Honda Racing takes first BSB race win of 2025
Cadwell ParkThe seventh round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park delivered the first BSB victory of 2025 for Honda Racing amid a deluge of trophies at the team’s home track.
Despite falling in Sunday’s opening BSB race, Tommy Bridewell earned a second place starting position for Race 2 with team-mate Andrew Irwin lining up in fourth position.
A clean getaway saw the two Honda Fireblades riding in line astern in second and third places, with Irwin holding the early advantage, before Bridewell made his way past. Soon afterwards, the championship leader, Bradley Ray, crashed out of the race lead, promoting the Hondas to first and second.
The two Fireblades ran nose-to-tail throughout the race until the final corner, when Irwin was passed by defending BSB champion Kyle Ryde. Out in front, Bridewell deservedly scored his first win of the season after months of hard work for himself and the team, while Irwin’s third place completed the team’s first double podium finish since Brands Hatch in July 2024.
The final BSB encounter of the weekend began with Irwin, holder of the fastest lap in Race 2, starting from pole position, with Bridewell also on the front row in third place. A lightning start carried Irwin to the early lead, but by the end of the lap the two Hondas were running second and third, with Irwin to the fore.
As the race progressed, Irwin and race leader, defending BSB champion Kyle Ryde, pulled away in a private battle while Bridewell circulated in a lonely third place, well clear of the rest of the field. Irwin dodged and feinted but could not find a way past, settling instead for second place, with Bridewell finishing third.
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“A good weekend, I guess. A tough weekend, but it seems like the bike’s made a step. Andy (Irwin) had a great weekend, so that’s good to see - he’s brimming with confidence so it helps push me. Neither of us wants to get beaten by our team-mate, so it pushes me hard. It’s tough around here at Cadwell but no excuses. My emotions are odd, really. We won today, but I expect to be winning more regularly and I expect it to be more consistent. It’s tough because at the minute I’m happy - I’m super happy! We’ve won a BSB race today, and that’s hard to do at the best of times. I’m happy for Honda, but I’m not sure if we’ve turned the corner yet. Let’s see what else we can do for the rest of the year. We need to keep working, that’s for sure.”
“A good weekend, I guess. A tough weekend, but it seems like the bike’s made a step. Andy (Irwin) had a great weekend, so that’s good to see - he’s brimming with confidence so it helps push me. Neither of us wants to get beaten by our team-mate, so it pushes me hard. It’s tough around here at Cadwell but no excuses. My emotions are odd, really. We won today, but I expect to be winning more regularly and I expect it to be more consistent. It’s tough because at the minute I’m happy - I’m super happy! We’ve won a BSB race today, and that’s hard to do at the best of times. I’m happy for Honda, but I’m not sure if we’ve turned the corner yet. Let’s see what else we can do for the rest of the year. We need to keep working, that’s for sure.”
“Some races you’re disappointed not to win but today I’m not. I put 100% in until the end of the weekend, and we’ve got three podium finishes to show for it. It’s been a solid weekend. Honda has done a mega job, I keep ranting and raving about it, and congratulations to Tommy for the win. Five podiums for the team is pretty special. I feel great when I’m riding, I feel like I’m getting back to where I was four or five years ago, and I feel like I could be doing this every weekend. It’s nice to have that feeling again: it’s nice to have that belief.”
“Some races you’re disappointed not to win but today I’m not. I put 100% in until the end of the weekend, and we’ve got three podium finishes to show for it. It’s been a solid weekend. Honda has done a mega job, I keep ranting and raving about it, and congratulations to Tommy for the win. Five podiums for the team is pretty special. I feel great when I’m riding, I feel like I’m getting back to where I was four or five years ago, and I feel like I could be doing this every weekend. It’s nice to have that feeling again: it’s nice to have that belief.”