Round 5 - Knockhill

We all knew that Knockhill would be a tough track for us but after the practice sessions Friday we knew we had our work cut out for us.

Round five of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship took place at Knockhill this weekend and the Oxford Racing Ducati team had a really strong weekend with a fifth and third place with Tommy. He is now lying in second place in the Championship standings just four points adrift of new leader Scott Redding.

The weather conditions were mixed this weekend with glorious sunshine on Friday for the first two practice sessions but conditions worsened on Saturday just in time for qualifying. This got delayed but the organisers did a great job to get everyone out for a 40-minute wet session. Tommy ended up qualifying for race one in 9th position.

Race One

The first race was always going to be tricky as there was only one dry racing line and it was quite important to stay on it whilst using the slick tyres that the majority of the grid opted for. Tommy got a good start and worked his way up through the field over the 30-lap race to finish in a solid fifth position.

Race Two

Tommy was placed on the row in front for race two in sixth and once again he was eager to get away with the front runners. He got another good start and was sixth after the opening lap and he was keen to push harder than race one. His lap times were strong and he was soon making passes and fighting for a podium position and more vital podium credits. The race was cut short on lap 24 due to an oil leak from another rider and Tommy and the team were delighted to collect another third place.

Tommy: “It was certainly a more challenging weekend for definite but the team has worked really hard to get me the results that I got today, I struggled to get comfortable on the bike and get my head round the circuit a little bit.

It’s a real credit to the Oxford Products Moto Rapido Ducati team; they worked endless hours to get me in a strong position to fight for the podium. To come away with a fifth and a third and more points on the board was always going to be the target. I’m really happy with the end result and I’m looking forward to Snetterton as I think we’ll be a lot stronger there and back fighting for the race wins.”

Round 6 is at Snetterton Circuit 19th – 21st July

Round 4 - Brands Hatch GP

The Oxford Racing Ducati team headed to round four of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship this weekend at the Brands Hatch GP circuit where rider Tommy Bridewell gained another podium in third in race one and he was a strong second in the second race.

Tommy Bridewell now leads to British Superbike Championship by 14 points.

All the practice sessions went well and Tommy just missed out on a front row qualifying position in fourth place.

Race One

The rain came down fairly heavily on race day morning and it was always going to be a tricky race with the conditions changing before they started. All bar one rider opted for full wets and it was a matter of preserving the tyres as much as possible for the 20-lap duration. Tommy led several laps of the race but it was a charging Josh Brookes who was working his way through the pack. Fighting with Dan (Linfoot) for the lead it was soon obvious that Josh was on a mission to come through. Tommy was pushed back to third but still secured another podium, more podium credits and the Championship lead.

Race Two

Tommy had another stunning race in race two and was fourth during the opening laps but he soon got his head down and was on a mission working his way through the pack setting some awesome lap times in the process. He was soon making inroads on Josh Brookes who had a healthy lead but Tommy was cutting the gap every lap. In the end he just wasn’t able to make the pass but secured a fantastic second place only losing out by 0.2 to Josh, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process.

Tommy: “The positive are that we are a little team from Winchester and we are leading the British Superbike Championship by 14 points, I’ve never done that before. It’s mega for me and the team and just shows their hard work.

We made a change in race two which was extremely positive step. I’m slightly disappointed I didn’t get the win again but I know it is coming, I just need to be patient. I gave everything in that race and if Josh was getting away I would be questioning why, but I was able to catch him but just not make the pass on him.

It’s a real credit to the Oxford Products Moto Rapido team, they’ve given me a phenomenal package which has allowed me to get these great results. The Ducati turns fast, exits fast and handles so well, I couldn’t ask for more and I can’t thank the team enough for all their hard work.”

BSB Highlights can be seen on ITV4 this week (or catch up on Eurosport and Quest).

Next Round: Knockhill 28-30 June

Round 3 - Donington Park

The championship threw up another mix of results for lots of the riders last weekend, but Oxford Racing Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell continued his consistent results to leave the Derbyshire circuit in second place in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

Tommy was finding a good set up in FP1 and was 4th fastest in FP2 just 0.3 off the fastest time, FP3 he was fourth heading into qualifying later that morning. The qualifying session was exceptionally close and Tommy fought hard to put in a strong lap time, eventually starting race one from fifth place, with a tight time schedule of the triple header weekend tommy could not afford to crash out as it would give the team little time to repair the bike for the race.

Race One

Tommy was feeling confident going into race one and was eager to get a good start. He pushed hard early in the race and led for 19 laps fending off challenges from Tarran Mackenzie. However, it was Scott Redding who was on a mission and Tommy had a small problem but still fought on to finish in a solid fourth place. He rode a strong race and set the fastest lap of the race putting him on pole for race two on Sunday.

Race Two

Tommy got a good start off pole position and was second after lap one but he soon made his move to the front. He was involved in a tough battle with Factory Honda rider Xavi Fores for the lead and once again looked strong at the front. As the rain started to come down Tommy backed off thinking there might be a red flag but he had to settle into third place until the race was cut short when the flag came out eventually bringing the race to an end at the end of lap 18.

Race Three

Once again it was another fantastic race in the Bennetts British Superbike Class, Tommy was strong off the start and got away with the leading pack again. At one point seven riders were fighting for the win. Tommy dug deep and waited patiently until the last lap when he made a confident move on Tarran Mackenzie to take his second podium of the weekend with another third place.

Tommy: “I have to take the positives, I think I built up to much expectation for the weekend and wanted to leave with a win. Ultimately, the Championship is a very long goal and the trophy I want to get at the end of the year than perhaps lose it here.

It was a very good weekend the team did an amazing job and the bike is really nice to ride. We’ve still got some things to find and we are just a sole rider in the team so it is just us who have to find that little bit extra. We are doing a great job and I’m so happy with how the team have worked.

I’m looking forward to Brands and I knew it would be tough here this weekend. I’m hoping they are coming into what is my back yard at Brands Hatch and get some really strong results there.”

The team worked so well this weekend and Tommy did us all proud, we came away from the weekend with points, podiums and also the lap record for Donington Park National circuit!

Massive shout out to TRW brake pads this weekend as without them the move made on Tarran on the last corner of the last race wouldn’t have been possible. Thanks for all the support!

Round 2 - Oulton Park

Tommy Bridewell showed a lot of consistency this weekend throughout the practice sessions at the technical Oulton Park circuit in both the wet and the dry, it is a circuit we have had much success at also so this was a good combination.

At the start of the weekend Tommy knew Josh Brookes and Danny Buchan would be our only competition. Here is what happened…

Qualifying

Tommy had a strong qualifying session and started on the front row in second place and was eager for two strong race results on Monday.

Race One

Tommy got a great start, he and Josh Brookes were leading the chasing pack. Josh and Tommy both began to bridge a gap on third place and were in a race of their own. They were both showing good pace at the front and Tommy looked like he might be able to move for the lead but he was just unable to get close enough. It was Tommy’s first podium of the year with the team which also led to pole position for race two.

Tommy: “It was a strong race; the bike was working well and there a few little areas we can improve. I’m looking forward to race two and have another go at trying to take the win! We just didn’t have enough towards the end to make a pass on Josh.”

Race Two

Starting from pole gave Tommy a small advantage but once again Brookes was out the blocks fast and took to the front. They both dominated the race and upped the pace from the opening race but the pair had a gap of 2.6 seconds from third. He rode two really sensible races and collected another second place plus some podium credits.

Tommy: “It was a great weekend and another strong race. We didn’t quite have the pace to beat Josh in that race; the pace was a lot faster. We struggled a little bit towards the end of the race with tyre life. We made a fairly big change between the races but we were still hunting that extra little bit. The upside was that we could up the pace also and run with Josh the downside was that in the last six laps or so we need to work on. I feel really good the team have done an amazing job this weekend and I am really looking forward to Donington Park.”

We are now jointly leading the Championship with Tarran Mackenzie.

Thank you all for the support and I hope you watched the races, if you haven’t then I suggest you do as we get plenty of TV coverage.

Round three is at Donington Park on the 24th – 26th May.

Round 1 - Silverstone National

Tommy impressed us all after his big incident in second practice, finishing top Ducati rider and 3rd in the Championship.

Practice sessions started well but in FP2 Tommy was hit by another rider and caused a lot of damage, he quickly recovered after the team completely rebuilt the bike over the Friday night.

Race 1

After showing his pace throughout the practice sessions and qualifying in seventh, Oxford Racing Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell lined up for a beautifully sunny start at Silverstone for Race 1 on row 3.

Tommy had a bad start and fell back to 11th but managed recover well and claim 5th by the end of the race after a tussle with Honda rider Andrew Irwin.

Race 2

We made some changes to the bike and we had been working hard with tyre life and drive from the exit of the last turn to give us just a little boost.

Starting from row 5 of the grid in 15th place was not ideal after such a good race one but Tommy dug deep and brought the bike home in 4th place, finishing top Ducati and securing 3rd place in the championship.

Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Racing Ducati #46) – Race 1, 5th, Race 2, 4th

“Really happy with the way the bike worked in race two, the bike worked fantastic all weekend. Credit to the team, after Friday Baz, Joe and the team didn’t get to bed till 02:30 and back up at 05:00, qualified seventh which we didn’t expect. We came away 3rd in the championship on a circuit that’s probably not my favourite.”

Watch out for Oulton park where last year we came away with a double podium!!

Oxford Racing Ducati 2019

Moto Rapido Ducati have announced the return of Tommy Bridewell for his first full season campaign with the Hampshire-based dealer team, who have also joined forces with Oxford Products in a new title partnership for the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

Bridewell joined the team at Brands Hatch in July and since then claimed the team their best results in the Superbike class, scoring four podium finishes and narrowly missed out on a place in the Showdown, before delivering the Riders Cup honours at the season finale. The previous Showdown contender and race winner is now looking ahead to his first test on the new Ducati Panigale V4R.

The team are also relishing the new venture with Oxford Products, a company that already has a rich motorcycle racing history dating back to the 70s with riders such as Robert Dunlop, Steve Hislop, Jim Moodie and Jeremy McWilliams, under the new guise of the Oxford Racing Ducati team.

Bridewell said: “I am just so excited to have this opportunity to stay with the team and to ride the new Ducati in our new Oxford colours. I joined the team halfway through last season, but the way we ended the season, and how well we gelled working together, it felt like it had been longer. I have never felt so comfortable and going into the new season with this consistency and confidence with the people around me is a big thing.

“There is a huge amount of expectation with a new bike and I can’t wait to get testing. We are realistic that we have work ahead of us, that is always to be expected with a new bike, but it’s an exciting time and I couldn’t be happier to be in this position.

“I was so nervous before riding a Ducati for the first time last year at Brands Hatch and then the season went from strength to strength and we were fighting for podiums. We want to carry that success into the new season and of course our expectations have changed, so we want to continue this momentum we have and build on an even better 2019.”

Team Owner Steve Moore is delighted with their 2019 announcement, he said: “This is a great partnership for the Moto Rapido Racing team. Everyone at Oxford Products is clearly passionate about motorcycles and especially racing, so we quickly felt this would be a great match.

"I’m, of course, very excited for next season with the new Ducati V4R, and with Oxford taking the title sponsorship we are now able to finally re-sign Tommy, our most successful rider ever. Now the V4R development begins. It is time to make a serious bid for this championship now as Oxford Racing Ducati.”

Oxford's Managing Director Andrew Hammond commented: "We are extremely excited to be partnering up with Moto Rapido in 2019; as you can see, the whole company is behind the team. We look forward to extending Oxford’s race heritage in what is undoubtedly the world’s best domestic motorcycle race series.”