Currie delivers double victory as Haslam digs deep in a testing Brands Hatch weekend for Moto Rapido Racing Ducati

Moto Rapido Racing returned to one of the calendar’s most iconic events as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship rolled into Brands Hatch for Round 5. With grandstands packed and summer sunshine overhead, the scene was set for a fan-favourite weekend, one that promised plenty of drama, unpredictability and high expectations.

The team arrived confident, knowing this is historically a strong circuit for both machinery and riders. But as the weekend unfolded, fortunes split down the middle: Ben Currie delivered two brilliant Supersport rides, while Leon Haslam and the Superbike squad battled hard through setbacks to secure vital championship points.

THURSDAY – RETURN TO A SPECIAL PLACE

Thursday saw the team return to what many consider one of the biggest rounds of the year. Brands Hatch always delivers on energy, noise and unpredictability. A fans’favourite and a calendar highlight, the team knew a thriller was likely.

FRIDAY – PROMISING PACE ACROSS THE GARAGE 

Friday brought a sense of calm focus. The weather was beautiful and both sides of the garage got to work smoothly.

Ben Currie hit the ground running in Supersport, showing strong early form and ending the day second fastest overall just 0.462s off the top, with the bike feeling sharp and balanced.

Leon Haslam had a similarly strong day in Superbike, posting P4 in both Free Practice sessions and only 0.347s off the pace. It was a consistent, no-drama day and a good platform to build on.

“We’ve started well and the feeling on the bike is good,” said Haslam. “Brands is a track I love and we’ve been able to get into a rhythm straight away.”

“Straightforward day for us,” added Currie. “The bike felt strong from the first lap and we’ve got a solid base to build from.”

SATURDAY – BIG MOMENTS, MIXED RESULTS

Saturday brought Q2 appearances for both riders and two races a 10-lap Supersport sprint and a 20-lap Superbike race. The day started warm and buzzing with potential.

Qualifying

Ben finally had a clean session no issues on track, no flags but just couldn’t quite break through his laptime barrier. He qualified P4, 1.012s off pole-sitter Irwin. The bike was singing, but the breakthrough lap just didn’t come.
Leon’s Superbike qualifying was disrupted by a red flag triggered by debris from Kyle Ryde’s bike. With less than two minutes left, Leon had only time for an out-lap and a single flyer managing P8 in hugely frustrating circumstances.

Ben Currie’s sprint race continued the dramatic theme of the 2025 season. Moments before the riders headed to the grid, rain began to fall – just enough to trigger debate but not enough to make the decision easy. After the out-lap, Ben confirmed he wanted full wets, confident that a 10-lap dash would suit the choice. From the lights, Ben launched into second by Turn 1 and quickly took control, breaking away with Jack Kennedy. The pair traded blows until lap 5 when Jack pushed too hard into Druids and lost the front. With Talbot charging through the field from P11, the closing laps saw a fierce duel for victory. Ben remained composed, hit his marks, and forced Talbot to overextend. He crossed the line as a worthy winner, a return to form and a confidence booster heading into Sunday’s Feature Race. “That’s more like it,” said Ben. “The bike was perfect, the team nailed the call, and I just stuck to my plan. That one felt good.”

In stark contrast, Race 1 for Leon was a bitter pill to swallow. After forming up on the grid without issue, a technical fault developed as he set off on the formation lap, forcing him to return to pit lane. Although he rejoined from pit exit once the race was underway, it was clear the issue remained. He completed the distance to register a lap time for grid positioning, meaning he would line up 12th for Sunday’s second race. A disappointing end to a day that had started with promise.
“It’s gutting, to be honest,” Leon commented. “It was a small issue with a big consequence. We’ll regroup tonight and come back stronger tomorrow.”

SUNDAY – DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR CURRIE, DAMAGE LIMITATION FOR HASLAM

Superbike Sprint Race
Leon began the 12-lap dash from 12th. A steady start made early progress difficult, but he worked his way into P7 before grip and confidence again became limiting factors. He crossed the line in P9, meaning a P10 start for the Feature Race.

Supersport Feature Race
Another light shower another tough call. After forming up on wets, the team again made a bold late decision: full inters. It was the right move.

Ben shot from P8 to P3 before Turn 1, picked off TJ Toms for the lead by lap 4, and then managed the race perfectly. Talbot challenged early on, but the inters came into their own mid-race and Ben pulled away setting the fastest lap on lap 14 and cruising through traffic to take his second win of the weekend. Celebrations were wild in Parc Fermé, with Ben swim-dancing on the bike and the team doing the same trackside.

“We rolled the dice and it paid off,” he said. “Class from the whole team. That was mint.”

Superbike Feature Race

Leon’s final race of the weekend was dry but filled with drama major crashes, a safety car, and aggressive front-group racing. From P10, he worked into a second group scrap. The safety car bunched the field, but once racing resumed it was clear the grip and confidence just weren’t there. Leon brought the bike home in 7th a tough but crucial points finish.

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 

Ben’s double win catapulted him from P4 to 2nd in the Supersport standings now just 11 points behind Irwin.

Leon remains 4th in the Superbike championship but lost ground to closest rival Rory Skinner, now 12 points adrift of the final Showdown position.

TEAM MANAGER IAN ‘HAMMY’ DARBYSHIRE

“It’s really tough for a team like ours when one side is on cloud nine and the other is sat looking at every area of the weekend. We have to be realistic and understand where we need to improve in Superbike that’s the main reason we go racing. But I’m super proud of Ben’s results and how the whole crew operated this weekend. Thruxton is up next. It’s our home round, but not always a kind one. We’ll strip the bikes, reset and make a plan. I’ve got full confidence in Wilf and the lads to come back stronger.”

Unpredictable weather, red flags, and hard-fought results at Knockhill for the Moto Rapido Racing Ducati team

Round 4 of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship brought Moto Rapido Ducati to Knockhill for a weekend of unpredictable weather, red flags, and hard-fought results. Both Leon Haslam and Ben Currie faced a series of challenges, but the team came away with valuable points, a podium and fresh determination heading into the second half of the season.

Friday: Early Promise in Tricky Conditions

Friday’s free practice sessions saw both sides of the garage working through setup changes as the team looked to build momentum.

Leon Haslam had a tough start to FP1, finishing P11 and 0.8s off, but came back strong in FP2 after the crew made significant setup improvements. He ended the day P5 in FP2 and P10 overall, just half a second off provisional pole.

Ben Currie also overcame a disrupted day. He went P5 in FP1 and then found strong pace in FP2, finishing the session fastest overall by 0.039s and placing P4 combined heading into Saturday.

Saturday: Disruption, Decisions and Determination

The team arrived Saturday to clearer skies and high winds, a shift in conditions that meant most of Friday’s setup work had to be revised.

In Supersport qualifying, Ben was once again interrupted by a red flag and lengthy delay. He couldn’t find a clear lap in traffic and settled for P5 on the grid. The Sprint Race brought more disruption as rain arrived just before the start. The team made the decision to stay on slicks, which looked promising until the conditions worsened. Ben managed the changing grip impressively, finishing P9 and crucially setting a lap fast enough to secure P5 on the grid for Sunday’s Feature Race.

Leon endured a tough Superbike qualifying session and ended up P13. In the Sprint Race, he made a decent launch but was forced to take evasive action after a crash in front of him on lap one, which pushed him back to P19. A determined ride followed, and he recovered to P13, salvaging solid points and earning the same grid spot for Race 2.

Sunday: Podiums, Progress and Persistence

Race day brought heavy rain and tricky track conditions, but the team remained focused.

Leon was first out for the Superbike Sprint. After being shuffled back early on, he dug in and climbed back through the pack, eventually crossing the line in P8. That result secured him a spot on row four (P10) for Race 3.

In the Supersport Feature Race, Ben was determined to make Sunday count. Launching from P5, he immediately slotted into P3 at Turn 1 and looked strong in the opening laps. Unfortunately, as the leaders hit back markers, Ben lost ground in the spray and traffic. He brought it home in a solid P3 a valuable podium finish, particularly with championship rival Stapleford crashing out early. Ben left Knockhill 4th in the standings, just 23 points behind new leader Irwin, with everything still to play for.

Leon’s final race of the weekend followed immediately after Ben’s. Lining up from P10, he again lost a few spots early but began to find momentum only for the race to be red-flagged due to standing water. After a long delay, the race restarted, only to be stopped again due to a bike on track and possible contamination. On the third restart, Leon delivered his strongest ride of the weekend. He climbed as high as P6 and was chasing down the top five, but a late move from Stacey meant he crossed the line in P7. It marked clear progress and gave the team a positive note to end on, with the focus now shifting to Brands Hatch in two weeks’ time.

Ian ‘Hammy’ Darbyshire – Team Manager
"This weekend had just about everything… red flags, weather shifts, delays and close calls but the team stuck at it. I’m really happy with how we kept adapting and kept digging in. But obviously we left with a hunger for more! Ben showed real class in tough conditions and Leon made solid progress all weekend. Wilf didn’t stop from am to pm everyday, along with the rest of the staff, they gave everything. Superbike is ruthless and sometimes the search for that feeling can be tough to unlock. That said, we still managed to cultivate points across all races and we now look ahead to Brands Hatch in just over two weeks with focus and intent. We head there 4th in the Supersport Championship, just -23 points off the top, and joint 3rd in Superbike on 122 points, -70 from Brad. We all know how quickly racing can change, so the goal now is to keep applying pressure and stay right on the heels of the boys at the top."

Plenty of points in the bag for the Moto Rapido Racing Ducati team at Snetterton

Friday – Free Practice

Ben kicked off the team’s on-track activity in FP1, quickly getting to work and logging plenty of laps across both sessions. By the end of the day, his combined times placed him in a solid third overall, securing direct progression to Q2. With just 0.772s to find, it was a strong base to build from.

Leon’s day was far less straightforward. Red flags disrupted the flow, and there were plenty of debriefs as the garage worked tirelessly to figure out where we were losing pace and feel compared to the front runners. Thanks to the combined input of the whole crew, we found a direction that gave Leon a better feeling on the bike. He ended the day P4 overall.

Leon Haslam: "It's the first time we've rolled out and not had the natural pace of the front boys, so we've had to work hard."

Saturday – Qualifying & Race 1

Supersport qualifying was once again interrupted by a red flag. Thankfully, unlike in previous rounds, it didn’t hamper our momentum. Ben got out early and laid down his fastest lap quickly though, in doing so, he inadvertently gave a tow to a rival. Still, despite late-session challenges, including a last-gasp flier from Kennedy, Ben secured P3 for Race 1.

Leon was first out of the box in Superbike qualifying, leading the field out of pit lane. As he settled in, it became clear that he still wasn’t fully at one with the bike. But in true gritty form, Leon dug deep on his final flying lap and pushed himself to a valuable P6 start position.

Race 1 – Superbike

Leon launched well and focused on getting into a rhythm. While the feel on the bike still wasn’t perfect, his trademark determination saw him bring it home in P4 a vital haul of championship points.

Race 1 – Supersport

Ben lined up on the second row and was feeling confident. But after the formation lap, something didn’t feel right. With no time to diagnose the issue on the grid, it was a case of ride and react. He dropped back as far as P21 early on but showed immense grit and talent to fight his way through the field. A superb recovery saw him finish P10 a strong result considering the circumstances.

Sunday – Race Day

Sunday morning warm-up brought a welcome boost for both riders. We tried a setup on Leon’s Superbike that we hadn’t run all weekend and while warm-up isn’t always the most reliable indicator of race performance, it showed real promise in the areas where he’d been struggling most. The changes gave Leon a much-improved feeling, and he ended the session third fastest.

Ben also looked sharp in the Supersport warm-up, clocking the fourth fastest time and giving us confidence heading into the afternoon's races.

Sunday Races – Turning the Tide

Sunday saw a real transformation in our fortunes. The heat was still on another blistering day but this time high winds added a fresh challenge, noticeably affecting how the bikes handled across the board.

Leon Haslam had been digging deep all weekend, bringing the Panigale V4 R home in P4 and P5 in the earlier races despite not feeling fully at one with the bike. But before Race 3, the boys found something and Leon delivered in style.

After battling through a fierce mid-pack scrap, he broke free and hunted down the second group, making aggressive yet calculated moves on both Skinner and Bridewell to claim a hard-earned P3 podium. A brilliant ride and the perfect birthday present for the legend himself, Ron Haslam, who celebrated his 69th with us trackside.

Ben Currie once again had to come from deep. Caught in traffic while the front group made their escape, he stayed composed, kept chipping away, and delivered a calm, clinical ride to P4. More strong points in the bag and another reminder of just how quick Ben is when given half a chance.

Championship Standings

As we head into Round 4 at Knockhill:

- Leon Haslam sits P3 in the championship, 38 points behind Brad and just 8 behind Kyle.

- Ben Currie also holds P3, 20 points off Luke and 12 behind Rhys.

Thank You

Huge credit to every member of the team for their relentless effort across a tough, hot, and unpredictable weekend. And a massive thank you to our sponsors, partners, and the amazing fans both at the track and online who ride every high and low with us.

We’ll regroup, keep learning, and come back swinging at the next one.

Crucial points in both championships for the Moto Rapido Racing Ducati team at Donington Park

Moto Rapido Racing Ducati – Round Two: Donington Park Race Report

Following a strong performance at Round One in Oulton Park, the Moto Rapido Racing Ducati team arrived at Donington Park full of confidence and momentum. With both riders showing great form from the opening sessions, the team went into Round Two knowing it would be competitive — and came away with standout results, headline moments, and silverware.

Friday – Free Practice

Both riders immediately found pace around the Donington GP circuit. In Superbike, Leon Haslam placed 5th overall on combined times aboard the Ducati Panigale V4 R, just 0.164 seconds off the top spot. Over in Supersport, Ben Currie clocked 2nd fastest, only 0.045 seconds from P1. Both sessions were traffic-heavy, but the speed and confidence were clear across the garage, setting the tone for the weekend ahead.

Saturday – Qualifying & Sprint Races

Ben Currie – Supersport
Ben kicked off his birthday in style with a storming qualifying performance. First out of pit lane and fully committed, he secured pole position by going under the lap record — repeating the pace he showed at Oulton Park.

In the 12-lap Sprint Race, he produced a masterclass. From the moment the lights went out, Ben was in full control, breaking away at the front and opening a two-second gap by lap two. He led every lap and took his first win of the season, complete with a new lap record, pole position, and lights-to-flag dominance — all on his birthday.

Leon Haslam – Superbike
Leon’s qualifying session was disrupted by two red flags, making it difficult to get a clean lap. Both times he exited pit lane, he was caught in traffic and couldn’t build momentum. Still, he delivered a solid performance to qualify 4th, just 0.02 seconds off pole.

Race 1 saw Leon launch from the second row, holding P4 into Redgate. With his heaviest fuel load of the season, the early laps were a learning experience as he adapted to the setup. Once the leading group broke away, rejoining the battle was a tall order, but he brought home important points and valuable data for Sunday’s races. He would start Race 2 from 7th on the grid.

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Sunday – Sprint & Feature Races

Leon Haslam – Superbike Sprint (Race 2)
Leon’s 12-lap Sprint Race on Sunday morning was a turning point. Starting from P7, he lost a position off the line but quickly settled into a strong rhythm. It was clear — even from the TV footage — that Leon was more comfortable and confident than the day before. Lap by lap, he picked off positions, eventually climbing into P6 and breaking the lap record in the process. While Rory Skinner narrowly reclaimed the record later, Leon’s charge was a clear statement.

He crossed the line in P6 with momentum on his side and set himself up brilliantly for the final race of the weekend — starting from P2 on the grid for Race 3.

Ben Currie – Supersport Feature Race
Ben’s second race was a completely different beast — an absolute thriller from start to finish.

Launching cleanly from pole, Ben slotted into P2 off the line and was immediately thrown into an all-out dogfight. The race featured intense battles, elbows out, constant overtakes, and bar-to-bar action with the front group.

As the final lap approached, Ben was chasing down Luke Stapleford and breathing down his neck. Into the Esses, Ben made a bold, brilliant move — late on the brakes and decisive — to pass Luke cleanly in a true racer’s style. But the drama wasn’t over. Heading into the Melbourne Loop, Rhys Irwin made his move, and Ben had to react quickly. Staying calm and composed, he slotted in and powered across the line to take his second victory of the weekend.

Two wins, two poles, and a lap record — a dream weekend by any standard.

Leon Haslam – Superbike Feature (Race 3)
Leon’s final race of the weeknd was another gritty ride. After getting pushed back to P7 early on, he dug deep, fought back through the field and finished P4 – right on the front group. Smart, solid points for the championship.

Huge shoutout to the whole team – the boys in the garage didn’t stop grafting all weekend and gave the riders everything they needed.

Now we recharge before Round 3 at Snetterton.

Thank you to all the fans, sponsors and supporters who make this possible.

Moto Rapido Racing Ducati reflect on a weekend of highs and heartbreak at Oulton Park

Leon Haslam claims first win since 2018, Ben Currie breaks Supersport lap record, and the paddock unites in mourning.

Moto Rapido Racing Ducati, proudly supported by Ducati UK, delivered standout performances this weekend at Oulton Park, with Leon Haslam and Ben Currie showcasing exceptional pace and professionalism in their respective classes. However, the event was overshadowed by a tragic incident that has deeply affected the entire racing community.

Saturday's qualifying showed strong promise, with Haslam securing P3 on the grid aboard his Panigale V4R and Currie taking P4 on the Panigale V2.

In Race 1, Leon battled through a tough start to claim a solid third place, setting the third-fastest Superbike lap time and earning another front-row start for Sunday’s sprint.

Currie’s Supersport race was equally eventful, surviving a dramatic clash early on and professionally regrouping to secure fourth place. His performance was underscored by breaking the Supersport lap record and securing pole position for Monday’s feature race.

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Leon Haslam started the Superbike Race 2 from P3 and produced a calculated and experienced ride to work his way into the lead. A huge moment on the final lap had hearts in mouths, but he held firm to take his first win since 2018 – and the team’s first of the season. His victory was a testament to the effort behind the scenes from Team Principal Wilf, bike builder Joe, and engine builder Baz, who also helped deliver a new Superbike lap record of 1:32.817.

Ben Currie was set to start the Supersport Feature Race 2 from pole position, following his strong pace and record-breaking form in the previous race. Tragically, the race was red-flagged on the opening lap due to a multi-rider incident at the first corner. The severity of the crash led to the suspension of the event, and the cancellation of all remaining races, including Superbike Race 3.

As a team, our heartfelt condolences go out to all the families and friends involved. The racing world has been shaken to its core, and the paddock will never be the same without those two incredible characters. We join the entire motorsport community in mourning their loss and stand united in grief and support for everyone affected.

Positive first test for the Moto Rapido Racing Ducati team at Navarra

Leon Haslam made a welcome return to Ducati machinery this week, when he got his first chance to ride the Moto Rapido Racing Ducati team's Panigale V4 R at the Navarra circuit in Spain during the first of three R&G Official Tests. The 'Pocket Rocket' announced he was joining the Winchester-based team late last year, with high hopes of title success. And the positive start at Navarra means the team will move on to the next test at Donington in a great position.

Ben Currie is back on the Panigale V2, this time with a new Crew Chief in Les Pearson, as he aims to retake the Supersport title he won with the team in 2023. Ben and Les had lots to work through during the two-day test and made great ground with all the team leaving Spain on a high after the long winter break.

Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing Ducati #91)

"First test at Navarra done and it’s safe to say it’s been a long winter, so I was excited to get started. I've spent a bit of time with Wilf and Hammy over the winter, but there’s nothing like being with the whole team in the garage, watching everyone get stuck in. We got through so much and luckily the weather was good to us. It was great to get on the Ducati again for the first time in a few years. My bike now is a far cry from any Ducati I’ve ridden before.

As far as tests go this one couldn’t have gone better, and for a first outing I feel like we’re in a really strong position. Next up is Donington next week, where we’ll really see what we’ve got and fine tune the bike for racing. Big thanks to the team for making this first test as smooth as possible. Can’t wait to go again!"

Ben Currie (Moto Rapido Racing Ducati #61)

"I had a really positive couple of days at Navarra and finally got back out with the team and my brand new Panigale V2. I was buzzing to get going on the new bike, especially with some changes compared to the one we’ve been running before. We got through a massive programme, testing new suspension components and ideas, plus taking a fresh approach to the chassis setup.

We spent most of the first day just getting me comfortable and understanding how the bike felt, as it’s pretty different to what I’m used to. We also welcomed my new Crew Chief Les Pearson into the team. He’s well known in the paddock, so no need for an introduction. As expected there were a few teething problems, but we worked tirelessly through different set ups and by the end of the test we were in a really solid place.

W’ve got a good base to work from heading into Donington, so we can really focus on getting up to speed. The team's in a great place, the atmosphere is spot on, and having one of my best mates Leon on the other side of the garage makes it even better."