British Superbikes: Tommy Bridewell extends series lead over Glenn Irwin as Kyle Ryde wins
- Published
Team-mates Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) have ben racing in close company for much of the season
Tommy Bridewell extended his lead over Glenn Irwin at the top of the British Superbike standings by three points to 10.5 by finishing third in Saturday's 12-lap sprint race at Brands Hatch.
Irwin came through from 17th position on the grid to take fourth spot.
The race was won by OMG Yamaha rider Kyle Ryde, with Jason O'Halloran second as both riders kept their ambitions of securing the championship alive.
Ryde edged out the McAMs Yamaha rider by 0.015 seconds at the chequered flag.
Bridewell sits on 395 points ahead of Sunday's final two feature races, with Irwin on 384.5, Ryde on 368 and O'Halloran with 347.5.
Saturday's race was held on a damp track but Irwin made light of the conditions by progressing rapidly through the field to move onto the back wheel of his PBM Ducati team-mate.
Despite his best efforts, the Northern Irishman was unable to pass the English competitor to clinch a podium place and reduce his deficit in the standings.
Ryde led throughout apart from a brief spell at the start of the final circuit when O'Halloran hit the front.
All four title contenders are chasing their first British Superbike Championship success.
Bridewell has finished third in the series on three occasions and was runner-up in 2021 while Irwin was second overall last season, third in 2018 and fourth in 2020.
The 33-year-old has also tasted success in public roads racing, accumulating eight North West 200 Superbike race victories and a Macau Grand Prix triumph, as well as becoming the fastest newcomer at the Isle of Man TT in 2022.
Irwin is bidding to become the first Northern Ireland rider ever to win the BSB crown.
A championship win for either Irwin or Bridewell would be particularly poignant given the recent death of their team boss Paul Bird.