WILTSHIRE rider Tommy Bridewell is convinced he still has a part to play in this season’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship as he maps out his next move following his shock departure from Halsall Racing last weekend.

Etchilhampton rider Bridewell was surprisingly released by Halsall team on the eve of the fourth leg of the series at Snetterton.

Bridewell had managed eighth place finishes at the Brands Indy and Oulton Park rounds for the team this season and was just outside the top 10 in the overall standings going into the Norfolk meeting, only to be axed just minutes before qualifying.

A brief Halsall Racing statement said the 29 year old’s contract with the Suzuki squad had been terminated after "recent disagreements", adding: "Halsall Racing and Tommy Bridewell have a long relationship dating back to 2013, and we have experienced some of our finest results with him on our machines.

"However, under the current situation we feel that we have no option but to go our separate ways."

Speaking to the Gazette & Herald, Bridewell admitted little light had been shed on his exit, but believes he will be back racing soon as he aims to stay in contention for the end of season Showdown over the final three weekends of the campaign.

"It was a shock for definite," he said. "To be honest, I’m still relatively baffled by the whole situation. I genuinely still don’t have any answers or understanding of it. It’s peculiar.

"Thirty minutes before qualifying I received a message from Colin Wright (team manager) to say I’m no longer wanted to ride the bike. It certainly left me high and dry for definite."

Despite the Halsall statement hinting there had been disagreements between rider and team, Bridewell believes he was positioning himself well for a late-season assault on honours.

"For the championship, I have just been keeping my nose clean, scoring points whereby I know I could have got the bike ready for having a good late fight for the Showdown," he added.

"Ultimately, I went into Snetterton only 20-odd points off the Showdown. These first three rounds I was very focused on finishing races and scoring points. It was a great shame that’s all been potentially wasted by them.

"I’ve conducted myself in a professional manner in the way I work and I’ll continue to do that. But it is frustrating, I must say."

The next round of the championship takes place at Knockhill in Scotland from July 6-8 and Bridewell said: "I’m still working on some bits. It’s ultimately getting the right option that is going to give me the best potential. That’s the plan.

"It’s just getting stuff confirmed sooner rather than later and we’ll see how it pans out."