BRIDEWELL IN PORTUGAL

Team NB Suzuki rider Tommy Bridewell will make his World Superbike Championship debut having secured a wild card entry at the season finale in Portugal at the end of this month.

The 20-year-old from Etchilhampton near Devizes in Wiltshire, racing this weekend at the final round of the Italian Superbike Championship at Mugello, had his place confirmed today so will take to the grid at the brand-new Portimao circuit in the Algarve on 2nd November.

Bridewell has raced in the 125cc World Championship as a wild card at the British Grand Prix previously and has gained much needed international experience in both the ISC and the Suzuki GSX-R 750 European Cup this season, despite being hindered by a broken leg sustained early in the season.

However, the chance to ride the GSXR1000, originally campaigned by elder brother Ollie up until his tragic accident at Mallory Park last year, will see Tommy up against the world's best as he plans towards 2009.

"I'm delighted that our application has been successful and this will be a real test for us which I'm looking forward to. It's been a tough year all round but to round it off with some World Championship points would be awesome and that's what I'm aiming to do. Because this is surplus to our plans, both my dad and I are financing it to a greater extent but it's too good an opportunity to miss and it's good to see Old Ginger's bike finally getting used where it should be!" 

The brand-new Portuguese track, which was only finished very recently, should provide a level playing field for most teams and riders, none of whom will have even seen the place, let alone tested at the venue prior to arriving for practice on October 31st.