Kyle Ryde Smashes Lap Record for 250GP Victory

Key Points

• British Superbike champion Kyle Ryde set three new 250GP lap records to take victory in the first race of the class in the GO Classic Bike Festival Ireland.
• Ryde, on a Yamaha TZ250, set the class record at 94.428mph in a time of 1m 09.539s.
• The 29-year-old finished in first place in qualifying and in the race as well.
• British Superbike rider Ryde finished 33.526 seconds ahead of another Brit, Rory Skinner.
• The top three places were to be taken by TZ250 machines as Thomas Lawlor finished last in third.
• Another NW200 sensation, Storm “Lord” Stacey on his TZ250 Yamaha, was second fastest but retired from the race after lap one.
• Aboard a Kawasaki ZX7R, Aaron Armstrong won the Classic Superbike race concurrently.
• Richard Armstrong won the Classic Supersport on a Yamaha 600 motorcycle.
• Stacey, who recently made his debut on a TZ350 Yamaha in the headline-grabbing race in the North West 200 in May, won the first of the three races at the Pre-73 Classic.
• This action was carried out at Bishopscourt in Co Down during the GO Classic Bike Festival Ireland.

Bishopscourt (Britain Today News) August 08, 2026 – British Superbike champion Kyle Ryde smashed his own year-old lap record three times to win the opening 250GP race at the GO Classic Bike Festival Ireland at Bishopscourt in Co Down on Saturday, underlining his class in front of a packed crowd at the Northern Ireland circuit.

Ryde, who arrived at the meeting already inside the outright lap record for the category, went even quicker in qualifying to claim pole position on his TZ250 Yamaha ahead of a strong field of British Superbike Championship regulars and Irish road racing talent.

What happened in the opening 250GP race at Bishopscourt?

The 29-year-old made a flying start from pole to snatch the holeshot and immediately began carving out a lead over the chasing pack. With warm, sunny conditions across Bishopscourt providing perfect grip levels, Ryde used the clear track ahead of him to push the pace lap after lap, repeatedly dipping below his own benchmark time before eventually setting a new mark for the 250GP class. By the chequered flag, he had built a commanding advantage that was never seriously threatened once he hit the front.

How fast was Kyle Ryde’s new lap record?

Ryde’s new benchmark for the 250GP class now stands at 94.428mph, with a lap time of 1m 09.539s. The champion broke the record not once but three times during the course of the race, each lap edging the mark higher as he found further pace from his two-stroke machine. The achievement represents a significant step up on the previous record he set himself, underlining how competitive conditions and a well-prepared TZ250 Yamaha combined to produce a standout performance at the historic Co Down circuit.

Who finished behind Ryde on the podium?

Fellow British Superbike Championship rider Rory Skinner crossed the line in second place, finishing 33.526 seconds adrift of the race winner. Thomas Lawlor completed the podium places in third, more than 15 seconds further back from Skinner. All three podium finishers were riding TZ250 machines, with the class once again proving the platform of choice for competitors chasing outright pace at the front of the 250GP field.

What happened to Storm Stacey during the race?

North West 200 sensation and British Superbike contender Storm “Lord” Stacey had looked set to provide Ryde with his stiffest challenge after qualifying second fastest, just 0.989 seconds down on the champion’s pole-winning lap. However, Stacey’s race came to an early end when he retired from his TZ250 Yamaha after completing just one lap, denying spectators the head-to-head battle many had anticipated between two of the paddock’s leading British Superbike names.

How did the Classic Superbike race unfold?

Run concurrently with the 250GP contest, the Classic Superbike race was won by Aaron Armstrong, who took victory aboard his Kawasaki ZX7R. The combined running of the two classes added an extra dimension to the afternoon’s racing at Bishopscourt, with riders from both categories sharing the circuit as they chased their respective class honours in front of the assembled crowd.

Who triumphed in the Classic Supersport race?

Richard Armstrong claimed the honours in the Classic Supersport race, guiding his Yamaha 600 to victory. The result added to a strong showing for the Armstrong name on the day, with Aaron Armstrong’s Classic Superbike win coming in the same session, giving followers of the meeting plenty to talk about away from the headline 250GP battle at the front of the field.

What did Kyle Ryde say ahead of the festival?

Speaking before the weekend’s action got underway, Ryde made clear how much he was looking forward to returning to the two-stroke event.

“The special two-stroke weekend is back, and I’m really looking forward to getting back to the Irish Classic Bike Festival this weekend at Bishopscourt,”

Ryde said. He also gave an insight into his preparation on the TZ250 machine that would go on to carry him to victory and a new lap record, adding:

“I’m very much looking forward to riding my 5KE [Yamaha] this weekend. I had a little run out on it at Brands, and it’s definitely better than last year, so looking forward to it.”

How did Storm Stacey perform earlier in the weekend?

Despite his retirement from the feature 250GP race, Stacey’s weekend at Bishopscourt was far from a write-off. The rider, who made headlines on his road racing debut at the North West 200 in May after winning both the Superstock and feature Superbike races, claimed victory in the opening Pre-73 Classic race on a TZ350 Yamaha. The result showed his versatility across different classes of classic machinery, even as his 250GP challenge against Ryde ended prematurely.
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What is the GO Classic Bike Festival Ireland?

The GO Classic Bike Festival Ireland is held annually at the Bishopscourt Racing Circuit in Co Down, drawing a mixture of current British Superbike Championship riders, Irish road racing specialists and enthusiasts of classic two-stroke and four-stroke machinery. The event combines competitive racing across a range of classes, including 250GP, Classic Superbike, Classic Supersport and Pre-73 Classic categories, with modern-day stars such as Ryde and Stacey lining up alongside dedicated classic bike competitors on historic machinery.

What happens next for Kyle Ryde and British Superbikes?

Ryde’s latest lap record and race victory at Bishopscourt add to what has already been a standout campaign for the reigning British Superbike champion, who continues to combine his commitments in the premier domestic championship with appearances on classic machinery whenever his schedule allows. His performance at the GO Classic Bike Festival Ireland will do little to dent his reputation as one of the most versatile riders currently competing in British motorcycle racing, and attention will now turn to how he carries this form back into his British Superbike Championship campaign.

For now, though, the result at Bishopscourt belongs firmly to the 250GP class, where Ryde’s repeated assault on the lap record left both his rivals and the watching crowd in no doubt about his current level of form on two-stroke machinery.