Tommy Bridewell will fly the flag for the Honda Racing UK team this weekend as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship returns to the TT Circuit Assen as Andrew Irwin recovers from surgery to his arm after crashing out at the previous round at Donington Park.
2023 champion Bridewell is pushing to return to the podium with the team, bidding to add to his record a circuit where he is relishing the challenge once again.
Bridewell said: “I think it’s really good for BSB to shake things up and go back to Assen after six years, obviously we couldn’t go there in Covid times but I was pleased to see it back on the calendar for this season. It’s a place I’ve always run well at, and it’s somewhere that really challenges you to be on top of your game.
“The track is super-grippy, really fast and flowing until the last little bit of the lap, and it just makes you want to push as hard as you can. It’s a good atmosphere, the locals love racing and I’m sure that a fair few BSB fans will be making the trip because it’s such a good experience. I’m motivated, I’m giving it my absolute all out there, and so we’ll see what we’ve got to work with and improve where we need to.”
Irwin said: “Honestly, I am so disappointed not to be riding when we go back to Assen, it’s a circuit that everyone remembers so well and it’s a real pleasure to race on. But there is a bigger picture for me and when I went for further examination of the knock I picked up at Donington it became clear that there was a little more going on there than we first thought. Last weekend I had surgery to correct what was actually a fairly significant injury, and my medical team is pleased with the results.
“My aim now is to get properly healed before I can get back to where I have been in the past few rounds, having got myself and the bike into a string of podium finishes and to be challenging for wins. I hate to interrupt the progress we’ve made this summer, but at least we do that knowing it’s the best option for my health and career. Meanwhile I’ll be at Assen to support the team in every way I can and, of course, to cheer on my team-mates.”
Honda Racing also confirmed that Havier Beltran has left Honda employment. All operational questions should be referred to Neil Fletcher, Head of Racing Honda Motor Europe.
Team Principal Neil Fletcher commented: “It’s tremendous for BSB to make a long-awaited return to Assen. Everything about the venue screams world-class motorcycle racing, the facilities are excellent and for the British fans in particular it’s been a long time that they’ve had to wait to make the crossing.
“Obviously, this interruption in Andrew’s run of form lately is not what we want to see. But it is absolutely the right decision to have made, and for him to have undergone the surgery to his arm that will ensure he is in the best place when he returns to racing. In the meantime, we have a Supersport title within reach with Jack and we will continue to push forward in BSB to give Tommy the best chance of adding to his total of wins in 2025."