Bridewell takes first podium for Bennetts Suzuki

Tommy Bridewell showed there is still life in Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 yet by sticking it on the podium at Brands Hatch this weekend.

The Bennetts Suzuki rider was in the mix throughout the weekend, putting the GSX-R on the second row for Sunday’s first race before going on to fight with race leaders and eventually cross the line third. An equally strong performance in the second outing saw Bridewell clinch a fourth-place finish to round out the team’s best weekend since taking on the Suzuki at the start of last year.

“It feels good to get that first podium of the season, especially after the start we had and some of the bad luck we’ve suffered,” said Bridewell.

“I felt really confident coming into the weekend. We had the test at Anglesey, which was positive for us, and I’ve known all along that the potential was there in both the team and the GSX-R1000. It’s still a competitive package. I knew we shouldn’t be down in the positions we were in at the first two rounds, and here we’ve been up the sharp end all weekend and fast in every session. I felt very comfortable in the first race and it was good to be at the front. In race two we had a small issue with rear grip; it dropped off a lot earlier in the race than it had in race one, which meant I couldn’t maintain my pace. It was a shame to miss out on another podium, but it’s done our championship position a lot of good. We’ve got the Snetterton test next, and I fully expect the same sort of performance at Knockhill.”