Thruxton: Round 4
It was a tough weekend for the Oxford Products Ducati Racing team and Tommy Bridewell at Thruxton Circuit. Tommy was able to bring the Ducati home in 10th, 12th and 18th places respectively.
It was certainly challenging all weekend with mixed weather conditions and a circuit Tommy has always struggled at previously.
The team worked exceptionally hard to try and find a set-up that worked well for him around the super-fast Thruxton track. They made a drastic change for qualifying which unsettled the bike and rider and he was only able to qualify for race one in 18th place only managing four laps.
It was a big ask in the race but they made some changes and got the Ducati working well, he pushed hard to secure 10th on Saturday in race one. That put him in 15th for race two on Sunday. Tommy is still struggling a little off the start but once he got his head down he was in a battle for 8th but it was tight and he had to settle for 12th at the end of the 20 laps.
The heavens opened shortly before race three and tyre choice was always going to but key on what is a very grippy track. The team selected full wets but the track dried quickly and Tommy was really struggling for grip so pulled into the pits and swapped for a slick rear, by the time he got back out on track he had lost too much time and finished in 18th place and sadly no Championship points. He is however, still lying in 5th in the overall Championship tables and there is a lot of points still to play for, roll on Donington.
Tommy Bridewell: “It was a really difficult weekend with limited track time. Thruxton isn’t a circuit I’ve ever really gelled with, it doesn’t suit my riding style and just couldn’t get the feeling from the bike that I wanted and needed. It was a tricky weekend but we move onto Donington which is a track I love and we just have to put this one behind us and move on. It was hard but we’ll come back stronger.”
Moto3
The lads showed amazing Pace in the opening practices with Ryan Hitchcock making his way to 4th before crashing and unfortunately breaking his arm putting him out for the weekend. He should be fit and back on the bike for the Silverstone British GP round at the end of August.
Ollie Walker qualified 4th and held his own amongst the top five guys but due to a stone in the radiator and loss of power he finished 5th, good news was he set the second quickest lap time putting him front row for Sundays race.
Sunday came and the heavens opened and for these very lite Moto3 bike the ponding water was too much and the race was cancelled and due to be run at Donington in a weeks’ time.