TOMMY Bridewell claimed an eighth podium finish in the British Superbikes Championship this season but lost ground in the race for the title following a crash at the latest round at Snetterton.

Etchilhampton’s Bridewell failed to finish the first race at the Norfolk circuit before recovering to finish third in the second contest on his Oxford Racing Ducati bike.

Scott Redding finished on the top step of the podium on each occasion and has now strengthened his grip on the championship ahead of Bridwell behind him.

The pair had been separated by just four points after the previous round at Knockhill, but Redding has now moved onto 226 points, with Bridewell second on 188.

Speaking after his race two podium place, Bridewell said: “That race I was hampered a little bit from front-end feel, potentially from the first-race crash.

“There are no issues, but I did certainly struggle a little bit with the front, and the other guys just rode away from me.

“I need to up my game and try to get some answers and start responding. I am letting the team down a little bit, as much as they disagree.

“They are giving me a bike capable of winning and I am not delivering, so I need to sort it out and come back stronger.”

The championship resumes with round seven at Thruxton on weekend of August 2-4.