Round 1 – Bennetts British Superbike Championship Meeting Brands Hatch, Kent. Friday 24th to Sunday 26th March 2006 BRIDEWELL BROTHERS READY TO ROLL AT BRANDS The 2006 British championship season gets underway this weekend at Brands Hatch in Kent with Etchilhampton near Devizes in Wiltshire brothers Tommy and Ollie Bridewell both relishing their new challenges. After impressing throughout the 2005 season, both 17 year old Tommy and 20 year old Ollie have been rewarded with rides in the British Supersport and Bennetts British Superbike Championships respectively with the Vivaldi Racing Team. After finishing fifth in the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championship for the Lincolnshire-based team last season, Ollie has moved into the Superbike team alongside Scott Smart and Ben Wilson whilst Tommy, who finished in third place in the Virgin Mobile Cup of 2006, has been drafted in as the team’s sole representative in the British Supersport class aboard a 600cc Suzuki. The team has undergone an extensive and rigorous pre-season test programme in Spain and although Ollie has benefited from his first serious outing on a 200bhp superbike, Tommy was injured after crashing and sustained a serious finer injury which needed surgery. There was some doubt that Tommy would be able to ride this weekend but a further operation has proved successful and he expects to take his place on the grid on Sunday. “I lost the end off my little finger and then there were some complications with it not healing properly but I’m glad to say it’s a lot better now. I’m really looking forward to racing again and hopefully the finger will be OK. I’m sure the adrenaline will numb the pain and it’s important I get the season off to a good start as I intend to be strong this season” said Tommy. Meanwhile, elder brother Ollie will be up against some of the world’s fastest racers in what is widely recognised as the toughest domestic superbike championship in the world. But the bespectacled ginger ace is not phased by the prospect and is planning a good impression aboard his 1000cc Vivaldi Suzuki this weekend: “I know it’s going to be tough but I’m feeling in a confident mood ahead of Brands. We had some good tests pre-season and I’m hoping that we can be somewhere in the mix from the off. Really, I just want to get round one out of the way with some safe points tucked away and then I’ll have a lot more insight from then on. The weather is not looking too good but I’m happy to race in the wet or dry conditions so bring it on!” said Ollie. Marcus Bridewell, Ollie and Tom’s father who runs the Wayside Racing Team which the boys started their careers with, commented: “It’s a shame Tom has had a setback but he’s well on the road to recovery now although he could have done without that. Ollie has been training very hard over winter and both of them realise that this is the opportunity of a lifetime. It seems strange for both me and my wife Liz that we aren’t running around making all the usual last minute plans but I’m delighted that they are both riding for the Vivaldi Racing Team this season and we wish them both well” More, from another press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki: Hawk Kawasaki Preparing for British Superbike Season Brands Hatch Indy – 24th – 26th March After a very successful pre season test at Snetterton at the weekend (19th March), Stuart Hicken and his Hawk Kawasaki Team are in high spirits as they head for the first round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch this weekend (24th – 26th March). In the extremely cold conditions the three Hawk riders, Dean Thomas, Craig Coxhell and Peter Hickman managed a number of consistent lap times at the Norfolk based circuit. Riding on board the Dunlop shod Kawasaki ZX10’s each are feeling confident as they head to the opening round. 33-year-old Dean Thomas will be contending his second season for Hawk and the Australian is extremely excited about the prospect of racing again. ‘It seems like it’s been a long time since we last raced at Brands Hatch in October. I’ve been lucky that I was granted two wild card rides in the opening rounds of the World Supersport series, which has made me more eager to get back to racing in the UK. I’m feeling very different this season and looking forward to gaining some strong and positive results for the Hawk Kawasaki Team.’ Fellow Australian 23-year-old Craig Coxhell will join Thomas during 2006. Coxhell has not competed in British Superbikes since 2004 and spent last year competing in the European Superstock Championship, securing a fantastic 3rd position overall. He is eager to get the British season underway ‘I’m really looking forward to racing in the UK again especially with a team like Hawk. I’ve learnt so much in the last 12 months and I’m keen to demonstrate that on the tracks over here, racing abroad taught me a number of new skills and disciplines. I know the Championship is extremely tough but I know I will never improve if I am not mixing in with it all.’ Peter Hickman is the youngster of the group at only 18 years of age he will be the youngest rider in the British Superbike class this season. Hickman, who has had the support from Hawk before, most notably when he lifted the British Superstock Cup Championship in 2004. An exceptionally talented rider he is looking forward to his rookie year in the British Superbike class. ‘Stuart (Hicken) has given me a huge opportunity this year and one that I couldn’t possibly refuse. I like the way the team works and I am hoping to put what I have learnt over the last few years into good use on a Superbike. It will be an all new experience for me but I am looking at securing some good top 15 finishes at the start of the year and working my way up to a top ten by the end of the season.’ Team Manager Stuart Hicken is delighted with his rider line up this year. ‘I’m extremely happy with the riders that I have riding for me this season. It’s good to have Dean back on board and also the two younger riders in the team who I am hoping will develop and progress through the season. Everyone in the Hawk team has been working around the clock to ensure that the team is ready for the first race at Brands Hatch on the 26th March. We’ve had a lot of work to do with the arrival on the new ZX10’s but I am confident that we will be able to gather a good assortment of positive results throughout the season.’ The British Superbikes will be shown on ITV1 at 14:45 and will be shown ‘As Live’ on Sky Sports Xtra at 21:15 on Sunday 26th March. 2006 British Superbike Calendar: – Round 1 – 24 26 March Brands Hatch, Kent Round 2 – 07 09 April Donington Park, Derbyshire Round 3 – 14 17 April Thruxton, Hampshire 21 April Official BSB Test Oulton Park Round 4 – 29 Apr 01 May Oulton Park, Cheshire Round 5 – 19 21 May Mondello Park, Southern Ireland Round 6 – 02 04 June Mallory Park, Leicestershire Round 7 – 16 18 June Snetterton, Norfolk 05 06 July Official BSB Test Croft Round 8 – 14 16 July Knockhill, Scotland Round 9 – 21 23 July Oulton Park, Cheshire Round 10 – 11 13 August Croft, North Yorkshire 17 August Official BSB Test Cadwell Park Round 11 – 26 28 August Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire 31 August Official BSB Test Silverstone Round 12 – 15 17 September Silverstone, Northamptonshire Round 13 – 29 Sept 01 Oct Brands Hatch, Kent