BSB Snetterton: Tommy Bridewell makes it two from two in Norfolk

Tommy Bridewell produced another Snetterton masterclass to win his second Bennetts British Superbike Championship win of the weekend.

The BeerMonster Ducati rider came on top in an eight-lap shootout after the original race was red flagged on lap seven following separate incidents for Danny Buchan and Peter Hickman and Hamilton. Hickman was straight back to his feet, but Buchan required some assistance and was taken to the medical centre.

Buchan had already taken a big hit when Hickman tucked the front of his FHO Racing BMW M1000 RR, with the latter immediately running over to check on Buchan. Buchan has been taken to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for further scans and assessment after suffering a concussion.

Once Bridewell hit the front, he immediately produced the fastest lap of the race and became the first rider to dip into the 1:47s. His 11^th career victory means that Bridewell now holds a 23-point lead in the championship.

Meanwhile, Josh Brookes secured his second podium of the weekend with a strong display against the chasing Leon Haslam. The Aussie withstood a lot of pressure from his fellow veteran, and Brookes did just enough to keep second spot over the line.

Haslam completed the podium, whilst Glenn Irwin got the better of Jason O’Halloran at the final corner to take fourth. O’Halloran pulled off some fantastic overtakes throughout the race at Coram and Riches, but was ultimately at a disadvantage against the much faster Ducati and BMW machines.

Danny Kent’s impressive weekend continued in sixth, coming home ahead of local hero Ryan Vickers, who benefited from the red flag. In the original race, Vickers had an issue with his LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha R1 on lap two, but was able to re-join before the red flag.

Jack Kennedy completed the top 10 for Mar-Train Yamaha, whilst Kyle Ryde’s struggled continued in 11^th. Charlie Nesbitt crossed the line in 12^th, ahead of Tito Rabat and Max Cook, whilst Josh Owens secured the final point.

Tom Neave crashed out of the original race at Agostini on lap three. Luke Mossey returned to the pits and retired at the end of lap five. Franco Bourne also retired in the pits at the end of the opening lap of the restarted race.

Dean Harrison crashed out at Agostini on lap two of the restarted race, whilst Hector Barbera retired with a bike problem.

The third and final BSB race of the weekend at Snetterton is due to begin at 16:30.

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Tommy Bridewell has extended his lead in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship after winning the opening race of the weekend at Snetterton.

The BeerMonster Ducati rider fought back through the order after dropping to eighth on the opening lap, eventually getting the better of teammate Glenn Irwin on the final lap. Bridewell made his move into Brundle and kept the lead through Nelson.

It’s Bridewell’s 10^th BSB victory and he now holds a 17-point lead in the standings over Irwin, who dropped two more positions to come home in fourth.

Josh Brookes made his move on Irwin into the final corner, whilst Irwin then lost time on corner exit allowing Jason O’Halloran to go by on the run to the line. It’s Brookes’ sixth podium of the season, and he sits 29 points behind Bridewell.

Christian Iddon completed the top five on his Oxford Products Racing Ducati, coming home ahead of Danny Kent and Lee Jackson. Jack Kennedy was eighth, whilst Charlie Nesbitt and Tito Rabat completed the top 10.

Rabat was running at the front in the early stages, however a clash with Bridewell saw the Spaniard lose momentum as he dropped into the big pack of riders behind him.

Max Cook finished 11^th on the second Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki, ahead of Tom Neave and Kyle Ryde, who is now 23 points behind in the title fight. Luke Mossey and Dean Harrison secured the final points on offer.

Franco Bourne finished his maiden BSB race in 19^th, crossing the line ahead of Peter Hickman.

Bradley Perie’s race came to an end at the first corner on the opening lap, whilst Danny Buchan crashed out of a top 10 position on lap four. The SYNETIQ BMW rider went down at Agostini.

Moments later, Leon Haslam retired from the race with a bike issue, whilst Ryan Vickers returned to the pits at the end of lap eight.

Sunday’s races are due to take place at 13:15 and 16:30.

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Jason O’Halloran secured his first Bennetts British Superbike Championship pole of the season at Snetterton whilst new teammate Tito Rabat also made it onto the front row.

O’Halloran’s best lap-time of 1:47.111 was enough to beat Glenn Irwin to top spot by 0.262s. It’s the McAMS Yamaha rider’s first pole since the penultimate round of the 2022 season at Donington Park.

Aside from the pole man, the biggest story of the weekend so far has been the form of Rabat. News of the 2014 Moto2 World Champion’s arrival was met with some negative comments on social media, but Rabat is quickly proving people wrong and completes the front row in Norfolk.

Championship leader Tommy Bridewell heads the second row and is joined by former BSB champions Josh Brookes and Leon Haslam.

Charlie Nesbitt heads row three ahead of Danny Kent, whilst Jack Kennedy put his Mar-Train Yamaha R1 ninth on the grid. Danny Buchan completes the top 10 for SYNETIQ BMW.

Christian Iddon is 11^th ahead of 2023 rookie Max Cook, who is having a strong weekend onboard the Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki. Cook out-qualified teammate Lee Jackson, who will start race one from 13^th.

Luke Mossey and Tom Neave qualified 14^th and 15^th respectively after fighting their way through Q1 earlier in the day. Title contender Kyle Ryde struggled down in 16^th position.

Peter Hickman’s post-TT struggles continued onboard the FHO Racing BMW M1000 RR. Hickman crashed at Agostini and qualified 17^th as a result.

Ryan Vickers has a big job ahead of him at his home circuit following a crash early in the Q2 session. Like Hickman, Vickers went down at Agostini and will start race one at Snetterton from 18^th.

Bradley Perie missed out on a spot inside Q2 by 0.029s, whilst Dean Harrison failed to make it through to Q2 due to a crash at Agostini. The DAO Racing Kawasaki rider was inside the top six at the time of his fall. Harrison will start race one from 20^th.

Josh Owens completes row six, qualifying ahead of Hector Barbera and Storm Stacey. Jack Scott, newcomer Franco Bourne and Liam Delves complete the grid. Bourne is stepping in for the injured Andrew Irwin at Honda Racing UK.

The first BSB race of the weekend at Snetterton is due to begin at 16:20.