It was a positive weekend for Tommy Bridewell at Cadwell Park, where a fifth and two third places promoted the Oxford Products Racing Ducati rider to sixth place in the Championship standings, with some solid showdown podium credits.

Coming from the ultra-fast Thruxton circuit to Cadwell Park’s very tight and twisty layout meant it took a while to find a comfortable set-up on the Ducati. After testing new factory parts on the Friday evening test, the Winchester-based team kept working hard and pushed forwards to get the best possible set-up for the three races.

The series brought back the popular Superpole session whereby the rider has one lap to set a fast time. Tommy was top of the practice sessions and therefore had to wait for 14 riders to complete their laps, some smashing lap record pace. Tommy had a good lap and secured eighth place on the grid for the opening race.

He gained from a steady start but soon the race was red-flagged due to an incident and after a long wait they re-grouped and did a full re-start over 12 laps. A better start saw him make up positions through the pack and he also smashed the lap record pace in the process which put him comfortably on pole position for race two. Despite catching the leading bunch, he was unable to make passes on the riders in front and had to take fifth.

Tommy had a good start from pole and battled hard, but the leading pace was exceptional and even though he kept them in his sights throughout the race he had to settle for a fantastic third place. Another front row start for race three from third and Tommy once again got a strong start and pushed hard in the opening laps to enable him to stay with the leading pack. He once again brought the Oxford Products Ducati home in a brilliant third position with the top three riders being a huge eight seconds clear of the other riders to claim some very solid Championship points seeing him move up the standings to sixth in the championship.

Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati #46)

“It was a good, strong points haul of a weekend which was the target, that’s what we achieved. Podiums are a big benefit; at the minute we still have one eye on the showdown. I must ride and calculate risk against reward and all that considered I have beat the main guys immediately around me in the showdown and that was the first big tick. To get a couple of podiums along the way is great for myself, the team, and sponsors.

We still have some work to do on the bike and get it stronger for Snetterton. I think that will be a good track for us and I’m looking forward to getting there and some more strong results.”

Iain Hopcroft, Team Manager

“It was another positive weekend for the team, the crew worked hard all weekend with the updates on the bike to give Tommy a good package for the races and putting us in sixth in the Championship standings. I’d like to thank everyone involved in making this happen and we look forward to Snetterton.”