Milwaukee Yamaha’s Tommy Bridewell won a tight opening MCE British Superbike race at Cadwell Park. It was the first time that the Devizes rider has stepped on to the top of the rostrum, after the race was red flagged as rain started to fall on the Lincolnshire track.

Only one-six thousandths of a second separated Bridewell, from the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki of Shane Byrne who had to settle for second, with GBmoto Kawasaki’s Chris Walker completing the podium. Milwaukee Yamaha's Josh Brookes ploughed through from the fourth row to take fourth – just missing out on those valuable podium credits.

At first it was Byrne who got the hole shot with Walker in second, after a brilliant start from the second row. Halsall's Jon Kirkham also had a great start, and was up to third on lap one, with Buildbase BMW's Ryuichi Kiyonari chasing the leading pack.

But on lap two Kiyo made a move on Kirkham at Coppice, and had Walker as his next target. Bridewell was also making his way through the pack, and as Kirkham slightly fell off the pace it made the way for the Devizes lad to go into fourth.

On lap four small drops of rain started to fall on some parts of track, as Kiyo made his move on Byrne on the Park Straight to take the lead for the first time this weekend. In a repeat move Bridewell edged ahead of Walker to go in to third.

Two laps later Kiyonari was leading the chase but put his hand up and fell back off the pace and went back to eleventh, and then retired to the pits. Anvil Hire Tag Racing’s Scott Smart was inside the points but had a technical problem at Charlies, bringing his race to an abrupt stop.

Bridewell was not fazed by all the drama further down the field and overtook Byrne to go into first, only for triple-champ to take the lead once again coming out of the Park Straight, with six laps remaining.

Waters was obviously feeling comfortable on his Tyco backed Suzuki and on lap nine was up to fourth, just behind Walker. Elsewhere Brookes was pushing his Yamaha ever closer to the front pack, and made a pass on Hickman to go into the top five, and minutes later Brookes got the better of his fellow namesake, Josh Waters at Park.

On the same rotation WD-40’s Barry Burrell crashed at Charlies, but was declared OK at the trackside. Meanwhile Bridewell was pushing Byrne for the lead – but the heavens opened and the red flags came out, putting the opening race to a stop, with Bridewell taking the win in the end.

As the flags came out Kirkham and Waters fell at Park Corner with both riders being assessed. On the same lap Alstare Junior’s Christophe Ponsson crashed at the Chicane and was taken to the medical centre, but was later declared OK. Even though both Waters and Kirkham ended the race on the grass, they still take home points for fifth and eighth respectively.

RAF Reserves Honda’s Peter Hickman, Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Dan Linfoot, Kirkham, Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Stuart Easton and Anvil Hire Tag Racing’s Glen Richards completed the top ten.

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