Victory wait goes on but Bridewell content to play ‘long game’

Tommy Bridewell’s wait for a first British Superbike Championship win since 2015 continues on despite notching up a fourth podium in seven races for the Oxford Racing Ducati team at Donington Park.

Coming into the weekend level with Tarran Mackenzie at the top of the overall standings after a brace of second place finishes at Oulton Park, Bridewell was eyeing the top step of the podium and demonstrated impressive pace in race conditions.

However, each of the three races would ultimately get away from Bridewell as he reeled off a fourth and a pair of thirds, preferring to focus on points to favour his Title Showdown bid. He is now second in the standings, seven points behind new leader Scott Redding.

“I have to take the positives, I think I expected a bit too much,” he conceded. “I would have liked to come away with at least a win but ultimately the championship is a very long job and I am concentrating on the trophy I want at the end. [After all] I could lose it here now.

Remarkably it means Bridewell has now achieved eight podiums in the last 14 races he has started with the Moto Rapido-run team, but he hasn’t tasted the winners’ champagne since the early stages of the 2015 season.

Moreover, perhaps more surprising than Bridewell’s own victory drought is the fact Moto Rapido is yet to secure a BSB race win of its own, despite accumulating an impressive 11 podiums since its debut in 2014. Bridewell is under no doubt though that a breakthrough win is around the corner.

“It was a great weekend, the team has done a great job of making me feel comfortable on the bike and more competitive, the bike is very nice to ride.

“I think maybe the PBM has found [something] but we are sole rider team so it is down to us – we are doing a very, very good job and we are really happy and positive. Going into Brands, it should favour us more.”

Though yet to be confirmed, it is expected Bridewell will compete in the WorldSBK round at Jerez in two weeks’ time as a deputy for the injured Eugene Laverty following an impressive performance at Imola.