BSB Oulton: Tommy Bridewell secures the double with dominating race three performance

Tommy Bridewell dominated the third and final BSB race of the weekend at Oulton Park to blow the title fight wide open. 

Bridewell launched off the line and opened up a gap of over 1.3s on the first lap of the race, and was lapping almost a second quicker than anybody on lap two. The Oxford Products Racing Ducati rider continued to pull away from the rest of the field, holding an advantage of 6.979s by the end of lap 10. 

Race Two: Tommy Bridewell fights through the order to win

Bridewell eventually crossed the line with a lead of 5.972, but the gap had been opened up to over eight seconds at one stage in the race. Remarkably, the championship has been turned on its head due to this race.

Jason O’Halloran’s title hopes were dealt another huge blow when he crashed out of the race at Cascades on lap 12. O’Halloran entered the Showdown with a 30-point lead in the standings, but now finds himself two points behind Tarran Mackenzie. Bridewell’s double victory means he’s only nine points adrift of Mackenzie. 

Mackenzie crossed the line-up in third but was handed a three-second penalty following an incident with Lee Jackson on the exit of turn one. Jackson’s race came to an end when he was pushed slightly wide by Mackenzie on the exit of turn one, resulting in a crash for the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki rider. Mackenzie finished fifth as a result of the penalty.

Meanwhile, Josh Brookes clinched his second podium of the weekend in second spot, with Bradley Ray inheriting third position due to Mackenzie’s penalty. Peter Hickman was promoted to fourth for FHO Racing BMW. 

Danny Buchan was sixth, with Glenn Irwin beating brother Andrew to the line in seventh. Gino Rea and Rory Skinner completed the top 10. Christian Iddon came home in 11th following an incident with Mackenzie at the final corner, which resulted in the VisionTrack Ducati rider running off the track and into the gravel. 

Ryan Vickers was 12th, whilst Dean Harrison, Storm Stacey and Kyle Ryde secured the final points on offer at Oulton Park this weekend. 

Joe Sheldon-Shaw returned to the pits and retired from the race at the end of lap eight, whilst Bjorn Estment did the same on lap 13.

---

BSB Oulton: Tommy Bridewell battles through the pack to take victory

First published: 26 September 2021 at 14:19 by Josh Close

Tommy Bridewell produced an astonishing comeback to take victory in the second BSB race of the weekend at Oulton Park.

Bridewell fought back from 13th on lap five, after running on at Hislop’s Chicane on lap four, to taking the lead of the race at the first corner on the final lap. On the penultimate lap he made his way by Tarran Mackenzie and Christian Iddon before setting his sights on O’Halloran.

Race One: Tarran Mackenzie wins to ignite title fight 

It’s Bridewell’s second victory of the season and moves him to within 32 points of O’Halloran in the championship standings. O’Halloran managed to hold off Mackenzie to the line to finish second and increase his championship lead to nine points with seven races remaining.

Christian Iddon was fourth on the VisionTrack Ducati, whilst Peter Hickman inheritied fifth position after Josh Brookes crashed out at Druids on the final lap. Lee Jackson came home just behind the FHO Racing BMW in sixth, whilst Bradley Ray ended the race in seventh.

SYNETIQ BMW duo Danny Buchan and Andrew Irwin were eighth and ninth respectively, with Gino Rea completing the top 10. Rory Skinner was over seven second behind the top 10 in 11th spot.

Ryan Vickers fought back to 13th after being forced to start from the back of the grid. Vickers failed to make it to the grid before pit-lane was closed.

Storm Stacey’s race came to an end when he was black flagged for failing to take his ride through penalty, given to him for jumping the start.

Ryo Mizuno crashed out of the race at Druids (T15) on the second lap of the race. A few laps later Bjorn Estment fell at Shell Oils. The South African was stretched away and taken to the medical centre.

Glenn Irwin crashed out of contention at Hislop’s Chicane. Irwin had a big task ahead of him after starting from the back of the grid, after being penalised for failing to make it to the grid in time.

Kyle Ryde returned to the Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW garage at the end of lap 12 and retired.

Dan Linfoot did not take part following a huge crash during the warm-up session. The TAG Honda rider’s engine blew coming over the top of Clay Hill, leading to Linfoot falling on his own oil at Druids. The bike was ruined, but thankfully Linfoot appeared to be unhurt.

The final race of the weekend is scheduled to begin at 16:15.

---

BSB Oulton: Tarran Mackenzie takes sensational win as Jason O’Halloran crashes out

First published: 25 September 2021 by Josh Close

The 2021 Bennetts British Superbike Championship title fight is well and truly on after Tarran Mackenzie took victory in the opening race of the weekend at Oulton Park.

McAMS Yamaha teammate Jason O’Halloran was leading the race after going down the inside of Josh Brookes at Knickerbrook on lap 10, however it would be that very corner which brought an end to his race two laps later.

Qualifying: Josh Brookes clinches his first pole of 2021

Mackenzie, who has never even been on the podium at Oulton Park before, took full advantage. The Yamaha rider, buoyed by witnessing his main title rival crash out of the race, went down the inside of Brookes at Hislop’s on the final lap and held his nerve to take his sixth victory of the season.

More importantly, Mackenzie has reduced the gap to O’Halloran to just five points – having been 30 behind his rival heading into the weekend.

Christian Iddon also clawed some vital points back on O’Halloran in third spot, securing his seventh consecutive podium at the Cheshire circuit. It’s also his second podium in the last four races.

Lee Jackson missed out on a spot by only 0.024s after a later charge on his FS-3 Racing Kawasaki, whilst Peter Hickman completed the top five after getting the better of Tommy Bridewell. The latter battled back from 15th on the grid to take sixth.

Danny Buchan was seventh ahead of Glenn Irwin, with Bradley Ray and Storm Stacey completing the top 10. The latter pipped Rory Skinner to the line by just 0.014s. Dan Linfoot, Kyle Ryde, Dean Harrison, and Bjorn Estment secured the final points on offer this afternoon.

Ryan Vickers suffered a highside coming out of Lodge on the opening lap of the race. Vickers was fortunate not to be collected by any of the riders around him. It’s his third crash of the weekend.

Gino Rea’s race came to a premature end on lap five, with the Buildbase Suzuki rider falling at Shell Oils Corner. Brian McCormack returned to the pits at the end of lap seven and retired, with Joe Sheldon-Shaw doing the same a couple of laps later.

Tomorrow’s BSB races are scheduled to take place at 13:10 and 16:15 respectively.

---

BSB Oulton: Josh Brookes masters the wet conditions to take pole

First published: 25 September 2021 at 11:51 by Josh Close

Josh Brookes produced a mixed weather masterclass at Oulton Park to take his first BSB pole position of the season.

Q2 proved to be a tricky one for the riders, with rain in the air, but a dry line also appearing on the circuit. Brookes took the brave decision to switch to the intermediate tyres and it soon paid off with a string of fast lap-times.

Friday: Josh Brookes sets the pace on day one

The reigning champion posted a best lap-time of 1:42.198, which was a comfortable 1.522s faster than championship leader Jason O’Halloran in second spot. Brookes also ended Friday at the top of the standings in dry conditions.

Ryan Vickers bounced back from two crashes on Friday afternoon to complete the front row for the Royal Air Force Regular & Reserve Kawasaki team. Vickers was only 0.046s slower than O’Halloran.

Tarran Mackenzie ensured that he’ll be within touching distance of his McAMS Yamaha teammate in fourth spot. Mackenzie will be joined by Lee Jackson and Danny Buchan on the second row. Buchan was on provisional pole when he crashed at Shell Oils with around five minutes remaining.

Christian Iddon qualified second on the second VisionTrack Ducati V4 R, whilst Gino Rea, Glenn Irwin and Andrew Irwin completed the top 10. Peter Hickman were 11th and 12th respectively, ahead of Dan Linfoot and Bradley Ray.

Tommy Bridewell’s session came to a premature end due to a bike problem and as a consequence, the Showdown contender will start race one from 15th on the grid.

Joe Sheldon-Shaw was unable to make it out onto the circuit in Q2 and will start 19th, behind Kyle Ryde and Ryo Mizuno. Sheldon-Shaw, making his debut for the iForce Lloyd & Jones BMW team, crashed at turn one (Old Hall Corner) moments after going top of the timesheets in Q1, caught out by the tricky, damp conditions.

Storm Stacey missed out on a spot in Q2 by 0.025s and will start race one from 19th on the grid. He’ll be joined on the seventh row by Dean Harrison and Takumi Takahashi. Josh Owens, Bjorn Estment, Michael Dunlop and Brian McCormack complete the grid.

The opening BSB race of the weekend at Oulton Park is scheduled to begin at 16:30 this afternoon (September 25).

---

BSB Oulton: Josh Brookes ends day one on top

First published: 24 September 2021 by Josh Close

Reigning Bennetts British Superbike champion Josh Brookes was the fastest rider overall on the opening day of action at Oulton Park.

Brookes, who edged his way into the Showdown at the final attempt at Silverstone, posted the fastest lap-time of the day during FP2, recording a 1:34.201. That was enough to put Brookes, who has eight race wins at Oulton Park, 0.173s clear of Peter Hickman.

Related articles from MCN

• McAMS Yamaha to run special 60th Anniversary livery
• FHO Racing BMW and Xavi Forés part ways
• Chaz Davies announces WorldSBK retirement

Tommy Bridewell completed the top three, narrowly beating championship leader Jason O’Halloran by 0.015s. Christian Iddon ensured that all three Ducati riders finished day one inside the top five. The Italian manufacturer is the most successful brand at the Cheshire circuit with 33 victories.

Gino Rea was sixth for Buildbase Suzuki, ahead of Lee Jackson and Bradley Ray. Ray crashed at Knickerbrook whilst on a quick lap during FP2, but was fortunately ok and soon returned to the Rich Energy OMG Racing garage.

Glenn Irwin ended day one in ninth and admitted on his Twitter page that his injured shoulder is causing him problems. Danny Buchan completed the top 10 after topping FP1 earlier this afternoon.

Andrew Irwin and Tarran Mackenzie secured the final two automatic Q2 qualification spots. Mackenzie’s inclusion inside the top 12 ensures that all eight Showdown contenders have secured their spot in Q2.

Ryan Vickers was the best of the rest in 13th, despite enduring a difficult day. A fall in FP1 at Brittens was followed by a huge highside on the exit of Knickerbrook in the early stages of FP2. Vickers landed hard and the session was consequently red flagged, whilst the Royal Air Force Regular & Reserve Kawasaki rider was taken to the medical centre.

Rory Skinner was 14th for FS-3 Racing Kawasaki, ahead of Dan Linfoot, Dean Harrison and Kyle Ryde. Storm Stacey, Josh Owens and Bjorn Estment completed the top 20 today.

Tomorrow’s FP3 session (September 25) is due to begin at 09:10 and will be followed by Q1 (10:50) and Q2 (11:09. The opening BSB race of the weekend is scheduled to start at 16:30 on Saturday afternoon.