BeerMonster Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell battled back to claim his second Bennetts British Superbike Championship victory of the season in the BikeSocial Sprint race at Snetterton.

Having dropped outside the top-six on the first lap from fourth on the grid, Bridewell fought back early on, at times over a second a lap faster than the leaders, and took the lead on lap six after passing McAMS Yamaha’s Jason O’Halloran and then teammate Glenn Irwin at Murrays moments later.

Despite his early pace advantage he wasn’t able to build a gap, and Irwin blasted back past at the same corner four laps later. With a lap to go, Bridewell looked to have lost his chance of challenging for victory after running deep at Brundle and putting him under pressure from FHO Racing BMW’s Josh Brookes in third.

But Bridewell reeled in his teammate on the final lap, and having closed right up at Wilson, he got a great drive down the Bentley Straight and blasted back into the lead at Brundle.

Brookes followed through into second at Murrays, and Irwin was demoted further on the run to the line as O’Halloran squeezed through to take the final spot on the podium.

Bridwell’s victory, allied to Irwin’s fourth place, means he takes an extended 17-point lead into tomorrow’s two contests in East Anglia.

Behind the top four, Oxford Products Racing Ducati’s Christian Iddon stormed from 11th on the grid to fifth, ahead of Lovell Kent Racing Honda’s Danny Kent.

Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki’s Lee Jackson converted 13th to seventh, ahead of Mar-Train Racing Yamaha’s Jack Kennedy and MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing’s Charlie Nesbitt.

McAMS Yamaha’s Tito Rabat battled at the front early on after starting third, but was eventually shuffled down to 10th place at the chequered flag, in his first race for the squad.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, BikeSocial Sprint race result, Snetterton:
1. Tommy Bridewell, BeerMonster Ducati, 12 laps
2. Josh Brookes, FHO Racing BMW Motorrad, +0.679s
3. Jason O’Halloran, McAMS Yamaha, +1.136s
4. Glenn Irwin, BeerMonster Ducati, +1.192s
5. Christian Iddon, Oxford Products Racing Ducati, +4.607s
6. Danny Kent, Lovell Kent Racing Honda, +9.646s
7. Lee Jackson, Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki, +10.828s
8. Jack Kennedy, Mar-Train Racing Yamaha, +11.694s
9. Charlie Nesbitt, MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing, +12.534s
10. Tito Rabat, McAMS Yamaha, +12.936s

Tickets for the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Snetterton are available on the gate all weekend, and children under-12 go free of charge. For more information, click here.