2026 Season Approaches

Round 1: Oulton Park

General

This weekend McAMS Yamaha return to business at Oulton Park as pressure mounts ahead of the opening round of the 2026 British Superbike and Quattro Group British Supersport Championships.

For returning championship contender Brad Ray, the upcoming triple header marks a significant moment, as the 28-year-old looks to set the tone for a promising 2026 campaign.

Last season saw the Yamaha supported R1 rider deliver an exceptional effort, claiming 12 victories and 22 podium finishes – only narrowly missing out on the title.
This year, back in the saddle and hungrier than ever, Ray heads into the weekend with a productive testing period behind him and a clear desire to fight for top honours.

That confidence is backed by a strong showing at the venue just one week ago. Demonstrating pace from the outset, Ray became the first rider to post a 1:33 lap time across the two days on track and ended the test inside the top three as the final pre-season outing drew to a close.

Already well acquainted with the characteristics of the championship-winning Yamaha R1, this year’s pre-season testing has focused on extracting further performance from the machine – with the aim of hitting the ground running at what promises to be a crucial opening weekend.

Ray heads into the bank holiday season opener in confident mood, drawing on a strong record at the Cheshire circuit. He has himself singled out last year’s second race during the championship’s latter visit to the venue as one of the finest performances of his career – an exceptional victory secured from 14th on the grid in just eight laps of the 2.6-mile circuit.

For Ray, two 18-lap races and a single 12-lap sprint lie ahead, and with them, comes three crucial opportunities to bag his first points of the year.

In the Quattro Group British Supersport Championship, McAMS Yamaha’s Ben Currie and Harry Truelove are ready to embark on their first race weekend aboard the all-new Yamaha R9.

For the Yamaha supported duo, the year’s earlier tests at Donington Park and Oulton Park haven’t been without their challenges. The ultra-competitive Quattro Group British Supersport Championships demands the best from both riders and machines, and developing a new package from the ground up comes with its own set of hurdles.

With determination, Currie and Truelove have progressed across an upward trajectory throughout pre-season, testing varying components and set-ups to establish a confident feeling with the world championship winning model.

The pair approach this weekend, and the two races that lien in store, eager to step up to the plate and give the Yamaha R9 a debut to remember on the National stage.

Brad Ray

McAMS Yamaha - Rider (British Superbike Championship)

“I’m excited to get back to work with the guys at McAMS Yamaha this weekend. It’s been a long winter, so it feels good to finally get back to racing. Pre-season has been a positive one for us, we’ve made some steps forward with the Yamaha R1 and my feeling heading into the weekend is positive. Oulton is a circuit I love riding; it’s fast, flowing and suits my riding style. We showed last year what we’re capable of there – that Race 2 win was one of the best feelings I’ve had with the R1, and I’m looking forward to finding that same feeling again this weekend. We’ll head into the weekend with the goal of making it a season opener to remember.”

Ben Currie

McAMS Yamaha - Rider (Quattro Group British Supersport)

“Oulton Park this weekend, and I’m really looking forward to what’s in store. The two tests have been productive for myself and McAMS Yamaha, we’ve learned a lot about the R9, despite still being in the early stages of development. The last two tests, although productive, have been challenging. Developing a new bike to the required standard for the British Supersport Championship is no easy task, but we’re slowly making steps towards where we need to be. There are areas we’re working to improve on, but the overall direction is positive. I’m ready for the fight this weekend, so we’ll arrive at Oulton Park ready to give it our all.”

Harry Truelove

McAMS Yamaha - Rider (Quattro Group British Supersport)

“It’ll be an exciting weekend for me and McAMS Yamaha. We’ve put in a strong pre-season and I’m looking forward to seeing how that hard work translates once the lights go out in the two races we have across the weekend. Although still very new to the championship, the R9 feels like a strong package to be on. The feeling we’ve found so far this year has been strong, and as the race season begins, that feeling can only improve. It’ll be great to finally get back out there, get into the mix, and actually see what the R9 can do under race circumstances. We’ll give it everything we’ve got, as we always do, and the aim is to start the year on a high.”

Steve Rodgers

McAMS Yamaha, Team Principal

“It feels great to say we’re going racing again. It’s been a long winter, and the team have worked incredibly hard to put us in the position we’re in heading into the season opener. We’re entering 2026 with big ambitions and competitive packages across the board, so I’m very much looking forward to seeing what we can achieve. Oulton Park is always a fantastic circuit to kick the season off at. Brad did brilliantly there last year, taking victory in the opening race of 2025 and following that up with another impressive win at our second visit later in the season. We’ll be hoping for more of the same from him this time around, and with Ben and Harry on the new Yamaha R9, there’s plenty more to be excited about too. Can’t wait to get stuck in!”