July 23, 2023

Double Delight As Bridewell Wins At Brands Hatch

Tommy Bridewell and the BeerMonster Ducati team enjoyed a superb day of racing at Brands Hatch today taking both wins at round six of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship to extend his title lead over team-mate Glenn Irwin to 34.5pts.

Irwin took second to Bridewell in the final race of the weekend, to give the team their fourth 1-2 of the season with the Ulsterman having taken fourth place earlier in the day.
 
Yesterday’s wet race results meant Tommy and Glenn started from seventh and 14th on the grid respectively for today’s first 20-lap race which saw dry conditions throughout with both making good starts, especially Irwin who jumped up five places to ninth.

By lap six, Bridewell and Irwin were up to fifth and seventh respectively and although the safety car was deployed for the next three laps, when racing resumed on lap ten, Bridewell began to make his move. Indeed, by lap 12 he was in the lead, and he never looked back, eventually winning by 2.4 seconds for his fifth win of the season.
 
Irwin made good progress throughout too and although he just fell short of the podium, fourth was an excellent result having started from so far back on the grid.
 
The final race saw Wiltshire ace Bridewell start from pole with Irwin a row further back in fifth and it proved to be the best race of the weekend with no less than five riders contesting the race win for much of the way.
 
As the 20-lap race entered the closing stages, it became a straight fight between Tommy, Glenn, and Yamaha’s Ryan Vickers and that’s the order they crossed the line, the gap between Tommy and Glenn just 0.133 seconds at the chequered flag meaning Bridewell took his sixth win of the season.
 
Tommy Bridewell: “It’s been a great weekend in all aspects. To win one BSB race is an achievement so to win two in a day and five out of the last six shows how confident I am and how I feel within myself, with the bike and with the team. I’m really proud of what we’re doing at the moment. I’m thinking more about what I’m doing which is allowing me to analyse more, understand more, and learn more and all of that combined is helping me go faster. In the final race, I knew Glenn would be there with me but it’s testament to the hard work we’re doing on Friday and Saturday that I could hold him off and it’s all about maintaining the good momentum we have.”
 
Glenn Irwin: “I felt good with the bike in the dry on Friday and although we had a few issues in the wet in Saturday’s race, we were able to convert that into two good rides and results today. Coming through from 14th to fourth in the first race was a good effort although the bike didn’t quite feel like mine, but the final race was really enjoyable and it’s good to show your pace here as it’s where the final round will be and where a lot of points will be on offer. I thought about having a go at Tommy on more than one occasion and perhaps should have done so as the level’s so high now you have to take the chance when you get it. I’m happy with second though and fair play to Tommy and Ryan. It’s great to give the team another 1-2 as they really deserve it.”
 
Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s been an awesome day for the BeerMonster Ducati team and having had good pace in the dry on Friday and Saturday morning, we were able to convert that into wins and podiums today. Both riders had worked hard on their set up and Tommy picked the riders off one by one in the first race to pull away and take a great win. The second race was simply a great advertisement for BSB; five or six riders going for the win and exchanging positions all the time. Tommy couldn’t pull away this time so fair play to both Glenn and the other riders and to finish the weekend with another 1-2 is brilliant. All the hard work is paying dividends and we look forward to the next round at Thruxton in a fortnight.”
 
 British Superbike Championship race two (20 laps)
 1 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Christian Iddon (Ducati)
3 Danny Kent (Honda)
 4 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
5 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
6 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)
 
 British Superbike Championship race three (20 laps)
 1 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
3 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
4 Christian Iddon (Ducati)
5 Danny Kent (Honda)
6 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)
 
 Championship positions (after six rounds)
 1 Bridewell 258pts
2 Irwin 223.5
3 Ryde 181
4 Brookes 177
5 Haslam 172
6 O’Halloran 158.5
 

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) 

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI WRAP-UP SUCCESSFUL TESTING PROGRAMME

April 24, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team and rider Glenn Irwin have completed another successful R&G Official test at Oulton Park, with the opening round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship now just over a week away. Irwin and the team have spent the last two days at the Cheshire track, grabbing as much track time as possible in the final days on track before the season begins. After ending last weekend’s Donington Park test on top, the team was keen to continue to push in the final two days, working through a busy schedule and trying a host of new components and ideas. Irwin ended the test second quickest overall after clocking the best lap of Thursday afternoon’s final session, banking a 1min 33.313s lap on his last run. He leaves feeling confident about next weekend’s opening round and can’t wait to get back out. Glenn Irwin: “That’s us finished pre-season testing and I’m feeling good. We’ve been working, working, working and the bike felt better today but we still have a bit of work to do. “It’s been really, really enjoyable, we’ve tried a number of different things and I think now we’re finding a bit of a balance. Today we unlocked something in that middle session, I did a good few 33s in that run so I think we’re strong. “It’s definitely been very productive. We haven’t gone for lap times, we’ve been focussed on getting the bike right and when that happens, the lap times come. That’s what we’re starting to see and I think we’re in a good place to come back next week and start the season.” Frank Bird Jnr, Team Co-owner: “It’s a mega way to finish, this puts us in really good stead for the season and we’ve got a lot of boxes ticked off with the bike. All the boys are working well, we’ve got everyone back into the swing of things and Glenn seems to be riding well, so we’re in a good window for the first round. “It’s been a long winter but all the hard work seems to be paying off and we’re right in the mix. It means we can come here for Round One and we’re in a great place to start from.” The opening round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship roars into action at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend, May 3-5.

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI END SUCCESSFUL SECOND TEST ON TOP

April 19, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team continued its strong testing form at Donington Park as rider Glenn Irwin once again ended the two days fastest overall. Although the team is still not concentrating on lap times, Irwin picked up where he left off at Circuito de Navarra earlier this month as he led the way on Friday before going even quicker on Day Two with an impressive fastest lap of 1min 27.015s in the final session. After a strong first test where he topped the timesheets at Navarra, the team headed to the second R&G Official test at Donington Park looking to work on a number of different things. Irwin was consistently quick across the opening day, ending Friday fastest overall with a 1:27.022sec lap in the final session to end the day at the top of the timesheets with what was the fastest ever BSB lap of the iconic track. Along with most of the pack, he opted to sit out of Saturday morning’s first session due to track conditions, heading out for the second to work through a few more things. He again shot to the top of the timesheets with a lap of 1:27.468, before later going one better in the final session to clock his new fastest ever lap. Glenn Irwin: “It’s been really good, like Navarra, we’ve continued with a plan. Yesterday we had a really, really strong bike here and conditions were a little better. Today conditions were tougher with the wind but everyone still finds a way to go fast. “We probably persevered with a bike which is suited to the final sector, perhaps Turn One as well. As the day went on I realised we were losing a bit in some places but we stuck with it. “It’s pleasing because I would say that isn’t the bike of choice for here, perhaps maybe yesterday's bike was better, but to top today feeling like that, to do a lot of laps in the 27s with improved pace on old tyres is good. The test has definitely been a success.” John Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “I think it’s been a positive test where we’ve confirmed a number of test items over the two days. We had slightly better conditions yesterday than today but I think we’ve ticked a lot of boxes, gone fairly quick so it’s all positive – roll on Oulton Park. “The plan there is more of the same, just keep trying to understand the new tyre, try and work with it. I think longevity is going to be the key now for Oulton Park, we’ll do a couple of race runs, see how the tyre lasts and then get ready for Round One.” The team will now prepare for the final test at Oulton Park next Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24 which will be the last chance to get everything ready ahead of the first round of the 2025 season at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
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