Before we bid a final farewell to the year that was 2023 and begin gazing ahead to the year that will be 2024, BSN  looks back at the 2023 British Superbike Championship to bring you our rundown of the Top 10 BSB Riders of the Year. 

Runner-up in our countdown and - deep breath - we’ve placed Tommy Bridewell as our #2…

It’s true, we’re going to be a touch controversial with BSN’s pick of BSB Rider of the Year by placing 2023 Champion Tommy Bridewell into the runners-up spot. I know, scandalous right…?

Naturally, there is no denying Bridewell is a deserving - and popular - champion after so many years floating in and around the summit without ever quite making it to the very top.

However, this wasn’t simply a title win by way of extenuating factors. No, this was the year Bridewell himself discovered those difficult, final few percent he needed to grow into a genuine title threat.

A rider that has, over the years matured into a consistent methodical racer, while there were days when Bridewell drifted on the results sheets, there were days on which he was unbeatable as well. 

However, switching to Paul Bird Motorsport from Moto Rapido Racing gave Bridewell the belief and mentality that comes with the notion of representing an esteemed, factory-backed team, a level of professionalism and resource that inspired the man himself to step up a level personally too.

So while Bridewell played to form during the early rounds as he bedded in his Ducati Panigale V4 R package with a series of podiums, it was his breakthrough career-making triple win at Snetterton during Round 5 that set him on course for title success.

Among a run of five wins from six races that broke the back of most title rivals there and then and ultimately gave team-mate Glenn Irwin just too much to fight back from, the Snetterton triple - achieved in three gnarly, breathless encounters - vindicated Bridewell’s newfound sense of determination for the remainder of the year.

More than doubling his career tally of BSB wins up to this season with eight trips to the top of the podium in 2023, while it’s true the title run-in was a touch scruffy and that collision with Irwin at Donington Park somewhat open to debate, for the most part he led from the front for much of the season.

Proof that hard work and perseverance does indeed pay off, though Bridewell’s decision to swap over to Honda straight away for 2024 has caught many by surprise, it has all the makings - and support - of being an inspired career side-step

BSN’s Top 10 BSB Rider of 2023

3 - Glenn Irwin

4 - Leon Haslam

5 - Ryan Vickers

6 - Lee Jackson

7 - Jason O’Halloran

8 - Charlie Nesbitt

9 - Josh Brookes

10 - Danny Kent