Tragedy leaves Ollie's brother numb

Ollie Bridewell, 21, from Etchilhampton, died from head and neck injuries after coming off his bike during practice for Round Nine of the British Superbike Championships at Mallory Park on Friday.

Tommy, who was Ollie's teammate for Team Naturally Best, was in the pit garage when he first heard of Ollie's accident at the Esses on the Leicestershire track. Soon afterwards he was told by course medic Toby Branfoot that his big brother had died.

"It came up number 46 had crashed and then the red flags came out, so I thought it wasn't good," he said.

"Your heart drops a beat. When you are first told you don't find it that hard because you don't actually believe it.

"It took a while to kick in and realise he had gone.

"I can't remember exactly the last thing I said to him, but I think it was, it is quite wet out there so watch out'."

Tommy, who works at the family's Wayside Garage in Etchilhampton, is holding on to the memories of growing up with Ollie and believes it is the smaller moments which he will cherish.

"I couldn't have asked for anything more from him," he said.

"If we ever went out for a drink I was with him.

"It is the simple things you find hard, like waking up and not seeing him reading his magazines at breakfast.

"When he was 12 or 13 we would be driving up and down the road on bikes when mum and dad were not about.

"We had a lot of support when we were racing but a lot of people didn't like us when we used to go up on Etchilhampton Hill with bikes and make a lot of noise."

He is immensely proud of Ollie, who was also a keen jetskier, and is drawing great strength from his time with him.

"I was always proud of him. I used to look up to him as a racer and as my brother," he said.

"The memories can make you stronger.

"Me and dad were saying Ollie would not want us to be crying all the time and we know he is still down here with us.

"We had a good relationship and this was the first year we were teammates, so it was nice to look towards the pit garage and see your brother there.

"We always used to have banter, like every brother does. But it never used to mean anything and we'd forget about it within an hour."

Tributes have been pouring in for the popular racer.

Tommy, as well as dad Marcus, mum Liz and sister Charlotte, have been overwhelmed.

"All the cards and flowers prove how many people like him, I don't think we realised how big he was in racing," Tommy said.

"He always had time to stop and chat to anyone inside or outside of racing and that is why he had so many fans."

Following the accident, Tommy, who played football with his brother every Wednesday, has withdrawn from Superbikes and all kinds of racing for the year as he comes to terms with the devastating loss.

He said he could not face going near a bike for the time being.

"I'm going to take a back seat for the rest of 2007. It will be nice to get away from it for a year," he said.

Now the 18-year-old is rebuilding a Mini and intends to make it a fitting tribute to his brother.

"Ollie always wanted to put an R1 engine (180 horsepower) into a Mini," he said.

"I've just ordered some parts for it.

"The rear chassis cost £8,000 but I could not care if it was £50,000, it does not matter.

"We are going to paint it in Ollie's racing colours and have 46 on it.

"Once it's finished, we will go to Castle Combe, thrash it around and have some fun.

"Ollie would not have wanted it to be built and then stay in the garage being kept clean."