Tommy Bridewell “was hoping the TV wouldn’t catch” huge WorldSBK wobble

2026 WorldSBK rookie Tommy Bridewell says he was hoping his huge moment at the Portuguese WorldSBK would not be caught by the TV cameras.

Bridewell, who is making his debut as a full-time rider in World Superbike this weekend, had a moment over the crest between turns eight and nine at the start of FP1, but a much larger one at the end of FP2.

The Superbike Advocates rider explained that the moment happened because he missed a shift as he exited turn eight.

“I was hoping the TV wouldn’t catch it if I’m honest,” Bridewell laughed after FP2, speaking to WorldSBK.com.

“I missed third gear. So, what happened was I came up out of there [turn eight] and you drive up, over [shifting to] second, third [gear], and then it just calms the bike down. 

“I missed third, so it was in a high RPM and I just felt like the bike took off! 

“The problem is, is where your body is going one way and the bike’s going the other way you sort of cross over. 

“It set my airbag off and I literally came down and thought ‘I’ve had enough for today, that’ll do, we’ve had a good day’. Lucky to save that one for sure.”

The 2023 BSB champion had a positive overview of his first day of the season, in which he finished 13th in the first session and 15th in the second.

“It was entertaining, for sure,” said Bridewell.

“Honestly I think we couldn’t have hit the ground running any faster. 

“The team did a phenomenal job today for a brand new team – honestly, everyone’s sort of brand new to working with each other. 

“I haven’t rode really since last year, properly, so I feel like ‘dropped in the deep end’ isn’t even the [phrase] for it. 

“But I just rolled out and straight away I was smiling and I feel like I deserve to be here, I should be here, and I felt good.”

Bridewell added that he wants to continue progressing throughout the weekend with the Superbike Advocates team.

“I expect to progress steady,” he said. “Even if it’s not position or lap time, just for the team to progress as we build. 

“Every day for us is learning, every lap I do I progress in my riding. I’m trying to understand how to use the rear brake better, and to be honest to be a second of the fastest is not our target, it’s not where we are looking to be. 

“If I can take half-a-second off that, then all of a sudden you jump a big group, and I know we can, and I want to be in that group. 

“At the minute, we’re in the mix, we’re sort of on the tail of that group, but at least it gives me a lot of people to race with.”