BSB: Birdwell brothers Snetterton summary

TOP TENS FOR TOM AND OLLIE AT SNETTERTON

Wiltshire racing brothers Ollie and Tommy Bridewell, from Etchilhampton near Devizes, racked up a superb top ten finish apiece when round five of the 2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship was played out at Snetterton in Norfolk in front of another massive crowd at the weekend.

Riding the Team NB Suzukis, 18 year old Tommy posted 14th fastest time during Saturday's frenetic Qualifying session with Ollie, 21, managing 17th place on the grid and in the opening 22 lap race in glorious sunshine, Tommy battled it out with the likes of Chris Walker and Michael Rutter to end up in a superb tenth place with Ollie just outside the points aboard the second of the Pirelli-shod machines in 18th place after a race long battle with Steve Plater, Peter Hickman and ex Vivaldi Superstock team mate Aaron Zanotti.

The brothers made some improvements to the 1000cc K6 Suzuki machines before race two and they paid dividends as both riders circulated with the front runners and were looking good to score a good result each. But half way through the race, Tommy pushed a little too hard and slid out of eighth place at Sear Corner before remounting and returning to the pits leaving Ollie to duke it out with the likes of Walker and former team mate Scott Smart to record his best finish of the season with a fighting tenth place.

"I'm pleased with my result in the second race but the set up in race one hampered me which meant I couldn't stay with the others on the fast corners" said Ollie. "We altered a few settings for race two and it made a world of difference and it was good to be racing with the likes of BSB winners, Chris and Scott. I think we have a good base set up although the opposition keeps upping thier game and if we want regular top tens, we need to be able to respond."

"Although I ended up crashing out in race two, I'm reasonably happy with my performance but I think the punishment didn't fit the crime. Race one was good and we were able to put in some consistent laps and I was really confident we could improve in race two but that's what happens sometimes when you push a little too hard. I feel I'm riding well at the minute and am looking forward to scoring a load more points at Mondello" said Tommy.

The next round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Mondello Park in County Kildare, Ireland over the weekend of June 15/16/17th.

-credit: cm