MIXED FORTUNES FOR TEAM BRIDEWELL AT OULTON
02 May 2005 - Wayside Racing

OLLIE INSIDE TOP TEN AS TOMMY CRASHES OUT IN THE RAIN

Brothers Tommy and Ollie Bridewell, from Etchilhampton near Devizes in Wilshire, endured mixed fortunes as round four of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship meeting visited the picturesque Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire over the weekend.

In front of yet another massive BSB crowd, the teenagers had to contend with mixed weather conditions over the bank holiday weekend as bright sunshine was tempered with heavy rain showers but were confident of a good showing going into their respective races whereby Tommy had secured a row two start in the Virgin Mobile Cup class but Ollie had to settle for nineteenth, and row five, in the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championship.

Elder brother Ollie took to the track first and from his lowly qualifying position, he handicapped himself still further by getting a poor start on the Vivaldi Racing Kawasaki. However, the 19 year old showed maturity beyond his years as he battled up to ninth at the flag and in doing so, moved into the top ten of the championship:

“I didn’t get a good start but I soon got my head in gear and went past two riders every lap and got up into ninth place two laps from home where I stayed. I’m quite happy but I was having a few slides half way through the race when the tyres were going off but apart from that, it’s been a really good weekend” said Ollie.

Meanwhile, 16 year old sibling Tommy was on a high after posting a season best seventh during qualifying on the Wayside Racing Yamaha R6 and was confident of a good result.

But a cloudburst just before the race started manifested as the race progressed and the slippery conditions accounted for him at the high speed Druids corner late in the race when inside the top ten.

But more drama was to follow when organisers red flagged the race and with the result being counted back two laps, Tommy was classified as a finisher in fifteenth place although was denied points due to the series rulings.

“I was up for a podium and I’m sure I would have got on it but when I came round after the warm up lap and it was raining my confidence dropped as I have no experience in the wet. I had a good start but had a few slides on the rear and I eventually lost the back end with two laps to go when I was lying in ninth. It’s a shame really because I would have got some good points” said Tommy afterwards.

Ollie will next be in Superstock action at Mondello Park in two weeks time but for Tommy, he was a four week break until the Virgin Mobile Cup resumes at Croft on June 5th.

Picture courtesy of Paul Korkus P K Photo Media 01225 782570

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