Bridewell to ‘come out swinging’ as he looks for first BSB title

While chances are slim of Tommy Bridewell overhauling Christian Iddon, Jason O’Halloran and series leader Tarran Mackenzie during this weekend’s season finale, the Oxford Racing Ducati rider is not giving up hope of a first BSB title. 

Bridewell’s stunning double at Oulton Park (first of three showdown rounds) was perhaps the most dominating set of victories by any rider this season, while a fourth place finish in the final race at Donington Park kept the BSB veteran in contention. 

Bridewell is 21 points down on Mackenzie with a possible 75 points still up for grabs. 

So although it doesn’t seem unrealistic to think Bridewell could come away from Brands as champion, the 33 year-old is somewhat relying on poor results or bad luck to happen to those around him.   

"I am a realist; if I was 34 points behind Tarran going into race three at Donington, and if I had left there with that kind of mountain to climb, then you are really massively on the back foot and would need a miracle to overhaul that," said Bridewell. 

"But luckily for me, we had a decent last race at Donington and of our main rivals, Jason was down the field and Tarran had a technical, so only Christian made hay while the sun shined over me there."

While Bridewell is not the favourite for the title given he’s fourth in the standings, the Ducati rider still feels huge pressure to win and is aiming to ‘come out swinging’. 

Bridewell said: "For me the job is simple; for me there is still pressure on my shoulders as I feel that I have a lot to lose if I don’t win the championship, but it is going out at Brands Hatch and being smart. 

"That is where the team comes into play, as I need to know the information of what is going on, especially on Sunday. 

"I think we will come out swinging in Saturday’s race, and then go from there."