EIGHTH IN ITALY FOR BATTLING BRIDEWELL
Following on from the broken leg sustained in the very first
round of the Italian Superbike Championship, British teenager
Tommy Bridewell bounced back with a battling eighth place
finish at round four held at Misano today.
Having missed the previous two rounds of the ISC also, the
18 year old from Etchilhampton near Devizes in Wiltshire was
nearly back to full fitness following recent races in the
Suzuki GSX-R 750 European Cup and was determined to put in
a good performance on his Naturally Best Racing 1000cc Suzuki.
Brim-full of confidence going into the race, Bridewell's
problems started on the warm-up lap when a dragging clutch
beset his challenge but despite this, he battled with the
leading group during the early stages of the 13-lap race.
However, Tom was dealt a second blow when a problem with
the rear tyre started seriously hampering his progress and
the resulting time loss in the second half of the race relegated
him to eighth at the flag, albeit some 19 seconds ahead of
the ninth placed rider.
"What a bummer." declared Tom afterwards. "For
the first time this season, I felt really confident that we
could get a good result here this weekend and then when I
felt the clutch go on the warm-up lap I thought maybe I could
ride round the problem but then the tyre gave up the ghost
a few laps later and it was all I could do to bring the bike
home. I finished the race with no clutch and the rear tyre
shredded but despite that, I'm pleased to get my first points
on the board in the series. We have a two month break now
in this series so my aim is to get fitter and look to score
a podium when we come back here to Misano in late September."
In the interim, Bridewell has two races on home ground when
he contests his local Castle Combe Superbike Grand National
over the weekend of August 16/17 and then it's on to Donington
Park three weeks later for round five of the Suzuki GSX-R
750 European Cup.
Italian Superbike Championship
20th April Mugello
4th May Monza
25th May Vallelunga
27th July Misano
28th Sept Misano
19th Oct Mugello
Suzuki GSX-R750 European Cup
6th April Valencia, Spain
11th May Monza, Italy
15th June Nurburgring, Germany
29th June Misano, Italy
7th Sept Donington Park, GB
5th Oct Magny Cours, France
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