Tyco Honda rider Tommy Bridewell claimed his first BSB podium with a superb ride into third place in the first race of today's opening round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch.

After qualifying on row two of the grid with a fantastic last lap effort, the 22 year old from Etchilampton near Devizes in Wiltshire gradually made his way through the field as a few of his rivals fell by the wayside and with a lap to go, was poised in fourth behind the Kawasaki of Stuart Easton.

It looked as if he would have to settle for fourth place when he spotted a gap on the inside and made his move on the final corner before out-dragging Easton to the line to claim the final podium placing on the ex Ryuichi Kiyonari championship-winning machine.

With confidence high for race two, despite qualifying on row three, Bridewell again had to work his way through the field and with three laps to go, he was well placed in seventh but joy turned to despair when he crashed out at Surtees, luckily without sustaining major injury.

Bridewell holds an encouraging sixth position in the standings going into next weekend's action at Oulton park where he'll be hoping to be battling for the podium once again.

"I was really pleased with the first race and to get mine and the team's first outright BSB podium was fantasic and reward for all the hard work we have put in, In race two, I got a bad start and we were running really close to the white line along the back straight all weekend. With a couple of laps to go, I just went a little way over the white line and as soon as I touched the brake I went straight down on the grass. I'm really disappointed as I really needed those points but we have made good progress this weekend."

Result - Race 1 (30 laps)
1 Shane Byrne (Honda) 23m47.412s
2 Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +1.154s
3 Tommy Bridewell (Tyco Honda) +2.657s
4 Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) +2.764s
5 Jon Kirkham (Suzuki) +3.408s
6 Michael Rutter (Ducati) +4.310s
7 Loris Baz (Yamaha) +4.496s
8 Dan Linfoot (Honda) +5.090s
9 Martin Jessopp (Ducati) +5.100s
10 Chris Walker (Kawasaki) +7.728s

Result - Race 2 (30 laps)
1 Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 23m03.483s
2 Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.142s
3 Shane Byrne (Honda) +0.598s
4 Michael Laverty (Yamaha) +4.463s
5 John Hopkins (Suzuki) +10.089s
6 Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) +11.984s
7 Michael Rutter (Ducati) +13.048s
8 Dan Linfoot (Honda) +13.897s
9 Peter Hickman (Honda) +18.431s
10 Gary Mason (Kawasaki) +18.473s
DNF Tommy Bridewell (Honda) 26 laps

Championship Points (after Round 1)
1 Hill 45 points
2 Byrne 41
3 Easton 23
4 Kiyonari 20
5 Rutter 19
6 Bridewell 16
= Linfoot 16