Bridewell set for Ducati debut with Moto Rapido at Brands Hatc
BREAKING: Bridewell set for Ducati debut with Moto Rapido at Brands Hatch
Tommy Bridewell will make his return to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship this weekend (July 20/21/22) after securing a last minute deal with the Moto Rapido Ducati team ahead of Brands Hatch.
Bridewell and the Winchester-based dealer team will work together for the first time on Friday for the opening free practice session as the Bennetts BSB race winner prepares for the new challenge as he lines up on a Ducati for the first time in his career.
Bridewell said: “I am happy to be back racing this weekend, especially at Brands Hatch. Ducati is the only manufacturer I haven’t raced with so this will be a completely new venture and experience for me. Yes we are starting straight off with free practice but it doesn’t worry me at all, I am feeling optimistic and hopefully I can click straight away with the Ducati and can be competitive from the outset.
“From the research I have done, the Ducati seems to have similar characteristics to the Yamaha I used to race and that still is one of the best bikes I have ever raced in BSB, so I am hoping that we can just get stuck in with free practice and build from there. It’s going to be an interesting weekend for us that’s for sure!”
Team owner Steve Moore commented: “It’s been a busy ten days since Knockhill but we met with Tommy and worked out a deal. It was the obvious choice for good reason; riders like Tommy don’t get left on the shelf for long so I’m happy to have secured him.
“Now we have a massive challenge ahead at Brands Hatch this weekend. As no testing is possible, the sensible and maybe smart thing to do would be to miss this round and start a proper test program - even just a few days testing to sort the basics. But instead we have decided to go racing against established riders and teams with thousands of miles under their belts and well set up bikes, but where better to test than at a live race weekend?
“Thanks to our sponsors and my team who have made this all happen. Tommy has never ridden a Ducati or twin cylinder Superbike so we have a busy few first sessions. I can’t wait to see what happens.”
Moto Rapido Racing continue Hel Performance Motorstar campaign in 2018
After a successful season for the Case Moto Rapido Moto3 team in 2017 with 16-year-old Thomas Strudwick, the team have confirmed that they will continue their Hel Performance British Motostar project this year.
Strudwick made his debut in the British Superbike Championship paddock in the Santander Consumer Finance KTM British Junior Cup, before progressing into the Motostar class. After claiming three race wins last year, the youngster from West Sussex finished the season in third place.
Alongside Strudwick's Moto Rapido Ducati commitments, he will also feature in the inaugural season of the British Talent Cup.
Strudwick said: "I feel I had an amazing experience with the Case Moto Rapido Moto3 team last season and I'm glad we have been able to continue into the 2018 season together! It is going to be a busy season for me, challenging in two British Championships but I'm confident the training and testing that we have been doing will allow me to be successful. I'm really excited to be working alongside Taylor Mackenzie this year; he is someone that has always impressed me on a motorbike so I'm confident we can have a good season together!
“I've been working hard on my fitness and also my attitude towards racing, which from my testing so far, seems to be proving successful! I felt I finished 2017 great, being the highest points scorer in the final quarter of the season, it's crucial we can replicate this throughout the full 2018 season! I'm excited for the season to start."
Team Owner Steve Moore commented: “We are very excited to have Thomas continue on board the Case Electrical standard Moto3 for the 2018 season. We feel the project with Thomas worked really well in 2017, helping him develop his skills as a professional rider and gain the experience needed to challenge for such things as the British Talent Cup.
"The results showed that Thomas can run at the front and challenge for the championship. Our team testing plan starts in March in Spain along with Taylor on the Superbike before Thomas starts his journey to the British Talent Cup official practice. We all learnt a lot last season and there is so much more to come from the ‘Nipper’."
Taylor Mackenzie joins Moto Rapido Racing
2016 Pirelli National Superstock 1000 champion Taylor Mackenzie will return to the 2018 British Superbike Championship this season, joining the Ducati dealership-based Moto Rapido Ducati team.
The team scored multiple podium finishes in last year’s championship with John Hopkins, who continues his recovery. The Winchester based team are now looking ahead to their opening pre-season test in Spain next month, determined to build on their previous campaign with further updates from Ducati Corse.
Mackenzie returned to the premier class in 2017 following a title-winning season in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship, where he lifted the title after winning six races and scoring a further two podium finishes.
Mackenzie said: “I had an up and down year last season; developing a new bike is always a difficult task, even more so in BSB when the racing is at such a high level. I managed to grab a fifth and a seventh place when I was fit. Unfortunately for me when the big improvements came with the bike I was forced to sit and watch so I didn’t get to reap the rewards of the development work that we’d done throughout the year.
“I’m really excited to be riding a Ducati, it’s my first time riding one and a different style of riding to what I’m used to but we’ve got plenty of testing to get stuck into before the season starts so I can get to grips with it. I rode with John at points last year and was always blown away by how fast it was so I’m very excited to get the chance to ride one.
“It doesn’t really feel that strange for us because we’re best friends off the track and we train and ride together almost every day. We’ve helped push each other to be better than we ever would have been on our own. When I won my championship two weeks before Taz there was no way on earth he wasn’t going to win his. People keep asking me if I’m worried about him being in the same class but it’s not me that should be worried because I know how fast he is!
“I’ve got a completely new challenge ahead of me with a new bike so I’d like to start with finishing inside the top ten and then keep chipping away all season. I’ve raced in BSB long enough to know how hard it is and there’s no guarantees with racing either so we’ll just keep our heads down as a team and work as hard as we can. Everything is in place for me to have my best year yet so I’ll be doing everything in my power to make sure it is.”
Team Owner Steve Moore commented: “We are very excited to have secured Taylor for the 2018 Superbike season. While the official Hopper news was recent, John had been keeping me updated of progress through winter and realistically we knew it would be asking too much to get back to racing so soon. Our plan was always Hopper for two seasons and while we kept the ride open as long as possible for him, I have to thank John for his honesty and making the tough decision not make the start of the season.
“So I had been speaking with other riders and Taylor had been on our radar since last year. I like the idea of a new generation of British riders bringing a new wave of talent into BSB so Taylor fits well with our plan. He clearly knows how to win a title as Superstock champion and his couple of BSB seasons are valuable experience.
“Now it’s time for him to be part of a team where the focus is entirely on him and his development. I’m sure we have the package of bike, team and technical ability to bring him to the next level and stand on the podium.
“We have a testing plan that starts in March in Spain which is when he’ll see the Ducati and meet the team for the first time. We have some more updates from Ducati Corse this season and I’m looking forward to the first test. We’ll be doing our best to continue our teams progress, score more points that last season and make Taylor a Superbike contender, which will probably mean I can’t afford him for 2019, but we’ll discuss that when it happens!”
Hopper update
We send our best wishes to John Hopkins on his continuing recovery… Words from the man himself:
“Hi all, hope everyone enjoyed the holidays & are having a great start to 2018 ! Just wanted to give an update on my long road to recovery.
“Although finally up and starting to weight bare, sadly run into complications with my right knee soft tissue damage & excess scar tissue in the joint.
Still may need more ops but regardless, sadly still have a long road to full recovery forcing me to miss the start of the 2018 season!
100% motivated & doing everything possible to ensure full recovery! Thank you to all friends, family, fans and sponsors for continued support!”
We are speaking to riders for the 2018 season. News soon…
Moto Rapido into Moto3 with Thomas Strudwick
Moto Rapido have expanded their MCE British Superbike paddock presence to run a Hel Motostar standard class entry with Thomas Strudwick in the hot seat.
Strudwick made his debut in the Santander Consumer Finance KTM British Junior Cup, before progressing into the Motostar class. Now the youngster from West Sussex is looking forward to his 2017 campaign with the support of the Moto Rapido Ducati team.
“This is a new project for the team and I’m very pleased it’s happening. Thomas brings with him his racing team and family so he can be in familiar surroundings and to maintain their own programme with some fantastic support from his sponsor Case Electrical,” said team boss Steve Moore
“For a long time I have wanted to be able to mentor a young aspiring racer, so we are here to give them access to our Superbike staff as one team. We are all really excited to have Thomas join us for 2017 and I’m confident that we can make a difference both technically and professionally for him.
“I’m very pleased that some of our own sponsors (Motul, Solent Scientific, R&G, HEL) have come on board with help for him too. Hopper is very keen on this project to support our young talent and I’m sure Thomas can learn a lot from just being in the pit box and sharing some track notes – I know Thomas is excited to be Hopper’s team mate 2017.”
John Hopkins returns to Moto Rapido Ducati
Hopkins hunts 2017 MCE BSB success with Moto Rapido Ducati return.
American John Hopkins has secured his place on the 2017 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship grid after signing a new deal to return to the Moto Rapido Ducati team for the forthcoming season.
The Californian, who has previously been a MotoGP podium finisher, came tantalisingly close to lifting the 2011 MCE BSB crown in one of the most memorable season finales in history. ‘Hopper’ missed out on the crown to Tommy Hill by just 0.006s at Brands Hatch making it the closest ever championship title decider and is now gunning to be back in contention in 2017.
Hopkins had his first taste of the Ducati in 2015 when he joined the Winchester-based Ducati dealership run team mid-way through the season. Hopkins then went on to score the first ever podium finish for the Ducati Panigale R in the Championship as the team scored their first top three finish in MCE BSB at Brands Hatch.
Hopkins said: “To be back with the Moto Rapido team and on the Ducati again is something I am really so excited about. I enjoyed last season but I never felt as comfortable on the Yamaha as I did the first time I rode the Ducati in 2015. It’s such a great bike to ride and it really suits my riding style; I certainly hadn’t had as much fun riding motorcycles in a while until I had my first laps on the Panigale in 2015.
“I love this team and they were always one of my first choices for the new season. We had a podium finish together in 2015 and I know that they have come on leaps and bounds with the development since then. During my time with them previously there were several occasions when we were in guaranteed podium finishing positions until we had some minor technical problems because so much was so new, but now this bike is the complete package.
“My hopes are extremely high for next season and it is going to be one of the most competitive seasons ever I feel. We say it every year, but with so many riders from the World Championship on the grid, some new riders and some of the established contenders it is a stacked field of world class riders for sure. Our aim and focus is to go testing and then be there right from the start.”
Team owner Steve Moore commented: "This time I wasn't going to miss out on John so we started talking right after the last race of 2016. The last time he was in the team we had consistently great lap times and even our first podium. Importantly the fit with John, our team and the Panigale was perfect. John’s very aggressive riding style and the Ducati work well together so I will be expecting top results.
“BSB is going to be one of the toughest classes in any motorsport competition in 2017 with top class riders making up all the points scoring positions. It's a cruel class where being fractions of a second off put you at the back. I know we have the bike with some good updates for 2017 from Ducati Corse and a very good technical team, so I needed a rider who is very fast, is familiar with the pressure of the championship and loves the Panigale - so of course John was my obvious choice.
“Myself, the team and sponsors are very happy and I'm sure our fans will be too. We had a shocking 2016 but taking positives we have proven the bike’s speed and reliability plus tested many new parts. I'm really looking forward to John jumping on the 2017 spec bike and can't wait to go testing now.”