Tommy Bridewell came away with a pair of battling top ten places at round three of the 2011 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship whereby mixed weather conditions prevailed at Croft.
The 22-year-old from Etchilhampton near Devizes in Wiltshire was in action on the Tyco Honda and spent most of free practice setting up the bike for the demanding North Yorkshire track before qualifying in 18th place during Saturday's knockout session.
With dark clouds looming and drizzle falling for the opening race today, Bridewell took a safe gamble and opted for a wet front tyre and intermediate rear whereby he gamely battled to 10th position at the chequered flag, which he backed up with a great ride into a similar position in the much drier race two, after battling with the leading pack for much of the 20-lap race.
Tommy Bridewell: "We needed a good couple of finishes this weekend and the top ten was my aim at least so I'm pleased I've achieved that. In race one, the conditions were so difficult as it kept raining and then stopping I was just pleased to bring the bike home and in race two, once I found my rhythm, I felt confident running with the pack and was unlucky not to perhaps finish a place or two higher. I'm really looking forward to my home race at Thruxton in two weeks time, as I missed it last year through injury, and I think the Tyco Honda will be strong round there too."
MCE British Superbike Championship race 1 (18 laps)1 Jon Kirkham (Suzuki) 26m 41.827s2 John Hopkins (Suzuki) +2.940s3 Gary Mason (Kawasaki) +3.715s4 Loris Baz (Yamaha) +13.335s5 Alex Lowes (Honda) +14.699s6 Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) +19.433s7 Peter Hickman (Honda) +22.455s8 Josh Brookes (Suzuki) +24.297s9 Glen Richards (Honda) +26.063s10 Tommy Bridewell (Tyco Honda) +27.747s
MCE British Superbike Championship race 2 (20 laps)1 Shane Byrne (Honda) 27m 46.928s2 Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) +1.887s3 John Hopkins (Suzuki) +2.269s4 Josh Brookes (Suzuki) +2.461s5 Loris Baz (Yamaha) +5.517s6 Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +6.094s7 Gary Mason (Kawasaki) +6.748s8 Michael Rutter (Ducati) +8.120s9 Peter Hickman (Honda) +8.397s10 Tommy Bridewell (Tyco Honda) +9.657s
Championship points (after 3 rounds)1 Byrne 95 points2 Hopkins 923 Easton 894 Kiyonari 595 Hill 576 Kirkham 547 Baz 518 Mason 449 Rutter 4210 Hickman 3714 Bridewell 28
