Rhys Stephenson, representing Rocket Racing, showcased his racing talent this weekend at Donington Park in the Pirelli National Superbike. Across practice sessions, qualifying, and the race itself, Stephenson proved himself in a fiercely competitive field, ultimately securing a commendable 4th place finish.

In Free Practice 1, Stephenson hit the ground running, completing 11 laps with a best time of 1:51.365, earning him 3rd place. Despite trailing leader Robert Varey by just over a second, Rhys maintained a solid pace at 80.4 MPH, showing early promise for the weekend. As the team adjusted the bike, Free Practice 2 saw Stephenson increase his speed and consistency.

He clocked a 1:37.263, improving his performance to 92 MPH. Though the Rocket Racing rider ended the session in 7th, he was clearly closing the gap, just 1.398 seconds behind session leader Richard Cooper.

Qualifying was a crucial session, and Rhys delivered another impressive performance. He completed 13 laps, posting a best time of 1:36.269, which placed him 7th on the grid. Competing against top riders like Edoardo Colombi and Richard Cooper, Stephenson was only 1.297 seconds off pole position—a clear sign he was ready to push hard in the race.

Race day was the true test, and Rhys did not disappoint. Despite a competitive field and challenging conditions, he held his own throughout the 12-lap race. Stephenson crossed the finish line in 4th place, just over 4 seconds behind the race winner, Thomas Strudwick. His best lap came on Lap 7, clocking in at 1:35.626 with an average speed of 93.64 MPH. Although Rhys couldn’t quite break into the top three, his consistent pace and riding demonstrated his potential to climb further in future races.

After the race, Rhys reflected on his weekend: “I got a good launch and headed into turn one on the outside, an issue for another rider in front allowed me to slip underneath 5 bikes. In 2 corners I had made up 6 places! I worked hard to keep with the leading group but halfway through I realised that I couldn’t make up the gap in time, I kept my pace going and brought it over the line in 4th place. Overall I’m really happy with the weekend and I’m looking forward to the last round at Brands Hatch.

Rhys Stephenson and Rocket Racing will now set their sights on the next challenge, eager to continue improving and push for podium finishes i