British Superbike Champion (BSB) Brad Ray believes he has the potential to challenge for a top ten finish when he makes his keenly anticipated 2023 WorldSBK debut at Assen this weekend.

The Briton gets his belated campaign underway at the first of eight European-based rounds he will contest with the privateer Motoxracing Yamaha team.

One of two riders starting their seasons in the Netherlands this weekend - together with Isaac Vinales on the TPR by Vinales Racing Kawasaki - though Ray missed the opening events in Australia and Indonesia, he has embarked on an extensive pre-season testing programme.

As such, though this weekend’s outing marks his first race appearance since wrapping up the 2022 BSB title at Brands Hatch back in October, Ray says he feels well prepared on a circuit he has previously raced on in BSB.

“I’m feeling good. It’ll be nice to go to Assen, into a full race weekend, and understand the way it all goes and get my first race under my belt.

“Going into an actual race weekend will be different. I think we can definitely learn a lot more there and get some races under our belt, understand the package more and I think we can do a very good job from maybe mid-season onwards.

“We can start pushing to where we need to be. Just steady away until we find our feet. A little bit nervous but in a good way. I’m excited.”

Though he will be racing on privateer machinery, Ray - whose affinity with the Yamaha R1 package proved pivotal in his transformation as a title contender in BSB - feels he can be in the hunt for a top ten result out of the box.

“You always want to win, don’t you? That’s the trouble! We’ve got to be realistic. I think we can look at fighting in the top ten. I know who the people are around me that I need to be fighting with and I think it’ll be difficult in the first round. I need to get more time under my belt with the bike.”