March 13, 2023

Irwin And Bridewell Conclude Successful Spanish Test For PBM Ducati

Eight-times British Superbike champions Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM) got their 2023 season up and running with a successful three-day test at Circuito de Navarra in Spain which saw both Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell well up the order throughout.

Testing the 2023 versions of the PBM Ducati V4R for the first time, both 32-year-old Irwin, from Carrickfergus in County Antrim, and 34-year-old Bridewell from Devizes in Wiltshire spent time acquainting themselves with their new team during the weekend as part of the first official Bennetts BSB test of pre-season. 
 
2022 Bennetts BSB runner-up Irwin, in his second stint in the Lake District-based team, followed up a top six placing in Saturday’s opening day before ending Sunday’s two sessions in second place overall.

Bridewell meanwhile, Bennetts BSB runner-up in 2021 and third-placed last season on Ducati machinery for a rival team, slotted into the top ten on Saturday before upping the pace to end Sunday in fifth overall, having been fourth in the afternoon session. 
 
Both riders contested today’s morning session with Tommy ending up third, one place in front of Glenn, as both riders ran full-race strategies before concluding the test having done a combined total of over 160 laps during the course of the weekend. With times combined over the three days, Glenn finished in third place with Tommy in fourth. 
 
Glenn Irwin: “It was great to come to Spain for three enjoyable days to sample the new PBM Ducati V4R. I left this team just before that model came out, so I know all about it having raced against it for so long. It's an incredible bike and I think I adapted to it fairly quickly which was pleasing. I felt comfortable and the team and I seem to work very well, and I enjoyed working with Tommy too. I’m happy and now looking to continue the progress in the UK tests and I think we have something that we can work with this year.” 
 
Tommy Bridewell: “All in all, it’s been a good, productive test and it was nice to get back to riding a Superbike again. For me, it was about understanding and learning the team and seeing how the new bike reacts to the changes which was all good. We didn't try and reinvent the wheel; we just wanted a positive direction so we did lots and lots of laps and made small changes and played with a few parameters. We aren’t too far away and it was great fun to work with the team and we have gelled really well. I’m now looking forward to the next test at Donington Park and continuing the development there.”
 
John Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “Firstly, we’d like to welcome Tommy and Glenn to PBM. It’s been a really positive test for both riders. Not only was it important for both riders to gel with the team but to get up to speed with the new PBM Ducati F23. We’ve made minimal changes over the past two and half days and it seems the bikes are working really well. Now it’s time to head back and get ready for the Donington Park test, where the weather could be totally different. If so, it’ll be interesting to see how the bikes work in slightly colder conditions. I’d like to thank the team for all the hard work over the past few weeks, as we’ve covered a lot of miles getting things ready for this test.”
 
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Official Test, Circuito de Navarra, combined times:
 
1. Kyle Ryde (OMG Racing Yamaha) 1m:37.586s
2. Leon Haslam (BMW) +0.933s
3. Glenn Irwin (PBM Ducati) +1.052s
4. Tommy Bridewell (PBM Ducati) +1.244s
5. Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +1.458s
6. Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) +1.792s
7. Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +1.885s
8. Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Yamaha) +1.895s
9. Héctor Barberá (TAG Racing Honda) +2.145s
10. Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac by Hawk Racing Honda) +2.358s
 
Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) in action on the PBM Ducati at Navarra.

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!”

SUCCESSFUL OPENING TEST AS IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI TOP NAVARRA TIMESHEETS

April 8, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team is heading home from the first official Bennetts British Superbike test of the year feeling confident about the season ahead following a strong two days on track in Spain. The team and rider Glenn Irwin joined the class of 2025 at the first of the R&G Official BSB tests at Circuito de Navarra in Northern Spain, ending the event fastest overall, with a best lap of 1min 44.537secs. The team used the two days on track to work on a number of areas, with a particular focus on a new, updated lower seat unit and the new 2025 Pirelli tyre. And despite not putting any pressure on themselves to chase lap times, Irwin still clocked the best lap of the event, sticking in his best lap time during in Monday morning’s session to top the overall timesheets. Glenn Irwin: “We came to Navarra with the objective of just working with the guys again which has been fun. The layout here has improved a lot, it’s a really, really good track now, hopefully we can return. “We had quite a lot of things to try, my Ducati from last year to this is a very different bike but it’s been enjoyable to ride, I feel really comfortable on the bike. “We ended the test fastest which isn’t so important, but we were low into the’45s with 20-plus laps on the tyres every time we exited the pits. No new tyres this afternoon and lots of really good race pace. “The guys adapted the bike to the new tyre and I adapted my riding style a little bit and we’ve had a great, enjoyable couple of days. Roll on Donington!” Frank Bird, Team Co-owner: “It’s mega to finally get the 2025 season underway - it sounds a little bit cliched but it’s been a really long winter! There’s been a lot of hard work and stress in the build up but it’s good to finally get to a track and put all the hard work to the test. “A big thanks to the boys and of course thanks to all our sponsors. It’s been a really productive three days, I like to think we’ve ticked off all the boxes that we had before coming to the test so hats off to the whole team. “Everything ran smoothly, it’s like we’ve never been away but it’s great to finally get going and to be fastest on day one and fastest overall at the end. It seemed to come quite easily so we’re all looking forward to the next couple of tests.”  The team will now head home to the UK and the workshop for some further work, before the next R&G Official Test at Donington Park on April 18 and 19.
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