Tommy Bridewell vows to come back stronger in renewed BSB deal for 2021
Race winner Tommy Bridewell and the Oxford Racing Ducati team agree an extension for the 2021 British Superbike Championship season
Tommy Bridewell will enter into his third British Superbike Championship season with the Oxford Racing Ducati squad in 2021 after penning a new deal with the Moto Rapido-run Ducati squad.
The latest rider to confirm plans for next year, Bridewell joined the outfit towards the back end of the 2018 season before emerging as a frontrunner in 2019 aboard the newly-introduced Ducati Panigale V4 R.
Securing a remarkable 18 podiums from 27 races, Bridewell took the title fight to the final round en route to third overall. Though unable to demonstrate the same levels of consistency during the compacted 2020 BSB season, Bridewell added four more podiums - including a fourth BSB victory at Donington Park - to his career tally.
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With the 2021 BSB season returning to a full strength calendar of 12 events, Bridewell says it was an easy decision to continue with the team for a renewed challenge next year.
"The decision to stay with Moto Rapido Racing with Oxford Products was simple for me – the Ducati V4R is the best bike and I believe in the team and the crew.
“Previously throughout my career I jumped between bikes and teams after each season and never found a comfortable position, but since joining Moto Rapido I feel at home and I am happy in the team environment and that is how you get the best out of me. Obviously, it was a no-brainer to continue that next season.
“We sat down and we want to understand why 2020 didn’t go as expected after such a good year in 2019. We talked about next season and straight away, we all wanted to stay together.
“I wanted to get the deal done to stay with the team and now we can move straight on to what we can do to come out of the blocks in 2021 fighting where we know we can be. I know we will get on top of it, because I believe in the team and we want to be winning races again."
Team owner Steve Moore was delighted to have Bridewell stay on board for another year as he looks to get back to the heights of the 2019 campaign.
“Tommy signed for year three - well I must say I didn’t expect this in 2018 when we were both thrown together, but it has been a great fit from the start. Tommy is a highly skilled and talented rider, who is at home in our team. He was my first choice for 2021 and Oxford Products, Ducati and all our sponsors and team are delighted.
“After a fantastic 2019 the team worked perfectly and I’m very pleased to say after the much more challenging 2020 we still are. The test of a team is when it is hard, not when it is easy and we are stronger than ever.
“Securing Tommy for 2021 means that we have everything we need - everything we have learnt from the last two seasons with the V4R is so valuable when you can keep the same rider. I’m really looking forward to getting back on the podium in front of our fans.”