Kyle Ryde says he will look back on the 2023 British Superbike Championship [BSB] season with a sense of pride after wrapping up a breakthrough campaign at Brands Hatch with a sixth win to secure third in the final standings. 

Assuming the role of OMG Racing’s team lead for 2023 following the exit of Bradley Ray, it meant Ryde was also charged with defending its 2022 BSB title.

However, after reaching the Title Showdown for the first time in 2022, Ryde took another substantial step forward this season to forge a campaign that would keep him in the title hunt right up to the final race of the year.

Though he’d fall just short of the formidable BeerMonster PBM Ducati pairing of new champion Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin, Ryde is satisfied to come away with six wins - including one at the Brands Hatch finale - and third in the final standings.

“I always expected to be in the top three, that was the goal,” he told the BSB website. “With two meetings to go i didn’t think it was possible.

“But being BSB, something happened at Donington Park and I managed to get back within striking distance and then here I had arguably my best weekend - my first triple podium of the year - so it is a credit to the team that the bike was great this weekend.

“A few blips in the middle of the season cost us the championship but overall I am very proud of myself, especially at tracks I have struggled at, like Cadwell and Knockhill. A great season and a great way to finish.”

Staying on for a fourth season with OMG Racing - which will be upgraded to Yamaha’s factory-supported partner team in 2024 - Ryde says he will target only the title next year.

“I think there are a couple of different regulations going on and the bike will be a bit different, so it might be harder to do the same lap times, but it is the same bike, same team, it works so hopefully we can make another step for next year.”