Tommy Bridewell says he never thought securing the Bennetts BSB Riders’ Cup was poss🌸ible following a mid-season team switch to Moto Rapido Ducati as he hints at his 2019 plans.

The Wiltshire rider has rated the BSB Riders’ Cup – the prize awarded to the rider at the top of the standings behind the top six Show꧋down contenders – as one of his best feats in the series having endured a difficult campaign.

Bridewell split from the Movuno.com Halsall Racing Suzuki squad midway through the Snetterton round in June, meaning he missed 🃏the Knockhill round, but returned to action at the summer Brands Hatch GP round with Moto Rapido Ducati.

The Wiltshire-based rider rediscovered his front-running paceꦡ on the Ducati Panigale R to climb up the order, reaching the podium at both Oulton Park races before following it up with a double rostrum at the final round to storm to the BSB Riders’ Cup by two points ahea🌼d of Honda’s Jason O’Halloran.

Bridewell has paid tribute to the Moto Rapido Ducati squad for putting faith in him and hopes the partnership ca🎃n continue to develop in 2019.

“Joining Moto Rapido Ducati, it is an obvious thing, but as soon as I joined the team I took leaps and bounds forward so it is a huge credit to the team,” Bridewell said. “It is an absolute honour to ride for them as they are just a grea𓆉t team.

“They are so enthusiastic and put in every pound and penny they’ve got to go into that motorbike. It is down to their hard work that we as a team get that success. Yesterday we had a crash and nobody blames anyone even thoug𓆉h it was my fault and my mistake but the team morale it still✱ absolutely buzzing which pulled us through.

“To be honest not even in my wildest dreams did I think that seventh in the championship was possible. I know I’ve finished third overall in the championship before so this feels good because it is about the way we’ve bounced back so thank you to the t൲eam and we’ll keep pushing for the future.

“Obvious🍨ly there is a new Ducati out next year and it would be nice to get something done with the team I am with. That is the plan.”

Speaking to Eurosport TV after the final race, Bridewell also fuelled speculation of Moto Rapido Ducati expanding to a two-rider line-up ahead of the introduct🎉ion of the Ducati V4 Panigale.

“I’m looking forward to next year with a new bike and a new challenge,” he said. “Nothing has been announced yet but it is going to be a phenomenal yᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚear with a super-fast team-mate.”

At the start of th🌄e BSB finale, six-time champion Shane Byrne tweeted to Moto Rapido Ducati boss Steve Moore about his 2019 rider plans following the official confirmation of his split from the Paul Bird Motorsport-run Be Wiser Ducati team.

Well I’ll stick my neck out for that

— Steve Wilf Moore (@SteveWilfMoore)

Paul B♛ird has signed up 2015 BSB champion Josh Brookes and MotoGP’s Scott Redding for the 2019 season ahead of the Ducati V4 debut.