BSB Rider of the Year: 5th - Tommy Bridewell

After another epic season of racing, MCN’s sports team of Michael Guy (Sports Editor), Simon Patterson (MotoGP Reporter) and Oli Rushby (Superbike Reporter) sat down to discuss who impressed them the most in each race series we cover to establish MCN’s top five riders in each category.

And after another epic year of the Bennetts British Superbike championship, it wasn’t an easy call to decide who deserved what spot in our top five riders of the year in the class. Here’s what we think –  but feel free to disagree with us in the comments!

BSB Rider of the Year: 5th – Tommy Bridewell

Tommy Bridewell’s remarkable recovery in the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike championship earns the West Countryman a deserved place in this year’s top five.

After finding him unceremoniously dumped by the Halsall Suzuki effort at Snetterton, it looked as though Bridewell’s days in BSB were numbered. A tough 2017 campaign, followed by his Halsall booting meant he had little to shout about but when Steve Moore’s MotoRapido Ducati squad handed him a lifeline mid-way through 2018, Bridewell grabbed it with both hands and turned his year around.

Ending the season as a regular podium contender and even battling for wins, Bridewell’s success with MotoRapido saw him recover from the dole queue to winning the BSB Riders’ Cup for finishing the best-placed non-Showdown contender.

Highlights for Bridewell included taking four podiums from the final seven races, three of which were strong second places.

His results earned him a second year with the MotoRapido squad, with whom he’s set to campaign the all new Ducati V4 R in 2019.