April 8, 2025

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

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.

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!”

TESTING, TESTING… HAGER PBM DUCATI READY FOR NAVARRA ACTION

April 8, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team will kick-start its 2025 Bennetts British Superbike campaign this weekend when official pre-season testing gets underway in Spain. The team will join the rest of the 2025 pack at the first R&G Official Test at the Circuito de Navarra on Sunday and Monday, April 5-6, with Glenn Irwin back on board the Ducati Panigale V4R. The event marks the beginning of another season for the championship’s most successful team - and the second for the new era Hager PBM Ducati squad, headed by Jordan and Frank Bird. The two-day test at the circuit in northern Spain will be the first chance for the class of 2025 to get on track together and will be followed by two further R&G Official Tests at Donington Park and Oulton Park later this month, before the new season begins at Oulton Park in Cheshire over the weekend May 3-5. Irwin, who took title fight down to the final round at Brands Hatch last season before finishing third in the championship, has spent the last six weeks in Spain, working on his fitness and getting prepared mentally and physically for the 2025 season, where he has one goal – to lift the crown at the end of the year. Glenn Irwin: “I can’t wait to get back on the Superbike. I had a little play about a month ago at Almeria with a V4S road bike supplied by Ducati Manchester - I was due to have four days on track but we got really unlucky with the rain and I got four sessions! “But it was enough to light the fire and remind me how much I love riding the Superbike and now I can’t really think about anything else. For me, Navarra is more about getting back on the bike, getting the team back together, it’s not about being the fastest guy on the track, it’s about getting the whole team back on the pace and working together. “We’ve got a new tyre this year, we’ve got a lower seat to test and a few new things to try so it’s about making a schedule, sticking to it and not getting caught up trying to go to the top of the timesheets – we’ll be concentrating on the things which need to be done, because the work we do here will pay off when the season begins.” Team co-owners Jordan and Frank Bird are equally excited ahead of their second year at the helm. Following a strong 2024, the team has been working hard over the winter and hopes are high it can hit the track running when the pitlane opens at 9.30am (BST +1)on Sunday morning. Jordan Bird, Team Co-Owner: “It’s been nice to have a proper winter to be able to plan things. It’s been a longer off-season than normal which has been annoying but great at the same time as it gave us a bit of bit of time to find out feet and get ready for this year. “The truck went out on Monday and everything is ready to go. We’ve got all new parts this year, Glenn is fitter and happier than ever, the team is happy and we’re just looking forward to getting going and seeing how this year is going to turn out.” Keep an eye on the team’s social media channels for news and exclusive content from the tests and throughout the 2025 season. For more information about the Hager PBM Ducati team, please visit the official website: https://www.pbmuk.net/pbm To discover more about the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, please visit www.britishsuperbike.com
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