Ollie Bridewell dies in Mallory fall.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship rider Ollie Bridewell has died following an accident during the first free practice session for the latest rounds of the season at Mallory Park.

Bridewell was taking part in the opening session of the weekend for the BSB riders, which had been shortened to 20 minutes due to heavy rain at the Leicestershire circuit when he was involved in an incident at the Esses.

The Team Naturally Best rider was treated at trackside, before being moved to the circuit medical centre where he succumbed to his injuries.

The full statement issued by race director Stuart Higgs reads as follows:

"During the Bennetts British Superbike Championship first free practice at Mallory Park, an incident occurred at the Esses section of the circuit.

"The rider involved was Ollie Bridewell.

"Initial evidence shows that he lost control and fell from his machine making a heavy impact with the surface and then the Recticel 'type A' protective barrier. He sustained critical head and neck injuries. He was treated initially at trackside and then at the circuit medical centre by the BSB Medical Team, where he succumbed to his injuries.

"The incident is being fully investigated by the MCRCB and the relevant authorities.

"On behalf of MCRCB Events and the BSB community we extend our profound sympathies."

Stuart Higgs / Toby Branfoot, FRCSEd (Tr & Orth)

Race Director / Medical Director

Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance personnel were also involved in treating Bridewell at the scene and issued the following statement:

"Unfortunately, Mr Bridewell was in cardiac arrest when we arrived," Dhushy Kumar, a volunteer doctor with WNAA who regularly covers as chief medical officer at motorsports events, revealed, "Despite the excellent medical care that he had received on the scene from the Mallory Park team, his injuries were simply too severe to survive and he was declared dead."

Crash.net joins the entire British Superbike community in extending our sympathies to Ollie's family and friends.