Ollie Bridewell

{{Short description|British motorcycle road racer (1985-2007)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}

{{Infobox motorcycle rider

| name = Ollie Bridewell

| image = File:Ollie Bridewell.JPG

| caption = Bridewell on the grid waiting for a race-start

| nationality = British

| death_date = {{death date and age|2007|07|20|1985|12|10|df=yes}}

| death_place = Mallory Park, Leicestershire, England

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1985|12|10}}

| birth_place = Etchilhampton, Wiltshire

| Current team =

| Bike number =

| SBK Active years =

| SBK Manufacturers =

| SBK Championships =

| SBK Race Starts =

| SBK Race Wins =

| SBK Podiums =

| SBK Poles =

| SBK Fastest laps =

| SBK Total Points =

| SBK Last season =

| SBK Last position =

| website =

}}

Oliver Frederick Bridewell, 10 December 1985 – 20 July 2007), from Etchilhampton, Wiltshire, was a British motorcycle road racer.

In 2005, he competed in the British Superstock Championship, as well as a European series one-off at Brands Hatch.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/content/articles/2005/08/09/bridewell_world_stage_debut_feature.shtml BBC Lincolnshire]

In 2006 and 2007, he raced in the British Superbike Championship for Vivaldi Suzuki, alongside his brother Tommy in 2007. His best results were two 8th places.{{Cite web |url=http://londonbikers.com/news/bf105ab4-c7b9-41dc-bf4b-11933ba93bc3 |title=London Bikers |access-date=21 July 2007 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927204843/http://londonbikers.com/news/bf105ab4-c7b9-41dc-bf4b-11933ba93bc3 |url-status=dead }}

Bridewell died during practice at Mallory Park on 20 July 2007. Torrential rain had made the circuit slippery, and he lost control entering the John Cooper Esses and crashed, suffering head and neck injuries.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/6909073.stm Rider is killed at biking event (BBC)] As with all UK Motorsport events an ambulance was at the scene and tended to him, but without success and he was pronounced dead at the circuit.

Air Ambulance Volunteer Doctor Dhushy Kumar reported that "Unfortunately, Mr Bridewell was in cardiac arrest when we arrived".{{Cite web |url=http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~18~id~151530.htm |title=Crashnet |access-date=21 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822222203/http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~18~id~151530.htm |archive-date=22 August 2007 |url-status=dead }} Michael Rutter described him as a "highly talented and a very popular young lad".[https://web.archive.org/web/20070809015224/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2007/07/21/smbike121.xml UK Telegraph]

Around 1300 people gathered for the funeral at St Mary's Church, Bishops Cannings on 1 August 2007,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/6925523.stm Funeral for dead superbike rider (BBC)] followed by a private family burial at Etchilhampton Churchyard.[http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/devizesheadlines/display.var.1588160.0.hundreds_gather_to_say_farewell_to_ollie.php (Gazette and Herald)]