ETCHILHAMPTON'S Tommy Bridewell has been handed the a World Superbikes wildcard to the British leg of the series at Sliverstone next month, writes HOWARD LLOYD.

Bridewell will race the ex-Gregorio Lavilla Honda Fireblade against some of the world's best riders and will join seven other British riders contesting their home round.

And he believes he is finally getting back to his best after picking up two top 10 finishes from three races during MCE Insurance British Superbike round seven at Snetterton.

The 21-year-old was faced with three outings, as opposed to two, at the Norfolk circuit with the abandoned second race from round six at Knockhill rescheduled for Saturday afternoon.

By then Bridewell had suffered a high-speed practice crash but recovered to qualify for Sunday’s races in 16th before taking the chequered flag in the first race in tenth.

The Quay Garage Honda rider improved to finish sixth in race two less than a day later – his highest finish since round four at Cadwell Park back in May.

Disaster struck as Bridewell was forced into the pits after 13 laps of the third and final race but he still insisted that he is beginning to feel like himself again.

“We are making real progress as a team and I feel I am back to full fitness and in good form – and that is the first time I have felt like that for a long time,” said Bridewell.

“I have had a few crashes, including one during practice at Snetterton, which did ruffle me up a little bit, but we are back on form now and I am really hopeful we can keep it going.

“It was good fun – the last few laps of the second race seemed to go on for quite a while because I was fighting for some good positions but I enjoyed it.

“I was in a good position and I knew I had some good riders fighting behind me so I really had to work hard and pull out all the stops just to stay where I was and keep them all behind me.”

Bridewell picked up 16 points for his efforts at Snetterton and maintains his standing in 11th overall – just four points behind Swan Honda rider James Ellison in tenth.

The Devizes’ rider will now take a three-week break from the track before round eight next month and is adamant he can challenge for bigger and better finishes at Brands Hatch.

“To be honest there is a group of five or so who are just racing their own race each round at the top,” he added.

“After that, there’s the group with me in it, and even if I come out on top with that lot it’s just not good enough for me coming in ten or 15 seconds behind the leaders.

“It should be half that at the most and in the next races I just want to try and keep up with the frontrunners and just match their pace.”

British Eurosport 2 will be broadcasting every round of the 2010 MCE British Superbike Championship. The channel is available on Sky 411 & Virgin Media 525.

FULL STORY ON BRIDEWELL'S WORLD SUPERBIKES CHANCE IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD