A brace of podiums for Brilliant Bridewell
Donington Park GPIn a brilliant display of grit, determination and extraordinary race craft, Tommy Bridewell doubles down with two more podium finishes to end round three with a hattrick of podium finishes.
Picture perfect conditions provided the backdrop for a sensational display of racing at round three of the Bennetts British Superbike championship at Donington Park. A sea of fans lined the circuit and were treated to arguably some of the best racing of the year to date in the second of two Superbike races of the day.
First on the schedule however for the team was the shorter twelve lap Superbike sprint. In which, Tommy lined up in fifth on the grid whilst teammates Andrew Irwin and Dean Harrison occupied sixteenth and seventeenth respectively. The race itself was a fast and frantic affair with riders not concerned about tyre life pushing the pace from the off. Out front, Tommy had to get his elbows out to push through into the final podium position, but as a result of the intense battle, the time he had lost to the leading duo early in the race left him with simply too much of a bridge to gap. Nonetheless he backed up his impressive potential from yesterday to secure his first podium of the day in third.
Andrew Irwin and Dean Harrison too were putting together impressive races towards the lower point scoring positions. Dean secured his best finish of the short circuit season to date in Honda colours with an impressive eleventh, whilst Andrew battled through to secure a confidence boosting top ten finish in ninth.
Jack Kennedy was then out next for the team in the single Supersport race of the day. He endured a rather lonely race to a fifth place finish as the leading world championship wildcard riders checked-out out front. Nonetheless, he rode a valiant race and scored yet more championship points. He now sits second in the championship, just three points behind Ben Currie in first.
In the final race for the team, and easily the race of the season so far, both Tommy and Andrew delivered their best rides. Andrew, buoyed by the progression he had displayed through the weekend delivered front running pace and decisive overtakes to secure a season best finish of seventh. This could easily have been more had he not made a few small mistakes during the race. Nevertheless, a return to good form enables him to leave Donington in an assured mood. Dean Harrison too secured more points on the board with a thirteenth place finish.
Meanwhile, battling out front for his first win in Honda colours, Tommy Bridewell produced some fantastic racing with gutsy overtakes aplenty and raw speed in abundance. Leading at moments and fighting amongst a quartet of riders throughout for the race win, he crossed the line in an impressive second place to bag his second podium of the day and his third of the weekend. He now sits fourth in the championship and just twenty two points behind.
The Honda Racing UK team now turns its attention to the Isle of Man TT Races, which commence on Monday 27th May.
It feels fantastic to be walking away from Donington with three more podiums and the rider of the round award. That last race was a proper good old dog fight and I absolutely loved it, we were having a right ‘ding dong’ for the entire race. Jason just timed his move at exactly the right time and nicked it, so credit to him. I enjoyed every lap, getting the elbows out and having a good scrap. This weekend is testament to all of the hard work that the team and I are putting in, and in truth, we are overachieving for where we are in this project. There is so much more to come and that first Honda win is not far away at all. There’s a little break now before Knockhill, while the team head off to the Isle of Man, but trust me, we will keep on working behind the scenes and come out fighting again next round.
I said before the weekend that we are not going to go from fifteenth to the podium, but honestly if in that last race we could have got away with the leaders at the start I think it could’ve been a different story. I went from fourteenth in the first race yesterday, ninth in the second race and then seventh in the final race which shows a continuous progression. In the final race I think I was riding the best that I have all year, but I just made a couple of silly mistakes. I’m still green and I’m missing that last little bit, a bit like ring rust I suppose. To be in and amongst the battle with race winners and to be lapping as quick as the leaders is a huge confidence boost. We head to Knockhill smiling and we will continue to keep progressing.
We’ve had two great races and achieved two solid point scoring finishes. Yes, I want more, I’m not satisfied with finishing in P11 but all in all we have constantly been moving forward and we are knocking on the door of the top ten. I know that there is more to come and we will keep on working to crack into that top ten and realise our potential. But the bike is good, I’m riding well, I’ve made it through the weekend in one piece and now we head to the Isle of Man TT. I’m looking forward to it.
