Bridewell and Rutter to Bathams Honda

2012 title showdown contender seals a new ride

TOMMY BRIDEWELL will join Michael Rutter at Bathams Honda for the 2013 British Superbikes season. 

Bridewell surprised many in 2012 with new team Supersonic Racing, taking them all the way to the 'title showdown'.

Unable to secure funding for another season in the series, Supersonic Racing have moved to the Italian domestic CIV Superbike Championship for 2013, leaving Bridewell to hunt for pastures new. 

He has agreed to rejoin under the Bathams Honda banner, where he raced in 2010 and for part of 2011.

He said: 'I am really looking forward to the season,

'This team is very much like Supersonic; they have very similar philosophies when it comes to racing. They go racing for fun and for the passion and when I am in that environment that is when I race at my best. I have my crew from last year with me again and there is no doubt in my mind that they can get that Honda working for me.'

Meanwhile, Bridewell's teammate 40 year-old Michael Rutter will be hoping to recover some form after a frustrating year with MSS Kawasaki in 2012. 

The BSB vet has raced 393 times in BSB, and 2013 marks the 18th anniversary of his debut in the series. 

Confident about the coming season, Rutter said: 'This is a really good opportunity for me and I am looking forward to getting back on a Honda as that then means I am consistent with BSB, the World Endurance and the roads too. I want to be back in the top six again; we have done it before and I know that the Honda package is as strong as ever.'

British Superbikes season 2013 begins on the 5th of April 2013.