Bradley Ray took victory in the opening race of the weekend at Snetterton as he set a scorching pace in the 16-lap race.

The opening race of the third round of the British Superbike Championship saw Bradley Ray repeat his performance from Donington Park as he smoked the rest of the field.

Ray claimed his third pole position of the season earlier in the day, before winning the opening race of the weekend by over five seconds.

The 28-year-old was able to get the holeshot from the front of the grid and instantly set about breaking his closest rivals.

"I was a bit nervous before the race," Ray told TNT Sports after Race One at Snetterton.

"But I had a plan, but you know what it is like in racing sometimes you have a plan, but it doesn't go to plan.

"I got the holeshot, put in two good laps at the start, set into the rhythm that I knew I could do from Free Practice.

"I am over the moon, just over-heating a little bit."

Ray set multiple race lap records around Snetterton during the opening race of the weekend, and was able to set a pace that he was not expecting with the scorching heat at the circuit.

"Honestly, no I was not expecting those lap times," he explained.

"I think they were similar to Qualifying, but I just kept digging in. I felt good on the bike, I got a bit of a gap at the start, and I went again on the next lap.

"I was just about able to break Kyle and set into my own rhythm for the rest of the race."

Ray has now extended his lead in the British Superbike Championship by 22 points after the opening six races.