After a weekend of British Superbikes action like we saw at Snetterton last weekend, it’s time to (try) and condense it all down.
But there’s one point that really needs nailed down and focused on in particular: Tommy Bridewell.
An eight-point lead heading into the fifth round quickly jumped up to a 25-point buffer come the end of the weekend’s action, making one thing clear.
Bridewell has truly stamped his authority on this year’s championship.
Of course, there’s still absolutely anything that could happen with six rounds and 18 races remaining this year, and as we’ve seen in the past things can change in the blink of an eye in the UK’s premier motorcycle racing series.
However we’re seeing a side of Bridewell that has been waiting to be unleashed for years, and right now the 34-year-old is flying.
“These types of meetings don’t come around too often, so I’m delighted to take my first ever treble”
Tommy Bridewell
He took three wins from three at Snetterton, something he’d never achieved in the BSB prior to last weekend, and each of those victories were more than deserved.
But the BeerMonster Ducati rider had to work for it right from the off, with Saturday’s opening race coming down to the wire as Bridewell snatched the lead from teammate Glenn Irwin at Nelsons corner.
The disappointment for Irwin didn’t end there however, as he then dropped another two places at the final corner with Josh Brookes sliding up the inside of the Ducati which then invited Jason O’Halloran through on the run to the line.
Snetterton’s second race of the weekend was a little more straightforward for Bridewell, who made the most of a red flag restart to edge away from his rivals as they scrapped for the remaining podium positions.
But once again the pair of PBM Ducatis put on a show in the final race, and this time it was Irwin chasing down Bridewell for the win after the Northern Irishman made a slight mistake in the closing stages when he ran wide and lost the lead.
On the final lap Bridewell looked comfortable out in front, but that gap quickly diminished in the final sector, and it was a drag race to the line with the championship leader coming out on top by just 0.032 seconds.
A treble in the books and a comfortable lead in the championship going to Brands Hatch meant Bridewell was understandably delighted.
“What can I say!? It’s been a great weekend and these types of meetings don’t come around too often, so I’m delighted to take my first ever treble,” he told Paul Bird Motorsport.
“We’ve hardly changed the bike all weekend and the team absolutely hit the nail on the head with set-up so a huge thanks to them.
What. A. Weekend.
— BeerMonster Ducati (@PBM_Team) July 9, 2023
Huge team effort as always and congratulations to @tommybridewell and @GIrwinRacing – that was a nervy race three! Right boss @paulbirdpbm?! 👊 pic.twitter.com/m6J35G5VNO
“It was nice to go toe to toe with Glenn in the final race with neither of us willing to give an inch, but it was good, clean racing.
“I focused on preserving the tyre in the early stages and we exchanged places on more than one occasion, so it was nice to come out on top and get the job done.”
As mentioned earlier, it’s been clear Bridewell has had this talent locked away for quite some time, and now with everything falling into place he certainly is the man to beat in 2023.
Find the standings after Round 5 here.
Featured Image Credit: @OfficialBSB on Twitter