Racing brothers Tommy and Ollie Bridewell experienced mixed fortunes at a warm and sunny Mallory Park when round six of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visited the Leicestershire circuit this weekend.
From Etchilhampton near Devizes in Wilshire, 17 year old Tommy continued his meteoric rise to stardom in the British Supersport Championship with a superb ninth place finish whereas 20 year old Ollie had to remount after a crash in the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race to finish in 20th place which he followed up with a battling 17th in the second 28 lapper.
Riding the 600cc Vivaldi Suzuki, Tommy qualified on row four of the grid but in the 26 lap race, he was soon embroiled in a battle for the lower leaderboard points and gradually made his way through the quality field. Riding with maturity way beyond his years, Tommy scooped ninth place and but for another lap, could have been as high as seventh as he reeled in the riders in front.
“I’m well chuffed with that result and glad that we are making progress in the right direction. I had a race plan and that was to get a good start and keep out of trouble on the opening lap and it worked out. I just got the bit between my teeth and rode as hard as I could and I’m delighted with ninth place” said Tommy who moved inside the top twenty of the series thanks to his best result of the season to date.
Meanwhile, elder brother Ollie was hoping to get back to form after a great start to the season but his bid was thwarted in the opening race when he was involved in a collision on the opening lap but undeterred, he remounted and brought the 1000cc Vivaldi Suzuki home in a gallant 20th place in race one which he improved to 17th in the second outing after another race long battle.
“I’m very disappointed if I’m being honest and to come away from a meeting without any points is not good. I was taken out in race one and then I didn’t get a great start in race two so it’s been a tough old weekend for me. Hopefully we can put things right at Snetterton next time out as I was on the podium there last season and I like that track” said Ollie who dropped to 17th in the championship having non-scored in his last six races now.
The next round sees the brothers Bridewell in action at Snetterton in Norfolk over the weekend of June 17th and 18th
(Pictures courtesy of Paul Korkus).
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