Bridewell gets Imola WorldSBK call up to replace Laverty
Eugene Laverty's injuries prompt Go Eleven Ducati to call up British Superbike Championship leader Tommy Bridewell for the remainder of the Imola WorldSBK weekend
Tommy Bridewell is to make an unexpected World Superbike Championship outing this weekend after being called up to replace the injured Eugene Laverty at the Go Eleven Ducati team.
Irishman Laverty was diagnosed with fractures to both wrists following a high-side on the exit of Acqua Minerale during FP1 at Imola. He is en route to Barcelona where he will be treated by specialist Dr Mir, though it remains to be seen how long the ex-MotoGP rider will be on the sidelines.
In the meantime though, Laverty’s Go Eleven Ducati team will continue to compete this weekend but with the experienced Bridewell on board.
The Hampshire man currently competes on the Ducati Panigale V4 R in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship for the Moto Rapido-run Oxford Racing team and is enjoying a strong start to the season, with a pair of podiums las time out at Oulton Park securing him a spot at the top of the points’ leaderboard.
Bridewell, who announced he was en route to Italy via Twitter, nonetheless faces an uphill task as he is set to join the fray in time for a short FP3 session before heading straight into qualifying and the first of the weekend’s three races.
It will be Bridewell's third career WorldSBK outing after riding the Team NB Suzuki at Portimao in 2008 and the Tyco Honda at Silverstone 2010.
