TOMMY Bridewell was delighted to help his Bennetts Suzuki Halsall Racing team prove their pedigree by clinching his first podium finish of the season last weekend.

After disappointing results in the opening two rounds of this year’s British Superbikes Championship season, the 27-year-old, from Etchilhampton, roared back to top form at round three at Brand’s Hatch, securing a third-placed finish in race one on Saturday before following that up by coming fourth in race two the following day.

Bridewell, who was third overall in the 2014 BSB Championship, also hit a host of landmarks with his podium result, sealing Halsall Racing’s first appearance on the rostrum with Suzuki and the manufacturer’s first top-three finish since Josh Waters’ victory at Assen during the 2014 season.

Wiltshire speedster Bridewell says that lady luck played her part in his Brands success but hopes that last weekend’s result has given his new team, who he joined in the lead-up to the current campaign, a major lift.

“When you have a good result like that, everybody’s buzzing in the pits afterwards and everyone was joking and laughing when we were packing up on Saturday night,” said Bridewell.

“It was really nice to get that result, especially for the team and the crew, who have worked hard all season.

“I’ve always felt like the bike and the team were good enough to do well this season, and I don’t think that me being good enough is in doubt.

“We struggled in the first two rounds but at Oulton Park (on April 30 to May 2), we were doing alright until the conditions changed.

“I think we’ve got a setting right for when it’s dry and when it’s raining but when it was mixed conditions, we couldn’t deal with that.

“Luckily, the conditions stayed the same and we were able to get things right.

“I’ve been working hard with my training and I feel really fit. The team are all happy and hopefully we can build on this for the next round.”

Round four of the 2016 BSB season takes place at Knockhill on June 24-26.

Meanwhile, fellow Wiltshire racer Fraser Rogers was also in action at Brands, with the 20-year-old, from Hullavington, finishing sixth in the third round of the National Superstock 1000 Championship for Morello Racing.