Kyle Ryde insists he is not ruling out the prospect of going all the way to winning the 2023 British Superbike Championship title as he prepares for an eight-way Showdown at Brands Hatch.

The LAMI OMG Yamaha rider comes into the finale with a 35 point margin to bridge to series leader Tommy Bridewell but with an expanded 35 points available for a victory in each of the final three races, Ryde retains relatively strong odds.

In what has been a breakthrough BSB season for the Mansfield rider, Ryde has provided the stiffest competition to Bridewell and Glenn Irwin’s dominance on the BeerMonster Ducati with five victories and ten podiums.

However, after squandering an opportunity to pull back more ground on Bridewell and Irwin after a disastrous weekend for the PBM duo, Ryde is putting thoughts of defending OMG Racing’s riders’ title to the back of his mind for now.

 “Obviously I am in a position that I didn’t think I would be in to be honest,” he told the BSB website.

“Going into Donington Park 60.5 points behind, I thought it would have to be an amazing weekend, it turned out to be an average weekend with the overall points being ok, but that was just winning race two. 

“One race I chose the wrong tyres and struggled and the other one I chose the right tyres and didn’t struggle, it just took me way too long to get going and then the last eight laps I was just as fast as anyone in third, fourth, fifth positions but I was miles behind.

“I was a little bit disappointed to not take more points out of the guys because Glenn scored absolutely nothing and Tommy only scored a few points as well. Overall, you have got to be so happy to be only one race behind, as Brands Hatch is 35 points for a win, so I am only one race behind to the championship.

“We have some great data from Brands Hatch earlier in the year, as even though we had a DNF, we had good pace. I am excited to get there, we would all love a dry race, and I think it can be one great weekend. If I can secure myself a top three position, I would be absolutely buzzing. 

“Obviously, I want to win it, but I think some things have got to happen, which I think they quite possibly can do with them two being so close and the shenanigans that happened at Donington Park! I have got to keep my head down, have a good Friday and get to the front and see what we can do.”