Lincolnshire’s Honda Racing UK have added to their 2024 Bennetts British Superbike line-up, in the form of the 2023 champion, Tommy Bridewell, in a somewhat surprising announcement.
Bridewell moves to the Louth-based team from Beermonster Ducati, otherwise known as Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM).
This comes two and a half weeks after Honda Racing UK’s initial line-up.
The rumour mill has been swirling for quite some time and heightened after Bridewell’s personal statement last week that he would be leaving the PBM team.
The move may come as a shock to many purely due to the apparent difference in quality between the Honda and the Ducati superbikes.
Bridewell took eight race wins and 18 podiums in 2023 and is wanting to defend his championship onboard the Honda.
Speaking to his new team’s website, he said: “I have achieved my championship goals and now I am entirely focused on defending the title. I am coming here to Honda to do just that, to win another championship.”
Bridewell has also revealed that he will use the number one plate champions are able to use, in 2024: “Getting to ride a new bike is also really motivating and I am proud to run the number one plate for next season.”
Honda Racing UK’s Team Manager, Havier Beltran firmly established what the team’s goals are in 2024. He said: “I am certainly not alone in saying that I cannot wait to see what he [Tommy Bridewell] is capable of achieving on our new Fireblade. Our target in 2024 is clear, we are going racing to win and to fight for the title.”
Neil Fletcher, who is the Head of Motorcyles for Honda UK echoes these remarks.
He said: “To combine forces with a rider of Tommy’s calibre highlights Honda’s intentions for the 2024 season and I am thrilled to warmly welcome him into the fold. I am immensely proud that he has signed with Honda and honoured that he has decided to run the number 1 plate on his Fireblade next year.”
Image Credit: Honda Racing UK