Quay Garage Racing rider Tommy Bridewell's long trip north to Scotland proved fruitless as round six of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Knockhill saw him not add to his points haul after a problematic weekend.
Aboard the 1000cc Honda Fireblade, the 21 year old from Etchilhampton near Devizes in Wiltshire was hopeful of a good result and after setting seventh fastest time during Friday's free practice session, things were looking good but during Saturday's Swan Combi Roll for Pole, Bridewell set eighth fastest time but a technical riding infringement saw him penalised four places so he had to start the opening race from row three of the grid.
Race day dawned wet and windy and after a good session in the wet, Tommy was hopeful of a good result but an electrical problem was diagnosed afterwards and then on the warm up laps, the ex Gregorio Lavilla CBR1000RR developed a gearbox problem meaning Bridewell was up against it, the problems being compounded with a grip issue in the wet conditions of race one which saw him eventually retire.
The team was hoping for a better result in race two but after a first lap collision which caused a red flag, the weather subsequently closed in meaning no further racing was possible so as a result, the abandoned race will take place at one of the remaining rounds, probably Snetterton in two weeks time.
Tommy said:
"It's been one of those weekends and it's been a long drive for not a lot really. We were hit with a penalty in qualifying which was unfortunate and was something that wasn't deliberate on my part but we accepted the decision and hoped for a good result today. That wasn't to be as we suffered a few niggling problems and I was nearly crashing on every corner so the safe thing was to pull in. We made some big changes for race two but that didn't happen and it was the right thing to do to postpone the race so hopefully they'll run that at Snetterton next time out as I really enjoy racing there and got my first BSB podium there last year "
The next round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Chmapionship takes place at Snetterton over the weekend of 16/18 July.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race 1 (15 laps)
1 Michael Rutter (Ducati) 13m32.658s
2 Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.577s
3 Josh Brookes (Honda) +6.187s
4 Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +9.363s
5 Alastair Seeley (Suzuki) +13.295s
6 John Laverty (Kawasaki) +18.708s
7 Simon Andrews (Kawasaki) +21.149s
8 Tommy Hill (Suzuki) +23.233s
= Gary Mason (Kawasaki) +23.233s
10 Chris Walker (Suzuki) +28.717s
DNF Tommy Bridewell (Quay Garage Honda) - 10 laps
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings (after 6 rounds)
1 Brookes 166pts
2 Hill 162
3 Kiyonari 148
4 M Laverty 146
5 Rutter 139
6 J Laverty 108
7 Seeley 101
8 Easton 92
9 Walker 65
10 Jessopp 57
11 Bridewell 50
Be right back. I am going to go find myself, and if I leave before I get back, make sure to tell me !! -