Tommy Bridewell: “We will all be conscious of what happened” as BSB returns

British Superbike Championship returns forꦯ Round 2 but with tragedy still fresh in the mind

Tommy Bridewell
Tommy Bridewell

Tommy Bridewell✅’s thoughts remain with the riders who tragically died at Oulton Park.

This weekend, the second round of the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:British Superbike Championship at Donington Park means a return to racing for the first time since ༺that terrible accident.

Shane Richardson and Owen J🦋enner🉐 died after a crash in the Supersport race at the 2025 season-opener.

“Obviously, we were overtaken by events as a sport at Oulton Park and I absolutely know from personal experience how deeply our motorcycle racing community feels🦩 these things,” said 2023 BSB champion🐲 Bridewell.

“We will all be conscious of what happꦚened, but I am committed to giving my best, and while Donington’s not necessarily the strongest track for the bike, I’ve always ridd🏅en well there.”

Andrew Irwin said: “Obviouslꦫy🍷, it isn’t a normal race weekend. I think we will all be keeping Owen, Shane and their families close to our hearts and Tom as well.”

Honda boss Havier Beltran said: “The opening round of this yea♋r’s British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park gave Honda Racing, its riders and everyone within 🤡the motorcycle racing community a great deal to think about.

“First in those thoughts, and most importantly by far, have been, and remain, the riders who are missing from the pa♔ddock this weekend and▨ their families.”

Honda target improvement at Donington Park

Bridewell added: “Ou𝔍r performance in the opening round wasn’t what we are capable🧸 of.

“My expectation is to be fighting for the podium this weekend. We hit that target five times in the six races together at Donington in🌊 2024 and we have to start performing at that level consistently from now on to realistically be in the championship battle.

“I am looking forward to seeing whether the improvements made at the North West 200 last week will transfer to the BSB programme and help put us 𒐪in a better place for the rest of the season.”

A qualifying crash ruled Honda teammate Andrew Irwin out of mu🔯ch of the Oulton Park opening round.

“I th꧋ink that Donington will prove to be the weekend when I kickstart my season,” Irwin said.

“The plan is that I get passed fit to ride o🌟n Friday, then take pa𒐪rt in the first Free Practice session and assess where we are.

“I believe that my recovery from the 🔥shoulder injury that I p🌟icked up is going to plan and I’m confident that I will be back to riding like any other BSB weekend.

“From my perspective, Donington Park is much less physical than somewhere like Oulton Park and t🌼hen afterwards we have five weeks off before Round 3 at Snetterton when I can really focus on completing my recovery. I’ve won three races at Donington🌜 in the past, it’s my most successful track on a Superbike and I always enjoy racing there.

“We were 🌠relatively competitive in pre-season testing there. The weather looks to be warm and sunny and that will help us, the Honda Fireblade is very kind to its tyres and the long race suits ꦦus so, fingers crossed, we will be strong."

Team manager Beltran added: “In our preparations, we have been working with Andrew Irwin to ensure🍒 that he is fit to race this weekend after a nasty fall at the first round, and we will be monitoring his progress closely throughou🅷t the weekend.

“Finally, we now have a 🦩clear picture of where we are competitively in both the Superbike and Supersport classes, with clear targets 🌟to achieve.

“I am proud of the way in which the team has been working over the past fortnight, delivering strong performances at the North West 200 and💫 now returning to BSB action in what is a very busy opening segment of our racing calendar.” 

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