Tommy Bridewell has admitted he didn’t expect his front row start for tomorrow’s opening Bennetts British Superbike race because he feared he didn’t have the pace.
The Oxford Racing Ducati rider believes he must make some changes overnight to improve in sector three, a part of the track which has proved to be a tricky point for him so far this weekend.
With a best lap 0.276secs behind polesitter Josh Brookes, the Devizes swearbox will line up third on the grid tomorrow, something he didn’t expect when he hit the track this afternoon.
“If I'm honest I didn’t' think I quite had the pace to do that,” he said. “I just had to really dig deep there. I know here, of all circuits you've really got to dig deep.
“The bike is phenomenal, I'm falling in love with it even more every time I ride it and the team's doing a phenomenal job, but I just can't quite say it's clicking as I'd like it to. I'm not quite as comfortable as I'd like to be.
“In sector one and two we're strong, it's just sector three – she's taking some time. In sector one we're on rails, sector two I can hold my own but sector three it's really hard work.”
He may still have some work to do, but Bridewell is happy overall this evening, not least because he knows a front row grid spot is almost vital at Cadwell.
“This race can be determined a little bit from qualifying at this circuit. If you qualify poorly then it’s hard, very hard work to get through. I think this puts us in good stead so let’s just see what happens.”