Tommy Bridewell sensationally scored the first ever podium for the Bolton-based Halsall Racing Kawasaki team after finishing second in the final MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race of the weekend at Cadwell Park today.
Cheered on by a massive bank holiday crowd, the Devizes rider has now put himself in with an outside shot of a Showdown place after a stunning race where he only narrowly missed out on his first win for the team. But it was a harder weekend for team-mate Lee Costello who left Cadwell Park with a 16th and a 17th place after struggling to get to grips with his Kawasaki around the challenging Lincolnshire track.
Bridewell qualified fifth on the grid for today's first race, while Bolton's Costello lined up in 22nd place. As the lights changed, Bridewell got a clean start but dropped a place to sixth as Josh Brookes came searing through from behind. Bridewell quickly closed in on the Tyco Suzuki of PJ Jacobsen and passed him for fifth place on the third lap, and then moved up to fourth on lap 14 when James Ellison crashed out. Costello, meanwhile, had also got a good start and was up to 20th by the end of the opening lap. He got his head down and made up a few more places to cross the line 17th.
As a result of his charge in race one, Bridewell set the third fastest lap, giving him a front row start for this afternoon's second race. Getting a strong start he held the position for a handful of laps, before making a move past Josh Brookes at the Mountain to move to second. From there he quickly closed down on race one winner Alex Lowes who was once again out in front; getting as close as two tenths of a second away from him by the time the race had reached mid-point. On lap 16 Brookes took the place back but it wasn't to last as he crashed out on the final lap, moving Bridewell back up to second. Costello, meanwhile, struggled his way through from 20th on the grid to finish the 18-lap race 16th.
Tommy Bridewell: "I'm feeling mega, that was a brilliant race. It was a race where I actually felt really comfortable as I knew exactly what I had to do and I played it just right. Once I was up to second I had pressure from behind from Josh and James Ellison and I managed to hold them off for a while. When Josh did get through he caught me off guard but I knew I was still in a podium position and that was what I wanted. I am so happy with this result but I wish that Lee could've had a better day. Hopefully from here we can work closer together to help him progress as I know he can when we get to Donington. Thanks to Martin and the whole team for a fantastic effort once again."
Lee Costello: "It was just a bad weekend. I simply couldn't get the bike set up right and it just didn't work for me. From here we all know we need to go away and do some serious work and hopefully we can come out fighting when we get to Donington. I'm a bit gutted about the whole weekend but you've just got to suck it up and get on with it, and I'm looking ahead to the next race where hopefully we can really make some good progress. Congratulations to Tommy, it's great to see him claim the team's first podium in BSB."
Martin Halsall: "Tommy's result was just unbelievable, amazing, fantastic and I definitely didn't expect it! I'd set a goal for a podium by the end of the season but what Tommy has done here this weekend is nothing short of incredible. He has proved what a talented and mature rider he is and I am so happy for him, he really deserved this result. Now we need to start working a bit harder to bring Lee on. He has had a tough weekend here but he just needs to keep in there. I know he has the making of a good Superbike rider and now we've seen what the bike is capable of in Tommy's hands, we can all work together to move forward as the season progresses."
The next round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship will be held at Donington Park over the weekend September 6-8, 2013.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Cadwell Park Race 1:1. Alex Lowes (Honda)2. Shane Byrne (Kawasaki)3. Josh Brookes (Suzuki)4. Tommy Bridewell (Halsall Racing Kawasaki)5. PJ Jacobsen (Suzuki)6. Chris Walker (Kawasaki)17. Lee Costello (Halsall Racing Kawasaki)
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Cadwell Park Race 2:1. Alex Lowes (Honda)2. Tommy Bridewell (Halsall Racing Kawasaki)3. James Ellison (Yamaha)4. Shane Byrne (Kawasaki)5. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda)6. Chris Walker (Kawasaki)16. Lee Costello (Halsall Racing Kawasaki)
Championship Positions after round 81. Shane Byrne 3302. Alex Lowes 2933. Josh Brookes 2844. James Ellison 1745. Ryuichi Kiyonari 1626. Jon Kirkham 135 8. Tommy Bridewell 11023. Lee Costello 10
