Former world Supersport Champion and ‘Wild Card’ Fabrizio Pirovano has won the fourth round of the Suzuki GSX-R European Cup at Misano today after leading from the first lap. Although the Italian veteran eased the pace on the last lap – when he spent most of the time waving to the fans round the 4.060 kilometre circuit – he still finished almost three seconds ahead of his nearest challenger; another ‘wild card’ Lorenzo Segoni, who spent most of the race fighting it out with series leader Xavier Simeon. Fourth was Tommy Bridewell ahead of Rene Mahr and Anthony Delhalle. Simeon now leads the series by 18 points, with Mahr second, Dehalle third ahead of Castellani, Hafeneger and Van der Marel. Fabrizio Pirovano – 1st: “It’s such good fun racing in this series and I’m only too sorry that I’m told – and that I’ve retired – to be in it full time. But it’s good to get the leathers out of the cupboard and get out on the track again – especially somewhere like Misano. This series is tremendous for the new riders because they get to experience a World Championship event and they get to race in front of thousands and thousands of fans. What a feeling! I knew I wouldn’t be eligible for points but I still wanted to win today. I dedicate the win to my three girls – my wife Silvia and my two daughters Michaela and Francesca.” GSX-R Cup Results: 1 F Pirovano, Italy, 2 L Segoni, Italy, 3 X Simeon, Belgium, 4 T Bridewell, GBR, 5 R Mahr, Austria, 6 A Delhalle, France, 7 P Hafeneger, Germany, 8 G Junod, Switzerland, 9 A Perez, Spain, 10 J Van der Marel, Holland. Championship Points (after 4 rounds): 1 Simeon 75, 2 Mahr 57, 3 Delhalle 50, 4 Castellani 46, 5 Hafeneger 44, 6 Van der Mar 41, 7 Junod 36, 8 Houston 31, 9 Barber 31, 10 Cabana 30. More, from a press release issued by Wayside Racing: BRIDEWELL FOURTH IN SUZUKI GSX-R EUROPEAN CUP Suzuki’s GSX-R750 showed why it is currently Britain’s best-selling motorcycle as Tom Bridewell finished fourth in today’s fourth round Suzuki GSX-R European Cup race at Misano, Italy. The race was won by wildcard rider and two-time World Supersport runner-up Fabrizio Pirovano. Following injury to regular Team Suzuki GB rider, Magnus Houston, Bridewell was installed as a permanent replacement this weekend. With two wildcard riders – who do not score championship points – ahead of him in the results, Bridewell therefore collects 20 points to go with his second place finish as a wildcard himself at the previous Silverstone round. After qualifying seventh fastest on his first visit to the 4.060km Autodromo Santa Monica in Misano, Bridewell got a great start and rounded the first corner in second place. A loss of drive down the back straight, however, relegated the Devizes, Wiltshire rider several places and he had to ride hard in temperatures well over 30° to earn fourth. “I really messed up that first lap,” said the 17-year-old afterwards, who set the third fastest lap of the race, almost a second quicker than his qualifying best and less than half a second slower than that of race winner Pirovano. “The rear was spinning up from that point on,” he added, “so it was really hard work. It felt like I had a puncture, it was so bad, but I guess it’s a good result for my first time here. I’m really happy with the weekend and there’s no shame in finishing behind someone of Pirovano’s class.” Following problems in qualifying, Bridewell’s fellow Team Suzuki GB rider’s, Rob Barber and William Dunlop, improved on their grid positions to finish the 12-lap race in 16th and 21st places respectively. Suzuki GSX-R European Cup, round four results Misano (4.060km, 12 laps): 1 Fabrizio Pirovano (ITA) 20m19.562s, 2 Lorenzo Segoni (ITA) +2.885s, 3 Xavier Simeon (BEL) +3.579, 4 Tom Bridewell (GBR) +6.001, 5 Rene Mahr (AUT) +8.352, 6 Anthony Delhalle (FRA) +14.860, 7 Phillip Hafeneger (GER) +15.301, 8 Gregory Junod (SUI) +15.960, 9 Augustin Perez (ESP) +16.058, 10 Jarno van der Marel (NED) +17.437, 16 Rob Barber (GBR) +42.510, 21 William Dunlop (GBR) +1:43.101s. Championship points after four of six rounds: 1 Simeon 75, 2 Mahr 57, 3 Delhalle 50, 4 Simone Castellani (ITA) 46, 5 Hafeneger 44, 6 van der Marel 41, 7 Junod 36, 8 Magnus Houston (GBR) 31, 9 Barber 31, 10 Cabana, 12 Bridewell 20. Next round: Eurospeedway Lausitz, Germany 8-10 September