October 17, 2021

Iddon Loses Out But Goes Down Fighting, Top Four For Brookes At Brands

After yesterday’s superb podium finish, VisionTrack Ducati rider Christian Iddon’s hopes of landing the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike Championship disappeared when a combination of a fourth-place finish for him coupled with title rival Tarran Mackenzie winning the day’s opening race saw him miss out on the crown.

Aboard the factory-supported VisionTrack Panigale V4 RR, the Newcastle-based ace was one of four riders still in with a realistic shot of the title going into today’s final two races of the season at Brands Hatch.

 

Another great start in the opening 20-lap encounter around the iconic Kent GP track saw him in with a shout but despite his best efforts, Iddon could only manage to claim fourth at the chequered flag after rain threatened to end the race early and with it, went his hopes of an inaugural title.

 

With the pressure off for the afternoon’s second 20-lap race, once again Iddon was battling towards the front and looking good for a podium to finish the season in style but an ambitious move by another rider on the final lap saw them both crash out at Paddock Hill Bend.

It wasn’t the finish that Iddon nor Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team were looking for as not only did they relinquish their title after two years, but it meant Iddon could only finish fourth in the final standings after the 11 round and 33-race season.

 

Teammate and outgoing champion Josh Brookes was hoping to continue his recent good form at the Brands Hatch track where he has enjoyed so much success over the years but after fighting his way through the field to sixth place in race one, the Midlands-based Aussie claimed a fourth place in race two after Iddon’s misfortune.

 

As a result, Brookes finished sixth in this year’s championship after a frustrating season for the double BSB champion in his third year with the PBM team. The duo ended up with a combined tally of 17 podiums including two race wins to add to their successes as Britain’s most successful BSB team.

 

Christian Iddon: “The plan was to become British champion this weekend, and not to end up in the medical centre but that’s how it goes sometimes. I honestly thought after the recent run of results and yesterday’s podium that I stood a really good chance, but I didn’t have the pace to take it to the leaders in today’s opening race and with Taz winning, that put paid to my hopes. And then it all ended in disaster in the second race when I was taken out and that was that. Thanks to the team and our sponsors for all their efforts this season, it wasn’t meant to be, and congratulations to Taz and the McAMS Yamaha team.” 

 

Josh Brookes: “The weekend’s been a reflection of our year in that we’ve been aware of what the problems have been, but we’ve been unable to fully resolve them. We’ve made the best of it and seen progress in the last few rounds with some better results which was how this weekend went. It’s been a constant battle between front and rear end grip and when one’s better, the other’s worse but we’ve got to the end of the season and I can guarantee everyone, I’ll be back. This year hasn’t been a reflection of myself in terms of my motivation or my desire to win as that’s as strong as ever so I’m looking forward to the time off and coming back even stronger in 2022.”

 

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s been a mixed day which has been a bit like our year, I guess. Christian didn’t have the pace to fight all the way to the end and was lacking a bit in the last few laps. Being taken out by another rider is a far from ideal way to end the season but he can take pride in his season and how he came back strongly in the Showdown after a bit of a blip mid-season. We saw improvements over the course of the weekend for Josh and he had good pace in the dry races, but it wasn’t enough. The grid positions hindered him, but we’ll look to get to the bottom of everything over the winter and come back fighting as PBM do. We’ll regroup as a team, take some valuable time off and be back stronger in 2022. Congratulations to Taz and the McAMS Yamaha team, they are worthy champions.”

 

Bennetts British Superbike Championship BikeSocial race two (20 laps)

1 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

3 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

4 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

5 Peter Hickman (BMW)

6 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

 

Bennetts British Superbike Championship BikeSocial race three (20 laps)

1 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

3 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

4 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

5 Peter Hickman (BMW)

6 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

DNF Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

 

Final Championship Standings

1 Mackenzie 1202pts

2 Bridewell 1166

3 O’Halloran 1162

4 Iddon 1141

5 Hickman 1092

6 Brookes 1079

 

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Christian Iddon (21) and Josh Brookes (25).

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI WRAP-UP SUCCESSFUL TESTING PROGRAMME

April 24, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team and rider Glenn Irwin have completed another successful R&G Official test at Oulton Park, with the opening round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship now just over a week away. Irwin and the team have spent the last two days at the Cheshire track, grabbing as much track time as possible in the final days on track before the season begins. After ending last weekend’s Donington Park test on top, the team was keen to continue to push in the final two days, working through a busy schedule and trying a host of new components and ideas. Irwin ended the test second quickest overall after clocking the best lap of Thursday afternoon’s final session, banking a 1min 33.313s lap on his last run. He leaves feeling confident about next weekend’s opening round and can’t wait to get back out. Glenn Irwin: “That’s us finished pre-season testing and I’m feeling good. We’ve been working, working, working and the bike felt better today but we still have a bit of work to do. “It’s been really, really enjoyable, we’ve tried a number of different things and I think now we’re finding a bit of a balance. Today we unlocked something in that middle session, I did a good few 33s in that run so I think we’re strong. “It’s definitely been very productive. We haven’t gone for lap times, we’ve been focussed on getting the bike right and when that happens, the lap times come. That’s what we’re starting to see and I think we’re in a good place to come back next week and start the season.” Frank Bird Jnr, Team Co-owner: “It’s a mega way to finish, this puts us in really good stead for the season and we’ve got a lot of boxes ticked off with the bike. All the boys are working well, we’ve got everyone back into the swing of things and Glenn seems to be riding well, so we’re in a good window for the first round. “It’s been a long winter but all the hard work seems to be paying off and we’re right in the mix. It means we can come here for Round One and we’re in a great place to start from.” The opening round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship roars into action at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend, May 3-5.

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.
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