WILTSHIRE rider Tommy Bridewell scored a 10th-placed finish on his Bennetts Suzuki debut as the 2016 MCE British Superbike season roared into life at Silverstone.

The Etchilhampton rider was eight seconds off the lead and one position ahead of teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari, who was pushing for a top-seven finish before a mistake.

Unfortunately, a tyre gamble in race two didn’t pay off for Bridewell, who was unable to maintain his early pace for the full race and eventually dropped back to 16th.

Bridewell said: “Well that didn’t work as I’d hoped. With about nine laps to go, the tyre just dropped off and was wheel-spinning all over the place.

“It was fun, but not ideal for going fast. It was good at the start and I felt good, but once it went off, I couldn’t keep the times up.

“The results aren’t great and I am disappointed, but I can also feel the difference with the changes we’ve made in each session.

“The bike’s feeling really good and I’ve felt good on it, but it’s just not come together this weekend.

“I’m looking forward to Oulton now and we’ll go again from there.”

Team owner Martin Halsall added: “The results haven’t been great but I’ve never seen two riders so positive.

"He (Bridewell) and the team tried something in race two. It didn't come off, but that’s sometimes the way it goes.

“But over the course of the whole weekend, he’s worked hard to keep improving the bike, and the feeling he has is very good."

The second round of the British Superbike Championship takes place at Oulton Park on April 30-May 2.