Honda Racing on the rise at Cadwell Park
Cadwell ParkHonda Racing UK has made an extremely confident start to its home round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship (BSB) at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire, just five miles from the team’s base in Louth.
From the brief evening test session on Friday, both Tommy Bridewell and Andrew Irwin have been much closer to the ultimate pace in BSB. Both of the Honda riders then came through the Free Practice sessions fast enough to avoid the first knock-out Qualifying session and go straight into the pole position Shootout.
This was to the team’s advantage after both of the Honda Fireblades suffered damage in the final 10-minute practice before qualifying began. A big effort by the team ensured that both of the bikes were back together and ready for their flying laps, with Bridewell qualifying third and Irwin 11th.
The first race of the weekend followed swiftly afterwards, with Bridewell getting up to second place and looking ready to reel in the leader until he crashed out of the race. Irwin, meanwhile, got a lightning start and was soon up to sixth place, which became fourth with attrition, and then with two laps to go he made a decisive pass to take his first podium finish of the 2025 BSB campaign.
“We have been stronger this weekend, the bike is working better for definite and we are extracting absolutely every ounce and more out of the package. It was a silly little crash in FP3, but to bounce back on the front row of the grid meant that we hit our target. I’m riding at 110 per cent. The support here is fantastic, as ever, and I’m disappointed to have crashed out of the race but I’d sooner pull the handlebars off the bike, and give every ounce out of me, and sleep well knowing there was nothing more I could do. If I knock it back slightly we’ve still got podium pace but I had a go, I went all in, and I caught a kerb and that was that. So we’ll go again tomorrow, but I’m proud to have pushed as hard as I did today, pushed my rivals to lap record pace, so let’s see tomorrow.”
“We have been stronger this weekend, the bike is working better for definite and we are extracting absolutely every ounce and more out of the package. It was a silly little crash in FP3, but to bounce back on the front row of the grid meant that we hit our target. I’m riding at 110 per cent. The support here is fantastic, as ever, and I’m disappointed to have crashed out of the race but I’d sooner pull the handlebars off the bike, and give every ounce out of me, and sleep well knowing there was nothing more I could do. If I knock it back slightly we’ve still got podium pace but I had a go, I went all in, and I caught a kerb and that was that. So we’ll go again tomorrow, but I’m proud to have pushed as hard as I did today, pushed my rivals to lap record pace, so let’s see tomorrow.”
“I got a mega start and felt really comfortable running at that pace early on. Then Charlie (Nesbitt) crashed and Tommy crashed and I thought ‘hang on, we could be on for a podium here,’ and I had to keep going, I just can’t give up on this one. And I just sat behind Christian (Iddon) and with two laps to go I thought maybe he won’t defend as much and I’m delighted to get here. I haven’t raced at Cadwell Park for two years, so to get on the podium here at what’s been my worst track ever - if someone ever asks me if I have a bad track I always think of here - so it’s nice to change that! A massive thank you to Honda and everybody who’s supported me and stuck behind me. Everyone knows it’s not been the easiest road, but I’m keeping the faith and let’s keep going.”
“I got a mega start and felt really comfortable running at that pace early on. Then Charlie (Nesbitt) crashed and Tommy crashed and I thought ‘hang on, we could be on for a podium here,’ and I had to keep going, I just can’t give up on this one. And I just sat behind Christian (Iddon) and with two laps to go I thought maybe he won’t defend as much and I’m delighted to get here. I haven’t raced at Cadwell Park for two years, so to get on the podium here at what’s been my worst track ever - if someone ever asks me if I have a bad track I always think of here - so it’s nice to change that! A massive thank you to Honda and everybody who’s supported me and stuck behind me. Everyone knows it’s not been the easiest road, but I’m keeping the faith and let’s keep going.”