August 9, 2023

Bridewell And Irwin Set For Thruxton Thriller

Round seven of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads for the fastest circuit in the UK whereby BeerMonster Ducati will hope to continue their recent winning ways.

Thruxton in Hampshire always serves up a feast of exciting racing and this year’s round has a special significance about it as local hero Tommy Bridewell leads the charge for Paul Bird’s eight-times British Champions.
 
Bridewell, from Devizes just over the border in Wiltshire, has won five out of the last six Bennetts BSB races aboard the factory-supported BeerMonster Ducati and will have the backing of a partisan crowd as he defends his 34.5-point advantage over teammate Glenn Irwin.

Irwin hasn’t won since Knockhill back in June so will be keen to get the better of Bridewell, especially as Tommy hasn’t enjoyed the best of luck around Thruxton in his lengthy career. Glenn has won four times this season and when added to Bridewell’s six victories, it means the BeerMonster Ducati riders have won more than half the races run so far this season.   

County Antrim rider Irwin has a 42.5 lead over third placed Kyle Ryde arriving at Thruxton so will be hoping to extend that at a track where he’s enjoyed podium success in the past.
 
Tommy Bridewell: “I’m looking forward to the weekend, but we are going there with absolutely no expectations. It’s the best way for me to approach this round as it’s no secret that Thruxton has never been my strongest track, but then again, I’ve never gone there with the results and momentum I’ve been enjoying recently. The team has intense knowledge and experience so between us all, we should be able to produce the results we have proved we are capable of. It’s just a case of us doing what we’ve been doing all season long as that’s been working well but I’ll take what’s on offer, enjoy my local round, and maximise what we can from the weekend.”
 
Glenn Irwin: “Thruxton is always a brilliant round and unique as we don’t get to test there so it’s great to go somewhere you don’t get to ride at too often. We know the opposition will be strong, so I intend approaching the weekend with an open mind, but we arrive in good shape and with some good results recently. We are learning all the time and tyre management is always critical around Thruxton, so it will be interesting to see how that pans out with the optimum SCD Pirelli tyre, which will be a different challenge for us all.  If the racing is as good as last year, it will be fantastic for the fans, and I hope to be in there challenging at the front.”
 

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) head for round seven of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship this weekend.

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI END SUCCESSFUL SECOND TEST ON TOP

April 19, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team continued its strong testing form at Donington Park as rider Glenn Irwin once again ended the two days fastest overall. Although the team is still not concentrating on lap times, Irwin picked up where he left off at Circuito de Navarra earlier this month as he led the way on Friday before going even quicker on Day Two with an impressive fastest lap of 1min 27.015s in the final session. After a strong first test where he topped the timesheets at Navarra, the team headed to the second R&G Official test at Donington Park looking to work on a number of different things. Irwin was consistently quick across the opening day, ending Friday fastest overall with a 1:27.022sec lap in the final session to end the day at the top of the timesheets with what was the fastest ever BSB lap of the iconic track. Along with most of the pack, he opted to sit out of Saturday morning’s first session due to track conditions, heading out for the second to work through a few more things. He again shot to the top of the timesheets with a lap of 1:27.468, before later going one better in the final session to clock his new fastest ever lap. Glenn Irwin: “It’s been really good, like Navarra, we’ve continued with a plan. Yesterday we had a really, really strong bike here and conditions were a little better. Today conditions were tougher with the wind but everyone still finds a way to go fast. “We probably persevered with a bike which is suited to the final sector, perhaps Turn One as well. As the day went on I realised we were losing a bit in some places but we stuck with it. “It’s pleasing because I would say that isn’t the bike of choice for here, perhaps maybe yesterday's bike was better, but to top today feeling like that, to do a lot of laps in the 27s with improved pace on old tyres is good. The test has definitely been a success.” John Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “I think it’s been a positive test where we’ve confirmed a number of test items over the two days. We had slightly better conditions yesterday than today but I think we’ve ticked a lot of boxes, gone fairly quick so it’s all positive – roll on Oulton Park. “The plan there is more of the same, just keep trying to understand the new tyre, try and work with it. I think longevity is going to be the key now for Oulton Park, we’ll do a couple of race runs, see how the tyre lasts and then get ready for Round One.” The team will now prepare for the final test at Oulton Park next Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24 which will be the last chance to get everything ready ahead of the first round of the 2025 season at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI READY FOR DONINGTON PARK TEST

April 17, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team and rider Glenn Irwin head to Donington Park this week for the second Bennetts British Superbike Championship R&G Official Test. After a strong run at Circuito de Navarra earlier this month, the team is looking forward to getting back on track in the UK, as the countdown to the start the 2025 season continues.  The iconic Donington Park will play host to the second pre-season test on Good Friday and Saturday, before the class of 2025 heads to Oulton Park next Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24, for the final test before the season begins over the May Bank Holiday weekend. The team is looking to build on the success of the Navarra test, where Irwin was consistently quick, setting the pace on the first day before topping the timesheets at the end of the event with a best lap of 1min 44:527s. But keen not to get caught up focusing on lap times yet, Irwin is more concerned about getting through as much work as possible during the two days and making sure the important boxes are ticked. Glenn Irwin: “We’re all looking forward to it. At Navarra, it was important we worked through a number of things which are different this year and it was a great test – but it’s important that we don’t get complacent. “At Donington we’ve more new items to try and we’ve got a list of work to get through, which will be our priority. Once we’ve done all that and have a good feeling, I think we can show up well on the timesheets, but more so in race rhythm than in one-off fast laps. “At Navarra, we found areas where I was weak last year but not this year so we were able to use this as a reference. At Donington, we know the track well and have an idea of where we need to be but for me it’s about continuing to evaluate what we have and understanding the feeling of everything rather than get too hung up on what the timesheet says. If it feels good and we’re good, we’re happy!” Jordan Bird, Team Co-owner: The whole Hager PBM Ducati team is looking forward to being back on home soil for the first time this year. Navarra was a really productive test for us so the team and Glenn are heading into our UK testing program in great spirits! “We are looking forward to seeing plenty of BSB fans trackside at Donington Park. Let’s hope the sun is shining for us!”
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