TOMMY Bridewell reflected on a frustrating opening to the 2014 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as he claimed top ten finishes in both races at Brands Hatch on Monday.

Etchilhampton rider Bridewell finished seventh and ninth for his Milwaukee Yamaha outfit as teammate Josh Brookes clinched a podium finish after bouncing back from a first-race crash to secure second in race two.

Bridewell said: “We didn’t have the pace to be up there fighting in the races today and we need to have a look at our settings so that we can come back stronger at Oulton Park.

"We made a good start in the races but then we just couldn’t match the leaders and that was disappointing for me. I couldn’t have ridden any harder today and I am now ready to focus with the team on how we can rectify the pace we had here ready for the next round.

"Seventh place in the standings is still points towards our championship, so it could have been worse, but I have my goals and winning is one of them.”

Team owner Shaun Muir added: “Overall it has been quite a frustrating weekend for Milwaukee Yamaha after our strong pre-season testing campaign and also our good start in free practice.

"Before qualifying both riders had the pace to be fighting for podiums but four crashes put us on the back foot

" Josh tried to dominate from the start in race one and just lost the front and crashed however he showed his real strength in character to be fighting again in race two for the podium finish.

"Today Tommy had two difficult races but we know that he will come back stronger.”

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