The Milwaukee Yamaha team celebrated a double podium finish at the ninth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Donington Park with Tommy Bridewell and Josh Brookes scoring a third place apiece ahead of the Showdown.

With both riders already confirmed in the end of season Showdown, the focus of the weekend was to bag the final Podium Points of the season ahead of Assen. In the opening race Bridewell put in a determined ride to charge through to secure a third place finish to add to his podium tally, however he couldn’t make it a repeat performance after he crashed out at the Old Hairpin in the second race.

Brookes had been pushing throughout the weekend to close the gap and after missing out on the podium in the first race to his team-mate he was focused on making amends in race two, which he did by carving his way through from a second row start. Brookes took third place and then pushed to close in on the race leaders, but it wasn’t enough to challenge the leading pair on the final lap.

Brookes said:

“!t has been a hard weekend as it didn’t start well and I had a few problems and the whole weekend I have been trying to find a setting that worked with the gearing and make the corners also work well. We didn’t really find that sweet spot and it seemed to be a compromise but we didn’t give up and we kept working throughout the weekend to make it better.

“I was disappointed in the first race, because at this stage of the season once you are in the Showdown, you only get a reward if you are on the podium with the points. Race two was definitely the hardest I have had to ride for one point! I was able to improve my times but in race two and starting from the second row wasn’t ideal. It took me a long time to get in front of Stuart [Easton], I knew I had the speed but there was a real strong yo-yo affect of where he was quicker and where I was and it meant I couldn’t make a pass for some time. That gave Kiyo and Shakey the chance to get away at the front and then I had my work cut out. I did make up some time which was the most satisfying part of the weekend.”

Bridewell said:

“The first race was quite enjoyable as I had been struggling in a few sections of the track all weekend where we just couldn’t get it right. I started eighth and got away and I sat there and knew I had to start pushing on. The bike started working with me as the race went on and I could see Kiyo and Shakey ahead of me and I knew I had to push hard. I bridged the guys and then I couldn’t get the gap back and I had fun and just enjoyed it where I wasn’t thinking about being in the Showdown or in the top six or anything like that. Race two was disappointing to have a crash, but we are focused on the Showdown now and pushing for podiums again at Assen.”

Team Co-ordinator Mick Shanley concluded:

“Overall it hasn’t been a bad weekend for us with a third and fourth place in the first race then another podium in race two. We are a little disappointed that it perhaps wasn’t more though as we have high expectations, but we have to be happy as we are the only team to have two riders in the Showdown. Now it’s where the Championship starts and these tracks coming up are those that have historically been good for us. We had a good test at Assen so we are looking forward to the Showdown.”

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