Tommy Bridewell will compete with the Paul Bird Motorsport Ducati team for the 2023 British Superbike Championship season as he seeks to secure an elusive BSB title for the first time.
One of BSB’s most experienced competitors, the fan favourite has established himself as a perennial front runner since his debut in 2010 with six appearances to his name in the Title Showdown, peaking in 2021 with his run to second overall behind champion Tarran Mackenzie.
While his most successful campaigns have come in recent years as part of the Moto Rapido [Oxford Racing] Ducati squad, for 2023 Bridewell will embark on a fresh challenge with the factory-aligned Paul Bird Motorsport team.
Citing PBM’s track record as a multiple title-winning outfit for making the switch, Bridewell has his sights set firmly on becoming a BSB champion for the first time.
“This is my best shot at winning the title with a team that knows all about winning British Championships. I’ve known the team for a long time and this represents a fantastic opportunity as I’ve strived for years to beat them.
“There was a consensus that we should work together and PBM can guide me towards our goal. I’m confident in my riding and the team can give me the technical support I need. The job comes with added pressure but it’s one I'm relishing.”
While the 2022 BSB campaign was a sobering one for PBM after failing to reach the Title Showdown for the first time with two-time champion Josh Brookes and 2013 WorldSBK champion Tom Sykes, eponymous team owner Paul Bird is thrilled to be bringing Bridewell on board.
“I’m delighted to have Tommy joining the team for 2023. He came up to me in the paddock as a 15-year-old when he was just starting out and told me he would ride for me one day and now it’s going to happen.
“He’s done a great job on a Ducati over these past couple of years and has been one of our toughest rivals so to have him on board with us is fantastic and we can’t wait to get started.”
While eight victories from a mammoth 359 BSB starts may appear scant on paper, Bridewell has earned a reputation as one of the series’ most steadfastly consistent riders in the series, as demonstrated by an impressive tally of 61 podiums.
After making the Title Showdown for the first time in 2012 as part of the unfancied Italian-flagged Supersonic BMW outfit, Bridewell repeated the feat in 2014 with Milwaukee Yamaha and again in 2015 with Tyco BMW.
He has since finished inside the top three on a trio of occasions - in 2019, 2021 and 2022 - as part of the single-rider Oxford Racing Ducati squad.
