BRIDEWELL FOURTH IN MISANO CAULDRON
25 June 2006 - Bridewell Brothers

2006 Suzuki GSX-R European Cup. Round 4, Misano, Italy – 23-25 June 2006

Suzuki’s GSX-R750 showed why it is currently Britain’s best-selling motorcycle as Tom Bridewell finished fourth in today’s fourth round Suzuki GSX-R European Cup race at Misano, Italy. The race was won by wildcard rider and two-time World Supersport runner-up Fabrizio Pirovano.

Following injury to regular Team Suzuki GB rider, Magnus Houston, Bridewell was installed as a permanent replacement this weekend. With two wildcard riders - who do not score championship points - ahead of him in the results, Bridewell therefore collects 20 points to go with his second place finish as a wildcard himself at the previous Silverstone round.

After qualifying seventh fastest on his first visit to the 4.060km Autodromo Santa Monica in Misano, Bridewell got a great start and rounded the first corner in second place. A loss of drive down the back straight, however, relegated the Devizes, Wiltshire rider several places and he had to ride hard in temperatures well over 30° to earn fourth.

“I really messed up that first lap,” said the 17-year-old afterwards, who set the third fastest lap of the race, almost a second quicker than his qualifying best and less than half a second slower than that of race winner Pirovano.

“The rear was spinning up from that point on,'' he added, ''so it was really hard work. It felt like I had a puncture, it was so bad, but I guess it’s a good result for my first time here. I’m really happy with the weekend and there’s no shame in finishing behind someone of Pirovano’s class.”

Following problems in qualifying, Bridewell’s fellow Team Suzuki GB rider’s, Rob Barber and William Dunlop, improved on their grid positions to finish the 12-lap race in 16th and 21st places respectively.

Suzuki GSX-R European Cup, round four results – Misano (4.060km, 12 laps): 1 Fabrizio Pirovano (ITA) 20m19.562s, 2 Lorenzo Segoni (ITA) +2.885s, 3 Xavier Simeon (BEL) +3.579, 4 Tom Bridewell (GBR) +6.001, 5 Rene Mahr (AUT) +8.352, 6 Anthony Delhalle (FRA) +14.860, 7 Phillip Hafeneger (GER) +15.301, 8 Gregory Junod (SUI) +15.960, 9 Augustin Perez (ESP) +16.058, 10 Jarno van der Marel (NED) +17.437, 16 Rob Barber (GBR) +42.510, 21 William Dunlop (GBR) +1:43.101s.

Championship points after four of six rounds: 1 Simeon 75, 2 Mahr 57, 3 Delhalle 50, 4 Simone Castellani (ITA) 46, 5 Hafeneger 44, 6 van der Marel 41, 7 Junod 36, 8 Magnus Houston (GBR) 31, 9 Barber 31, 10 Cabana, 12 Bridewell 20.

Next round: Eurospeedway Lausitz, Germany – 8-10 September

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