Emotional win seals Bridewell's title battle spot

Tommy Bridewell confirmed his place in the 2014 MCE British Superbike Championship Title Showdown in style with a well-deserved, long awaited maiden victory at Cadwell Park.

Though achieved in somewhat fortuitous circumstances after an unexpected red flag counted-back to the order across the line when he had nosed ahead by a mere 0.005secs by virtue of getting a better run out of the corner, the popular victory comes after several seasons of hard graft and challenges.

Indeed, having received his big break by joining Milwaukee Yamaha this season - having shown well with small-budget privateer teams previously -, Bridewell has nonetheless endured a difficult year at times on the YZF-R1.

However, victory at Cadwell Park has given him a massive boost, Bridewell going to on to dedicate victory to his late brother Ollie Bridewell, who was tragically killed in an accident whilst competing in BSB in 2007.

"It is fantastic for me to get this first win," he said. "I have been trying so hard to push throughout my career with so much effort going into it and you have good and bad days and this is one of the good ones. I am feeling emotional about this victory and I want to dedicate it to my brother Ollie.

Furthermore, the result - which he then followed up with a third place finish in race two -, has not only broken his long awaited victory duck, but has had the effect of firming his place in the Title Showdown for the second time in three years.

"If someone would have told me before this weekend that I would have had a win and a third place I would have bitten their arm off for it. That second race was a hard one because it was really wet and you were finding the grip but the crowd has been amazing.

"I got my first win and now we have got our place in the Showdown confirmed we can chill out a little bit ready for Donington. It had been a bit stressful to get that boxed off but tonight I am going to put my feet up and relax with a cup of tea!"