British Superbikes: PBM team go from united to divided after Oulton Park

[weeksy]

https://www.crash.net/bsb/race-report/1 ... ulton-park

Tommy Bridwell dug in to pull a win out of a difficult weekend but Glenn Irwin’s double after a much discussed safety car backed up with a third podium visit saw him leave Oulton Park as championship leader after the first round of the British Superbikes Showdown.

The BeerMonster Ducati riders had been fairly equal on podiums and wins all season and already arrived with just 14.5 points as the distance between the duo.

That shrunk when, in a weekend all about their team following the death of PBM team manager Paul Bird, Irwin landed the first blow - able to take sprint victory after Bridewell took himself up the run off at the chicane instead of hitting his teammate.

The tense atmosphere was amplified after the much talked about safety car incident in race two - the #46 was ahead at the time of it’s deployment for Storm Stacey’s crash and a muddle behind saw riders shoot in all directions as Bridewell backed them up at the restart.

Although in control of the start as the car peeled off, it was decided his actions were too unsafe and he was handed a long lap penalty. As the race was close to it’s conclusion Bridewell crossed the line first. The pack closing in behind the car meant the penalty, applied in time instead, was severe - the three added seconds dropping him to sixth - while also elevating irwin to a second win.

Words off track from Irwin caused a frosty atmosphere between the pair, and drove the Wiltshire based rider to a dominant final race performance to ensure Irwin did not earn a treble at the Cheshire track as the PBM team dominated the meet regardless of their differences.

‘I’m sad because it’s turned messy, I’m not going to sugar coat it.’
Bridewell was not only fighting for his championship hopes, but to be able to dedicate a win to the late Paul Bird:

“It’s been a tough weekend, not just for me but for the whole team, for the family, everyone involved. It’s been lovely to see the tributes that the British Superbike paddock and the paddock itself - it’s obviously hooked to Paul, very well deserved as well, it’s difficult to have all of that going on, a lot of people here, bike liveries and all that flying the flag for such a phenomenal icon in the sport who’s dedicated so much.

The Ducati rider also touched on the change in the garage, with the pair firmly pitted against each other:

I’m sad because it’s turned messy, I’m not going to sugar coat it, there’s no love lost between me and Glenn, he’s obviously done his talking off track and I’ve done my talking on track. It is a great, great shame.

I felt like earlier I took the penalty, within reason, on the chin. I feel like I’m still the very deserved double race winner today, and that’s what I leave today as - the double race winner.

But yes, we’ve lost a few points, honestly im not that bothered. It’s been a tough weekend I’ve not felt amazing on the bike all weekend and I’ve had to work hard for it.”

The race itself for the most part was high drama with the pair swapping position constantly, before Bridewell found another level and pulled away:

“That was a good race I think, to be fair, and probably to watch! It was going to be messy - Glenn was riding well and I was riding with my head, without the desperation. I felt like I ran a good clean race. When I wanted to I was able to bang down into the low 34s, it wasn’t massively difficult, I was trying to save my tyre to a point.

‘You can come out and go completely banzai here’
For his part, Irwin understood the importance of the Showdown format and the extra points it yields, and used that to his advantage:

“I think that system worked for me this weekend, I’ve been able to grab three podiums its been an unbelievable weekend, there’s been a lot of emotion before we came here.

It’s a bit of a cliche, we say ‘we work our asses off’, I guess we all do but when the team work as hard as you work if not harder you get results and reap the rewards”.

The events before race three had seen him already take over in the overall standings, but in a season where both Ducati riders have been equally matched, it seems fitting that they leave seperated by only half a point:

“The championship lead is nice - it’s always a nice position to be in as such. It is certainly better than where it was, I think nine races ago, when I was 38.5 points behind and we still have that one additional DNF. So to be in the lead, pretty much all square like, with the extra DNF is something that pleases me a lot.

The last race went Bridewell’s way and despite the atmosphere between the two, the #2 took the time to credit Bridewell for his dominant conclusion to the race:

“Hats off to Tommy, he rode a great last race, thoroughly enjoyable.

Pure I think - energy - you can come out and go completely banzai here , the other guy usuually comes with you anyway! His last couple of laps were really, really strong, I was working hard….I was beat fair and square in the race at that point".

[Bustaspoke]

Considering their personalities I'm surprised that they've got this far into the season before the cracks started to show.
I think Tommy was unlucky getting penalised for the safety car incident,you just knew that he'd be wound up for that last race.
It should make for some interesting team dynamics for the last two rounds,in at the deep end for the new team manager!
I reckon the O show's season has once again fallen apart at Oulton Park,yet Jacko,whose ride was taken by O'halloran had a good round,he seems to be the 'Best of the rest' over the last couple of rounds.
Good to see Dean Harrison go so well on the R6 in Supersport

[Yorick]

I watched all the races and the replays of the incident. And interviews with other riders.
Everyone agreed that Tommy's action was dangerous and nearly caused a pile up.
I've always liked him, but he's a prat for not putting his hand up and accepting he did wrong.

He got a penalty coz his actions were dangerous.

Bigger and better riders than him have admitted mistakes.

[Yorick]

Good to see Dean Harrison go so well on the R6 in Supersport

Why wasn't he still in the Superbikes?

[Bustaspoke]

I think he split with DAO after the TT,Brayden Elliot was riding S/Stock for them & they moved him up to the superbike.
Rumour has it that Dean's riding for Honda next season,but I don't think it's been confirmed yet.

[Bigyin]

I am amazed Bridewell thinks he did nothing wrong on the safety car restart as it was the most obvious bit of stupid riding i have seen in ages. He let the car get ahead but not enough then hit the gas. Once he realized he was catching it he backed right off with some heavy braking added in and it was a miracle and down to divine intervention and some excellent reflexes by those behind that it didnt end up in a massive pile up.

To then run round after the flag and give the middle finger to race control as he came in and spit his dummy out of the cot was pathetic to see. I have liked him as a character over the years and i know he wears his heart on his sleeve but his post race interviews about things being manipulated against him in the championship by "them" and that he was the true double race winner lost him a lot of respect.

He fucked up and was lucky not to be hit from behind by multiple bikes yet makes out he is the victim ...very poor IMO and all his chat about "War in the garages within the team" wouldnt have been tolerated by Birdy which is another huge disrespect to the team

[Yorick]

I am amazed Bridewell thinks he did nothing wrong on the safety car restart as it was the most obvious bit of stupid riding i have seen in ages. He let the car get ahead but not enough then hit the gas. Once he realized he was catching it he backed right off with some heavy braking added in and it was a miracle and down to divine intervention and some excellent reflexes by those behind that it didnt end up in a massive pile up.

To then run round after the flag and give the middle finger to race control as he came in and spit his dummy out of the cot was pathetic to see. I have liked him as a character over the years and i know he wears his heart on his sleeve but his post race interviews about things being manipulated against him in the championship by "them" and that he was the true double race winner lost him a lot of respect.

He fucked up and was lucky not to be hit from behind by multiple bikes yet makes out he is the victim ...very poor IMO and all his chat about "War in the garages within the team" wouldnt have been tolerated by Birdy which is another huge disrespect to the team

Yeah. Birdy would have given him a reet bollocking.
And his actions are an insult to Birdy and every single one of the team who are still hurting.