Tommy Bridewell celebrated an emotional 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship title in an incredible Showdown decider; finishing second behind his BeerMonster Ducati teammate and fierce title rival Glenn Irwin in the final race of the season to take the crown by an unprecedented margin of just half a point.
The battle to become the 2023 Champion went down to the wire, on the last lap of the final race of the season at Brands Hatch as the leading trio in the title chase were pushed to the limit to decide the destiny of the championship.
Irwin had won the race earlier in the afternoon to half Bridewell’s advantage with just 5.5 points separating them going into the final race of the season and Ryde also within mathematical contention should the teammates falter.
Bridewell had initially grabbed the advantage, but Ryde soon had charged ahead to take the lead and with Irwin in fourth that would have been enough for Bridewell to become champion.
However, a hallmark Bennetts BSB race didn’t disappoint the huge crowds at the Kent circuit as a determined Irwin fought his way to the front by lap 11.
Irwin in the lead and with Ryde splitting him from his teammate Bridewell would have turned the tables in his favour, but the 20-lap race saw the championship advantage change in favour of the teammates no less than eight times.
Ryde then regained the lead, but the balance shifted again on the penultimate lap of the season when Irwin produced a rapid exit out of Surtees to pass the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha rider at Hawthorn and once again move into the title hot seat. This left Bridewell needing to pass Ryde with just a lap and a half of the 2023 Bennetts BSB campaign left to run.
The decisive moment came at Druids on the final lap. Bridewell produced a strong run through Paddock Hill Bend to set up a run on Ryde into Druids before outbraking him and holding the position as they fired down Graham Hill Bend for the final time.
Irwin had managed to build a bit of a gap at the front of the pack, which he held to the chequered flag to claim his tenth win of the season. However, with Bridewell’s second position that was enough to take the title by the narrowest winning points margin in series history.
Bridewell dedicated the championship win to his late brother Ollie and to PBM Team Owner Paul Bird, who passed away last month, in one of the most emotional victories in history.
Ryde followed the BeerMonster Ducatis home to take third and ensure that the top three riders in this year’s standings shared the final podium of the season.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Final Standings
1. Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 455
2. Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 454.5
3. Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 422
4. Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 376.5
5. Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) 369
6. Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 365.5
7. Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 340
8. Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 306
