BSB Cadwell Park: Tommy Bridewell secures his second victory of 2024 in Race Two

Tommy Bridewell defended perfectly to claim victory in the second Bennetts British Superbike Championship race at Cadwell Park.

The reigning champion took the lead of the race on the opening lap and held top spot for the remainder, managing to hold off Kyle Ryde and Lee Jackson despite immense pressure coming from both men.

Bridewell crossed the line 0.219s ahead of Ryde, who just pipped Jackson to the chequered flag by 0.023s. It’s only Bridewell’s second victory of the 2024 season, but it extends his lead over Ryde in the standings to 21 points.

It’s Bridewell’s 99^th BSB podium, whilst it’s Honda’s first victory at Cadwell Park since Peter Hickman’s success in 2014.

Charlie Nesbitt was fourth but did manage to set the fastest lap of the race with a 1:25.882, which puts him on pole position for the final race. Glenn Irwin completed the top five, crossing the line a mere 0.400s behind Nesbitt.

A stunning fightback from Ryan Vickers saw him battle his way through from 20^th on the grid to sixth, whilst he also recorded a lap-time quick enough to put him on the front row in race three. Vickers is now 70 points behind Bridewell.

Josh Brookes was the leading BMW rider once again in seventh, whilst Leon Haslam, Christian Iddon and Jason O’Halloran completed the top 10.

Danny Buchan was 11^th ahead of Billy McConnell, whilst Storm Stacey, Tom Ward and Peter Hickman claimed the final points on offer in that race.

Danny Kent’s race came to a premature end on lap five when he fell at Park. Hickman was later handed a two-second long lap penalty equivalent time penalty for causing the crash. Alex Olsen entered pit-lane at the end of lap six and retired.

The third and final BSB race of the weekend at Cadwell Park is due to take place at 16:15.

---

Kyle Ryde edged closer to the top of the standings by taking victory in the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race at Cadwell Park.

Ryde led for the majority of the race after a short battle with Jason O’Halloran, and was able to manage the pace onboard the GRILLA OMG Racing Yamaha. It’s Ryde’s first-ever win at Cadwell Park and it moves him to within 19 points of Tommy Bridewell in the championship.

Behind Ryde it was a successful race for the Hawk Racing duo of Lee Jackson and Charlie Nesbitt, who crossed the line in second and third respectively. It’s Jackson’s first podium with the team following his switch from FS-3 Racing Kawasaki at the beginning of the year, whilst it’s Nesbitt’s fourth in BSB.

Bridewell fought his way through from 12^th on the grid to take fourth following an intense battle with Glenn Irwin. The pair almost came to blows at the chicane, with a move from Irwin seeing Bridewell edged out onto the grass. Race control looked at the incident but no further action was taken.

Irwin came home in fifth after overtaking O’Halloran on the final lap. O’Halloran struggled in the closing stages in his first race since damaging tendons in two of his fingers at Thruxton.

Josh Brookes was the leading BMW rider in seventh, crossing the line 0.553s clear of Leon Haslam. Billy McConnell and Danny Buchan completed the top 10.

Storm Stacey and Peter Hickman were 11^th and 12^th respectively, whilst Christian Iddon, Danny Kent and Tom Ward claimed the final points available. Max Cook finished 16^th in his first race onboard a superbike at Cadwell Park, whilst Bradley Perie ended his first race back in the class in 17^th.

Ryan Vickers’ title hopes were dealt a blow when he pulled off the circuit at the beginning of the second lap due to an issue with his Yamaha R1. Vickers already had plenty of work to do after crashing out of qualifying and starting the race from 13^th.

Vickers, who had won five of the last six races heading into the weekend, is now 62 points behind Bridewell in the championship standings.

Richard Kerr and Luke Hedger both returned to pit-lane and retired from the race.

Bank Holiday Monday’s BSB races are scheduled to take place at 13:15 and 16:15.

---

Jason O’Halloran claimed pole position in a frantic Bennetts British Superbike Championship qualifying session at Cadwell Park.

The original plan to hold a one-lap Superpole style qualifying session was scrapped due to drops of rain in and around the Lincolnshire circuit. As a result, it was a standard 15-minute format, but it certainly didn’t disappoint.

Within a few moments of the green flags being waved in pit-lane, two of the favourites for the weekend crashed out of contention. Ryan Vickers, winner in five of the last six races, went down at the Gooseneck, whilst championship leader Tommy Bridewell fell at Mansfield. As a result, they’ll start race one from 13^th and 14^th respectively.

Back on the circuit, multiple riders took it in turns to hold provisional pole position, but in the end, it was Jason O’Halloran who put his Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki on top spot. The Aussie, who lives close to Cadwell Park, recorded the one and only 1:25 lap-time of the day with a 1:25.916

O’Halloran will be joined on the front row Kyle Ryde and Charlie Nesbitt, whilst Nesbitt’s Hawk Racing teammate Lee Jackson will head the second row. Like O’Halloran, Jackson is also a local fan favourite.

Glenn Irwin bounced back from a difficult Saturday to put the Hager PBM Ducati fifth on the grid after going through the Q1 session. Leon Haslam also had to go through the first qualifying session but is still the leading BMW rider in sixth.

Danny Buchan, a race winner at Cadwell Park on both Kawasaki and BMW machinery, qualified seventh for DAO Racing Kawasaki. He’s joined on the third row by Aussie duo Josh Brookes and Billy McConnell. The latter topped Q1, carrying on his impressive from from Thruxton.

Danny Kent completed the top 10 for McAMS Racing Yamaha ahead of Christian Iddon and Storm Stacey.

Andrew Irwin sat out Q2 following a big crash at the Gooseneck during Free Practice Three moments before Q1 began at Cadwell Park. After being assessed by the BSB Medical Team, Irwin has been declared unfit and will not take part in race one. Irwin will be assessed again on Monday morning.

Peter Hickman was the best of the rest in Q1 but was 0.350s behind the final Superpole qualification spot held by Glenn Irwin. Hickman’s third sector time on his final flying lap was the best of the session.

Hickman will be joined on the sixth row by the returning Bradley Perie and Max Cook. Perie has taken the seat vacated by Tom Neave at STAUF Fluid Power Kawasaki, whilst Cook has limited track experience at Cadwell onboard a superbike having missed last season’s meeting due to injury.

Row seven is headed by Tom Ward, who is racing for Rapid Honda this weekend as a replacement for the injured Franco Bourne. Ward will line-up alongside Alex Olsen and Lewis Rollo.

Luke Hedger, Brayden Elliot, Richard Kerr and Louis Valleley complete the field. Kerr is continuing to race for Cheshire Mouldings BMW due to Rory Skinner’s leg injury.

The opening BSB race of the weekend at Cadwell Park is due to begin at 17:00 on Sunday afternoon.