Tommy Bridewell has referred to as out “out of contact” pundits after ending second within the 2024 British Superbike Championship.
Bridewell received the title in 2023 with Ducati, however switched to Honda for 2024, a producer which final received the BSB title in 2013, and hadn’t received a race since 2022.
“[It’s been] a yr that everybody advised me we had been going to get completely smoked,” Bridewell advised BritishSuperbike.com following final weekend’s Manufacturers Hatch BSB finale.
Bridewell stated he was advised that, “I used to be mad leaving Ducati, I’d solely joined Honda for the cash. I’ve seen each remark, each pundit, each skilled and ex-racers that advised me ‘You’re completely loopy’.
“Possibly they’re a bit out of contact with their pundit abilities.
“Actually, I’m proud, I’m super-proud. Everybody wrote me off earlier than I even rode the bike.”
Bridewell defined that assurances made to him final yr by Honda UK had given him the boldness that it was a workforce value becoming a member of for the defence of his 2023 title.
“The dialog I had with Harv [Havier Beltran] and Honda UK, they stuffed me with confidence that I believed within the challenge.
“I’d spent 5 years with Ducati, so for me to leap on an inline-four, a brand new Honda, a brand new workforce, and take the championship right down to the wire prefer it did right this moment— after all I’m disenchanted, I’m a racer, why would I not be?
“In some facets, what have I received to be disenchanted with? […] I believe, for my first yr with Honda, I believe we’ve received a lot to be pleased with, as a result of, finally, we had been defeated by one level.”
Whereas 2024 finally resulted in Bridewell shedding his British crown to Kyle Ryde, the 2023 champion believes there was nothing extra he might have carried out this yr to enhance his place.
“There was nothing extra I might give, and I’m pleased with that, as a result of what might I’ve carried out in a different way this yr to have given me another level?
“As a racer, you take a look at ‘What if I didn’t crash at Oulton, or if the bike didn’t break down there,’ and so forth.
“However that’s life. I knew that, I knew the method.
“What I’m actually proud about, is I knew […] that my job began in Race 1 in Navarra.
“On a brand new bike for me, consistency was key, and for me to have the ability to adapt and perceive that from the offset, I’m proud.
“Like I say, everybody had written me off, so to lose the championship by one level, I maintain my head excessive.”
