Ducati rider Tommy Bridewell on sheep, tractors, aeroplanes and property

After 20 races in the Superbike World Championship as a guest or stand-in rider, Tommy Bridewell is competing in his first full season in the World Championship this year. Although even that isn’t entirely accurate, as his team, Advocates Racing, decided late on to enter the World Championship and therefore missed the season opener in Australia.

When the Englishman made his debut at Portimão on the Ducati V4R, he was 37 years old – only Álvaro Bautista, at 41, is older. Bridewell has since caught up and celebrated his 38th birthday a few days ago, on 6 August.

Be that as it may: Bridewell is a good 17 years younger than his fellow rookies Alberto Surra (22/Ducati) and Mattia Rato (21/Yamaha) and is one of the oldest rookies in the series. The veteran’s daily routine is correspondingly different. “I suppose I have a completely different lifestyle to most other riders. I come home and the next day I’m either out on my tractor or feeding the sheep, mowing the grass or doing physical work,” Bridewell revealed. “There was quite a lot to do on my tractor. As soon as I got back from Donington, I went straight into the barn and took it apart. I’ve actually only just finished that.”

Bridewell also shares a rather unusual hobby with Carlos Checa and Marco Melandri. “Flying. Not many people know this, but I actually started flying back in 2015,” explained the amateur farmer. “I wanted to get my private pilot’s licence, but then everything got mixed up – the pandemic, my racing career and various other commitments. I haven’t flown since about 2022, but I’ve recently started again, and I’m really enjoying it. We also renovate properties and do that sort of thing – there’s always something going on!”

These varied pursuits help the Englishman maintain a sense of balance. “I’ve been very lucky never to have lacked self-confidence. And as far as mental preparation goes, I don’t go to a mental coach or anything like that,” smiles Bridewell. “I just know in the depths of my heart that if I work hard enough and never give up, then I’ve earned success. And if that success ultimately eludes me, then I also know that there’s nothing more I can do on my part.”