Superbikes: Crocked Tommy Bridewell hopes to make a speedy return from his broken leg within three weeks -but concedes even that will be too late to save his title dream.
The 19-year-old from Etchilhampton -whose brother Ollie was killed in a British Superbikes crash -fractured his right tibia after being knocked off on his Italian Superbikes debut last month.
Bridewell is planning to return to race for Great Britain in the GSX-R 750 European Cup in Germany in three weeks' time.
But he says he is now too far behind his rivals in that competition and the Italian Superbike Championship to mount a title charge.
Bridewell said: "I'm struggling a bit with my knee at the moment, I can't get it straight, but I'm hoping I will be okay to have a ride out at Castle Combe in a couple of weeks before racing in the European Cup a week later.
"I'm 100 per cent focused on getting back for that, and there's no reason I shouldn't make it if I keep working hard on my physio.
"But I'd need a miracle to win the Italian championship now, which is a great shame because I feel I was riding well and would have had a good chance if I hadn't got injured.
"And the European Cup is in the third or fourth round now too, so I can't win that either unfortunately."
But the starlet believes he can use his pressure-free mentality to his advantage when he makes it back onto the track.
Bridewell said: "I've got nothing to lose now, I'm just planning to have a bit of fun and try to win some races.
"When I get back on the superbike I'm aiming to get right up the front again.
"I was consistently high up before so I don't want to be dropping down to 15th or anything like that.
"I want to get off to a good start and be straight up there at the sharp end."
Bridewell's injury came as a disappointing end to a successfull week last month, as his fall from his Suzuki GSX-R1000 on the second bend came after he had made a flying start from eighth on the grid.
It was a heart-stopping moment for his mum Liz and dad Marcus, as it brought back memories of 21-year-old Ollie's tragic death last July at Mallory Park in a practice session for round nine of the British Superbike Championship.
Tommy said after the fall: "I was just hoping I wouldn't get hit by 30 riders."
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