TOMMY Bridewell believes he can be British Superbike champion after teaming up with Bennetts Suzuki Halsall Racing.

The Etchilhampton racer, who finished third overall in 2014, was disappointed to see that progress take a backwards step in 2015 when he finished sixth with the Tyco Honda team.

However, after linking back up with Martin Halsall, for whom he rode for with the Halsall Racing Kawasaki team in 2013, the 27-year-old now believes he can challenge for the title next year.

“I think we are capable of winning races and fighting for the championship,” Bridewell told the Gazette & Herald.

“Next year there are no excuses and I should be fighting for the British Superbike Championship.

“The competition is very high but I have the experience and the team behind me with Suzuki and the bike and we have got the right infrastructure.

“I have got a team behind me that believe in me and want me there. A fresh start is what I needed for numerous reasons. I didn’t anywhere near meet my expectations of where I should have been this year.

“For me to go forwards there was no other option bar to change that I felt would put me in a position to fight for the championship.

“From coming off the back of finishing third in the championship in 2014, we were on an older bike and going onto the new BMW I fully expected to be fighting for the championship, which wasn’t the case.

“It was just disappointing. We didn’t get anywhere near as many wins or podiums as we should.

“I had made my own mind up that I wasn’t happy or comfortable where I was so I needed to make a change and then started looking within the last three rounds of the championship.

“Martin (Halsall) and I have worked together before and he has got a good strong team behind him now and it was quite an easy deal to get done.”

That relationship with Halsall was a key part to Bridewell’s decision and the team boss made it clear he wanted the Wiltshire rider on board.

“I get on really well with Martin and he is a genuine, down-to-earth sort of guy,” added Bridewell.

“He is a self-made wealthy chap and he appreciates his position in his team and it makes it nice to work with someone like that who does it for the passion. He doesn’t get anything out of it apart from the love and enjoyment.”

Bridewell will be joined by three-time British Superbike champion Ryuichi Kiyonari and thinks the pair can bring the best out of each other in the coming season.

“Kiyo gets criticised where he has been a bit up and down in his results in seasons but the bottom line is that he has got three British Superbike Championships to his name,” he said.

“You cannot believe how hard that is so I take my hat off to him. If we can get the fast Kiyo then he should be very good for me to chase and push all the way. I fully expect to see both Bennetts Suzuki bikes up at the front.”