Bridewell 'stronger' ahead of final BSB races

BBC

Mon, 16 Sept 2024, 1:33 pm·2-min read

Tommy Bridwell in a garage with his bike behind him — Tommy Bridewell goes into the final two rounds of the British Superbikes with a slender lead in the standings [BBC]

Reigning champion Tommy Bridewell said he believes he has emerged stronger from a tough weekend where his lead in the British Superbikes was cut to six points, with two rounds remaining.

The 36-year-old crashed out of the opening race at Oulton Park on Saturday to lose his 19-point lead and fall behind race winner Kyle Ryde by six points.

However, Bridewell finished fourth and second in wet racing conditions on Sunday to retake the championship lead by a slender six points.

"I believe we're going into the next two rounds stronger than we did at Oulton and a lot stronger than we did previously in the year," Bridewell told BBC Radio Wiltshire.

"I think when it comes to crunch time I'll do enough.

"We've got to keep doing what we're doing. It's worked well and I think that time is now where we need to start upping the ante. I feel good in myself, I feel good on the bike, the bike's working well."

Bridewell, from Devizes, Wiltshire, won the title for the first time in 2023 by a margin of just 0.5 points after finishing second in the final race of the season.

He said he was "chuffed" with how he bounced back at Oulton Park after initial disappointment to which he put down to his years of experience.

"It's almost like when your backs against the wall slightly and your heads down, I didn't let it phase me. I knew what I needed to come out and do on the Sunday," Bridewell said.

"Winning the championship last year, you learn so much of how you've done it, how you approached it. Years of experience and dealing with the pressure as well allows me to know what I need to do.

"I knew I made a mistake but it was just about rectifying it."

Tommy Bidewell holds his arms in the air as confetti goes off behind him as he crosses the line at Brands Hatch to be crowned champion — Tommy Bridewell was crowned British Superbikes champion for the first time last season [Getty Images]

Bridewell, who switched from Ducati to Honda this season, will next race at Donnington Park on 27-29 September, before the season finale at Brands Hatch on October 11-13.

He said he hoped the title race would be a "a little bit more in hand" after last season's close finish.

"It wasn't my plan for this year," Bridewell said.

"Let's see what challenges Donnington throws up.

"As far as we have a good dry weekend I can't see any reason why we can't be fighting right at the sharp end."