Tommy Bridewell became the fourth different race winner in the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship in the second race of the weekend at Oulton Park. However, it was his BeerMonster Ducati teammate Glenn Irwin, who was victorious in race three in the closest finish of the season so far.
The second round produced three different race winners as five different title contenders featured on the podium after the three races in Cheshire.
Bridewell maintained his strong record at Oulton Park by winning the second race of the weekend to take his first victory with the BeerMonster Ducati team, withstanding the pressure from his rivals.
Leon Haslam was moving up the order and soon he was just behind Bridewell and ready to try to fight for the win ahead of brothers Andrew and Glenn Irwin.
Haslam was trying to attack Bridewell and defend against Andrew Irwin at the same time, a moment for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad rider at Lodge gave his Honda Racing UK rival the chance to move ahead. However, Haslam was instantly on the attack and regained the position.
Bridewell was holding the advantage and the leading group became a pack of five with Bridewell, Haslam, Andrew and Glenn Irwin plus Ryde who later lost ground in the closing stages.
Bridewell made a break over the final three laps to score his first win for BeerMonster Ducati this season, but behind Glenn Irwin had charged into second to make it a 1-2 for Paul Bird’s team, the first since 2020.
The fight for third went down to the wire and Andrew Irwin made a move down the inside at Lodge for the final time, but Haslam wasn’t giving up the podium and he managed to regain the advantage on the run over Deer Leap to the chequered flag.
Andrew Irwin had to settle for fourth place, his best result of the season so far for Honda Racing UK, ahead of Ryde and yesterday’s race winner Josh Brookes.
In the final race of the weekend, Glenn Irwin denied Haslam his first race win of the season by celebrating his second victory of the season. The BeerMonster Ducati rider now take the standings lead by four points ahead of the next event at Donington Park (May 19/20/21).
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
1. Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 91
2. Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 87
3. Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 87
4. Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) 76
5. Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 73
6. Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) 44
7. Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 41
8. Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Racing Yamaha) 40
9. Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 37
10. Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) 32
