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.”