Number: 28
Occupation: Motorsport – 2022 BSB Champion
2024 Competition: World SBK
Team: Motoxracing Yamaha WorldSBK Team
Machinery: Yamaha YZF R1
Date of birth: 16th May 1997
Hometown: Lydd, Kent
Hobbies: Cycling, BMX
Nickname: Milky Bar Kid
Bradley Ray was the fastest man on a British Superbike in 2022 and it was an absolute joy to watch him compete and achieve podium after podium leading to Brad being crowned champion of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship on 16th October 2022 – It was a dream come true for Brad, RICH Energy OMG Racing and all of our team! It is a journey that began as a six year-old-Brad on a minimoto to crown and glory on a superbike at 25 years old.
Since winning the 2022 BSB Championship, Bradley Ray has been contracted to compete in the European rounds of World Superbikes in 2023 and all rounds in 2024. Burnell is proud to continue our sponsorship and support for Bradley Ray, our champion from Kent, and we wish him all the best for the European rounds of World SBK. Six times BSB British Champion and World SBK Race Winner and Manager to Bradley Ray, Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne describes World SBK as a tough, tight and competitive championship and a baptism of fire for Bradley Ray. Brad enters World SBK as BSB champion with a Yamaha YZF R1, fully equipped with 20 years of racing experience and multiple wins and successes to date.
Brad’s incredible racing journey began before Brad entered full-time school and Brad has his Mum to thank for fuelling his passion for two wheels at a very early age. Lucky to live in an area where their garden backed on to a local track in Lydd, Brad expressed an interest in discovering where all the exciting noise was coming from and Mum took Brad to watch his first minimoto race at Lydd when he was just four years old. It was love at first sight and the best Christmas ever when both Mum and Dad followed a great day out that year with the gift of his very own minimoto to race up and down the garden. Every spare minute of every day Brad was at his happiest riding his minimoto at the highest speed possible and this led to Bradley Ray’s first competitive race in Swaffham at the age of six years old!
Since that first race in 2003 Bradley has grown considerably in size, as have his bikes! Bradley has grown up on the track in every size, shape and form. Bradley has competed nationally and internationally and gone from strength to strength. It is our pleasure to sponsor Bradley Ray given his commitment to succeed in racing, his charming personality and his sheer determination to win on the circuit. Bradley Ray is incredibly exciting to watch and one to watch out for!
Burnell Switchgear & Control thank Bradley Ray for answering a few questions:
Q: Your Mum (Tracey), Dad (Kevin) and brother (Daniel) share your passion for motorbikes and have been very supportive of your motorsport career since day one, with a prime example being the fact your Dad was your full time mechanic with Buildbase Suzuki between 2017 and 2019.
A: Dan is busy with work but he does come to all of my local events. It is nice that Mum and Dad have been involved and supporting me since I was 6 years old and it makes a great difference to have family support.
Your career to date has led you to compete in Spain, Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, America, Japan and the UK. Q: Do you have a favourite circuit abroad and if so, why?
A: There are more than two as all tracks are credible. To name two, my first is in Austin Texas, it was great to race the Circuit of the Americas. My second is in Japan, where I competed in the Suzuka 8 Hour Endurance Race in 2018 and 2019. The circuit is fast, flowing, and has everything you need.
Q: Do you have a favourite circuit in the UK and if so, why?
A: Donington is one of my favourites. In the past, I enjoyed Silverstone GP.
Q: How long have you been friends with Tom Ward?
A: We raced against each other as kids on the 50’s and 70’s. Whilst I was off competing in the European and Spanish rounds, we didn’t get to see each other as much. We grew up and still live in the same area of Kent. I raced against Tom in the Superstock series in 2015. I would describe Tom as a best friend. Outside racing, we have worked together cleaning super nice cars and even that was fun, two friends out together, having laughs, cleaning cars. We also like golf.
Q: Funniest moment in Tom’s company?
A: There’s too many, I can’t single out one moment. We just laugh about everything, we’re two kids that are great together.
You are well travelled and lucky to have experienced many places the length and breadth of the UK. Where would you recommend a visit?
A: If anyone out there likes a sandy beach, come to Camber Sands, it’s near where I live and people travel miles to visit. Most of my travel is made up of arrivals and departures to and from circuits for racing and training so I don’t always have time to explore. That said, I recently drove to Sheffield to see a friend and my drive took me through the Peak District and that was beautiful.
Q: We recently saw some artwork revealing you have a parrot as a mascot. Does he/she have a name? How long has he/she been your lucky companion? Does he/she travel with you?
A: Brad laughs. We have had Gertie the Parrot for more than ten years, from a small bird. In 2011 and 2020 Gertie came to BSB with Mum. At home Gertie the Parrot is very rarely in her cage and enjoys her freedom to fly around the house.
Q: Does Gertie talk?
A: Brad laughs. Gertie pips and mimics water noises and iphones but Gertie doesn’t talk.
We are proud to be sponsoring BSB Champion Bradley Ray in the 2024 WorldSBK Championship
Click here to read about Brad’s excitement ahead of the 2024 WorldSBK season
