History
My name is Thomas Strudwick, I am 23 years old, and from West Sussex. I am currently competing in two British Superbike support categories, and here is how it all started...
2006 - The first motorbike
I was born in 2001, growing up on the West Sussex, England, coastline. My family has always had an interest in motorcycles and at just 5 years old, I began to ride myself. I followed in my brother's footsteps by starting on a 50cc KTM motocross bike and shortly after I entered my first race with Ringwood Motocross Club.
2011 - The move to tarmac
After a few years racing on the dirt tracks, I decided that I wanted to give tarmac a try, which is what my uncle and dad used to do. I watched many MotoGPTM races, and in 2011 I entered my first minimoto race with FAB-Racing. I loved it. The following year I progressed into the British Metrakit MiniGP 50cc motorcycle Championship, and by the end of the season, I had won my first national race!
2014 - British champion
2015 - First European wildcard
In 2015, I progressed into the British Superbike Championship, racing in the Santander KTM British Junior Cup. After riding on kart circuits, this was a big step for me! At the mid-stage of the season, I was leading the British Championship, and had been invited to compete as a wildcard rider in the European Moriwaki 250 Championship at Brands Hatch! I had a great start to the weekend, and after qualifying on the front row, I finished second in the first race of the weekend! Unfortunately, I was involved in a collision in the second race and had to miss the next 3 rounds of the KTM cup while I recovered from a broken arm. I returned to the final round of the season and won my first race back!
2017 - Superbike team
In 2016, I moved back to Grand Prix motorcycles on a Honda Moto3 standard class bike. It was the first season that the British championship ran this class and it was a great year learning. The following season, I was fortunate to have been selected by the Case Moto Rapido Ducati BSB Superbike team to join them alongside former MotoGPTM rider, John Hopkins! I finished the season in 3rd place. During the middle of the season, I was also invited to the British Talent Cup selection event at the British Grand Prix. After a day of riding in front of MotoGPTM talent scouts, I was accepted alongside 22 other riders for the inaugural season of the British Talent Cup in 2018!
2018 - British Talent Cup
For the 2018 season, I continued with the Case Moto Rapido Moto3 team in the British Moto3 standard class, and I also raced in the inaugural season of the MotoGPTM British Talent Cup! I had a fantastic season in both categories and heading into the final rounds I was leading the Talent Cup, and second in the British Moto3. I also had the opportunity alongside Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati to be the youngest ever motorbike rider to ride up the Goodwood Festival of Speed Hill Climb in Sussex. I finished the season 2nd in both British Championships!
2019 - From 250cc - to 600cc
I was keen to continue with Grand Prix motorcycles and in particular Moto2 600 bikes, a step up in power and size from the 250s that I had been racing. With the kind support of Steve Bones and a partnership with Spirit Motorcycles, I was able to race in the British GP2 class of the British Superbike Championship. It was a big learning curve but I was pleased to be able to get 8 podium finishes in the season.
2020 - Spanish Supersport Championship
2020 - Spanish Supersport Championship
While a delay to the season start, as the world planned how best to respond to the Covid19 pandemic, I was able to test alongside a team in the Spanish Supersport Open600 Championship. I was delighted to be able to race with Team Edge RST Racing and ecstatic to finish on the podium in 5 out of the 6 races I started. Many of the circuits I had not been to before and the challenge of learning them during the race weekend was great. The Team Edge Yamaha R6 is a fantastic bike and being able to race in Spain was a huge opportunity.
2021 - Spanish Supersport & Stock 1000 Championships
I continued with Team Edge into 2021 on their Yamaha R6 scoring highly in the Spanish Championship. The team moved to racing in the Stock 1000 Category and I gelled well with the BMW S1000R, competing in Endurance races and a podium finish in the Spanish Championship!
2022 - European Stock 600
With an eye to move into the FIM European Moto2 Championship, I started the 2022 season the Michael Laverty Junior Team in the European Stock 600 Category. We had good success in the races I competed and I enjoyed being back on the Yamaha R6 on the Spanish circuits!
2023 - BMW Motorrad F900R Cup
At the start of the season, I found myself without a feasible opportunity to continue racing in Europe and looked to return to the British Superbike paddock. Unfortunately, as it was very late, it was difficult to confirm a competitive motorcycle. The BMW Motorrad F900R Cup had just been launched and with other experienced riders joining the category, I decided that it would be a great championship for me to regain exposure within the UK. I finished 2nd overall and had 17 podium positions, whilst setting 2 all time circuit records with the bike!