2023-10-16 15:15:11
The script for British Superbikes 2023 could well have been written by the best screenwriter in Hollywood. And after 33 races and a brutal fight between the BeerMonster Ducati couple, the title was finally decided this past Sunday by a tiny difference of 0.5 points in a truly heart-stopping last lap that allowed Tommy Bridewell takes the champion crown for the first time in his sporting career.
The Brands Hatch Circuit hosted, in its GP format, the final event of the BSB 2023, and did so with the so-called ‘Finale’ format in which the number of points received by the first 15 classified in each race is increased. providing the winner with 35 points, the second with 30 points and the third with 27 points.
And with three races scheduled between Saturday and Sunday, and alone a distance of 7.5 points between Bridewell and his boxing neighbor, Glenn Irwin, It was clear that Brands Hatch would be a weekend of high tension.
In fact, Bridewell and Irwin arrived at this final event of the year after a controversial weekend in Donington Park 15 days ago plagued by mechanical misfortunes and contact between the BeerMonster Ducati duo – Bridewell’s fault – which ended with both of them on the ground during Race 2.
Brands Hatch’s first race, Saturday’s Sprint Race, It was won by Kyle Ryde after a beautiful and tough battle with Jason O’Halloran, whom he beat by a minimum difference of 15 thousandths over the finish line. The podium was completed by Tommy Bridewell followed by Irwin, a result that allowed the man from Etchilhampton to increase his lead in the overall standings to 10.5 points.
Sunday started with Race 2 in which Irwin did the only thing he could do to make life difficult for his teammate: take the victory and the 35 relevant points. Bridewell was close to beating him, but was three tenths short and finished second, so the gap between them was reduced to 5.5 points, still with a final race scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
Race 3 once again saw Glenn Irwin cross the finish line before anyone else; His victory forced Bridewell to be second if he wanted to be champion, since a third place would not have been enough for him to defend the lead and the title would have gone to his Northern Irish teammate.
Bridewell met a rock in his path named Kyle Rydee; The Yamaha rider entered the fight for victory in this Race 3, and on the last and final lap, he put himself ahead of Bridewell at the wheel of Irwin, a result that at that time made Glenn champion. Bridewell did not want any last-minute surprises, and in the second corner of Brands Hatch, in Druids, he put his Panigale V4 R into Ryde to take second, still with more than half a lap ahead.
Far from being left out of this title fight, Ryde did not turn off the gas at any time and he made a couple of attempts to pass Tommy Bridewell inside, but he was always a little late. Finally, Race 3 ended with Irwin winning by 372 thousandths of an advantage over Bridewell, who had 30 points compared to 35 for his boxing neighbor. winning the BSB 2023 crown by half a point and paying a more than heartfelt tribute to the team’s owner, Paul Bird, who recently died after a brief illness.
“Everything in my life has been built towards this and I have dedicated every day to my late brother Ollie and becoming BSB champion, so the fact that it is finally happening has made my life complete.”narrated Tommy Brideweell, now a champion. “All credit goes to Glenn, who has brought out the best and worst in me and pushed me like no teammate has ever done before: He is an amazing rider and certainly knows how to ride a motorcycle! When Paul Bird hired me I told him I would give it my all, so the title is dedicated to both him and Ollie, and I just want to thank everyone on the team for this opportunity. “Today was a hard and tense day, but we did it.”
Glenn Irwin, for his part, was one of the first to congratulate Tommy after a simply amazing end to the season: “Today the math was simple: I had to win both races and even though I did, it wasn’t enough, so I take my hat off to Tommy. I tried everything, especially in the last race, and the positions changed constantly. regularity, sometimes in my favor and sometimes not. But the most important thing is that I’ve given it my all and that’s all I can ask for, so I take my hat off to Tommy. We were two drivers from the same team who gave everything for the same reason and, although we have had ups and downs, today you could see the respect we have for each other. “Saturday’s race was probably what cost me (the title), but I feel in the best shape of my life and a 1st and 2nd in the championship is the best possible result for Birdman.”in reference to the late Paul Bird.
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Below you can enjoy this last decisive lap to crown the 2023 BSB champion:
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