Reigning champion Tommy Bridewell gave a glimpse of what, potentially, lies ahead in this year’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship with the Honda Racing rider making further strides with the 2024 Honda Fireblade at Oulton Park at the weekend.
Back at one of his most successful venues on the calendar, Bridewell opened his account with a fighting fourth place in Sunday’s opening 18-lap race, fighting his way through from eighth on the grid.
“Qualifying was a little difficult to tell the truth because we had to go straight into setting a lap time and I think we went a little bit the wrong way,” he said. “Ultimately it was enough for the top eight but the race was a bit of a challenge because when you’re starting eighth it’s a bit of a dogfight.”
“I held my own off the line, but I had a fair few riders to pass as I was coming through, and I knew that I had to be patient and let the race slowly came to me. I was hanging on to the front guys and I am really happy with the way I rode and the way the bike performed.”
It got better still in Monday’s 12-lap Sprint race when he took over second place at two-thirds race distance especially as, at one stage, it looked like he could go on to take the win. In the end, he had to settle for second place, 0.352s behind former teammate Glenn Irwin and although a slightly disappointing sixth was the outcome in the final race, it was a solid weekend with the Fireblade which remains in the very early stages of its development.
“I think all in all this has been a positive weekend, for me. I have to focus on the steps that we are making and to be fair I can’t be disappointed. Yes I want to win, I want to win every single race, but we proved that we have got podium pace. I’ve raced on other bikes and know what other bikes are capable of so to do that at this stage of the development cycle of a new bike is just fantastic.”
“Once we get the next stage complete then I think there are a lot of people out there who are going to be a little bit worried. People doubted the move and doubted me, which for me is a massive motivator and I am really proud of myself and of Honda. This project is long term and there are only exciting times ahead.”
“In the last race I just got stuck after a poor start which made it hard to make progress, then once the front guys had that gap to us I just couldn't get to them and used up my tyre trying. I am slightly disappointed with the last race, but I focus on the positives. I think we need to keep consolidating these decent strong point results at the moment then we will be happy. There will come a moment when we will need to do more, but right now we have some time to develop and then the wins and more will be the target.”
