Oxford Racing Ducati rider Tommy Bridewell has revealed he’d hoped to lure some of his rivals out on fresh rubber when he set an early banker in today’s Bennetts British Superbike qualifying.

The hometown hero jumped to the top of the timesheets with two-and-a-half minutes of today’s session to run, before eventually being relegated to second by Be Wiser Ducati’s Scott Redding.

Bridewell’s hot lap came after he made an earlier tour of the track on used tyres, a strategy he and the team opted to use when rain hit.

“When they extended the time to 12 minutes we made a really mega call to go back out on my old tyres. I just wanted to do a sighting lap, one lap as a worst case banker and then an in-lap,” he said.

I kind of knew that doing that I would maybe lure a couple of guys to perhaps come out on their new tyres.

“I came in and got new tyres and then kind of just had the mentality of just do one lap; a one lap, all in kind of scenario.”

Bridewell’s all or nothing lap almost paid off as his name went straight to the top of the timings but it wasn’t to last, as Redding came out moments later and knocked him down to second.

However, he admits that although he was disappointed not to take the top spot at his home track, he was still relieved to bank an all-important front row.

“I made a few mistakes on that lap so I was happy to still be in the 14s but it just wasn’t enough. It’s my home race, it’s the team’s home race so it’s good to get on the front row.

“The front row was always the target and we’re here. Obviously pole is always nice but hopefully our hard work will pay off tomorrow…we’ll see at the end of the race.”