Tommy Bridewell
| Tommy Bridewell | |
|---|---|
 Bridewell wearing Milwaukee Yamaha colours acknowledging spectators' plaudits for his overall Championship third-place at Brands Hatch Showdown podium, end of BSB 2014 season | |
| Nationality | British |
| Born |
9 August 1988 Etchilhampton, Wiltshire |
| Current team | Bennetts Suzuki |
| Bike number | 46 |
Tommy Bridewell (Thomas George Bridewell, born 8 August 1988 in Etchilhampton, Wiltshire) is an English motorcycle racer, who is competing in the 2016 British Superbike Championship aboard a Suzuki GSX-R1000 for the Bennetts Suzuki race team alongside teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari.
His best championship standing to date was when he finished third in the British Superbike 2014 season, behind Kiyonari and winner Shane Byrne. He was a runner-up in the Yamaha R6 Cup.[1]
Tommy is the younger brother of Ollie Bridewell who was a prominent up and coming motorcycle racer when he died in 2007 during the Mallory Park round of the Superbike Championship.
Biography
Ollie's death
For the 2007 season Tommy and his brother Ollie joined forces for the British Superbike Championship in team NB Suzuki. Tommy's older brother died after crashing during a practice session at the Mallory Park round in 2007. He was pronounced dead at the scene.[2] Bridewell left the British Superbike Championship at that round to take some time out following the tragic loss.
European Superstock 600
Bridewell restarted his racing career in Italy during 2008, moving on to the European Superstock 600 class in 2009 riding the Lorenzini Yamaha.[3] Bridewell started off with a 13th place in the first round at Valencia but would fail to score any more points finishes leaving the team midseason.
Return to British Superbike Championship
2009
After departing the European scene, Bridewell returned to the British Superbike Championship during the 2009 competing in the Privateers' Cup on a Team NB Suzuki, winning the Cup class in 7 of the 26 races. Due to the success of Bridewell's return, he was signed by Quay Garage Honda to compete in the main British Superbike Championship for the 2010 season.[4]
2010
Bridewell had a mixed start to the season, crashing twice in the first round at Brand Hatch Indy circuit then failing to start the next round at Thruxton. He recovered from this to score a career best fourth-place finish during the fourth round at Cadwell Park.[5] Bridewell finished the season in 11th place on 105 points his best finish in the British Superbike Championship.
2011
For 2011 Bridewell remained with the Quay Garage team, rebranded under the Tyco Racing banner. His season started strongly with a podium in the first race at Brand Hatch Indy. However, he crashed heavily in practice at Thruxton, leading to the amputation of his little finger.[6] He took a fourth place in race 2 at Cadwell Park.[7] having injured himself in practice for the second round at Oulton Park and never showed in the top 10 again. On the Wednesday before the Snetterton round Bridewell and Tyco Honda parted company.[8] Bridewell was signed up to replace James Westmoreland at Motorpoint Yamaha for the last 4 rounds of the 2011 championship season.[9]
BSB 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015
Bridewell rode with Shaun Muir Racing as a temporary replacement rider for part of 2013, followed by a full season in 2014. For 2015 he joined Tyco BMW.
Career statistics
Stats correct as of 2 May 2016
By championship
British Superbike Championship
- * Season still in progress
References
- ↑ "Tommy Bridewell will ride at Donington". Visordown (Magicalia Ltd.). 11 September 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ↑ "Bridewell to pay tribute to brother Ollie". crash.net (Crash Media Group). 10 June 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ↑ Pryde, Kenny (19 December 2008). "Tommy Bridewell for Lorenzo in Euro Superstock". Superbike (IPC Media Ltd.). Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ↑ "Tommy Bridewell Signs For Quay Garage Honda For 2010". British Superbike News (Buzzin' Fly Limited). 15 December 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ↑ BSB Cadwell: Best ever fourth place for Bridewell at Cadwell | Bikeracenews.com
- ↑ Tasker, Nigel (17 April 2010). "BSB Thruxton: Tommy Bridewell to miss round two through injury". bikeracenews.com (Bike Race News). Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ↑ "Bridewell secures best BSB finish at Cadwell". crash.net (Crash Media Group). 26 May 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ↑ Tyco Honda and Bridewell part company – News | Motorcycle Sport | BSB Results | MCN
- ↑ Bridewell in at Motorpoint, Westmoreland out | BSB News | Aug 2011 | Crash.Net
- ↑ http://www.britishsuperbike.com/media/407432/standings.pdf
- ↑ http://www.britishsuperbike.com/media/831694/standings_sat.pdf
- ↑ http://www.britishsuperbike.com/media/1095843/s_bh12.pdf
- ↑ http://www.britishsuperbike.com/media/1337692/bh-12-standings.pdf
- ↑ http://www.britishsuperbike.com/media/1570274/rd12-brandshatch-standings.pdf