June 17, 2024

Tough Weekend At Knockhill For Irwin

Glenn Irwin and the Hager PBM Ducati team resumed their 2024 British Superbike Championship challenge at Knockhill at the weekend, and it proved to be a challenging meeting as a best finish of eighth place at the Scottish circuit saw Glenn relinquish the title lead.

Having set the seventh fastest time in free practice, which saw mixed weather conditions, a dry qualifying session saw Glenn take a solid fifth place on the Ducati Panigale V4R, but rain returned on Saturday afternoon which delayed the start of the opening 25-lap race. When it got underway, there was a dry line all around the circuit and Glenn battled for a podium position for much of the race. However, as it entered its final third, smoke started to come from the Ducati, and he was ultimately black flagged.
 
The DNF and no-score put Glenn on the back row of the 27-rider grid for Sunday’s 20-lap Sprint race and with plenty of work to do around the tight 1.26-mile circuit. Held in the wet, Glenn gained eight places on the first lap and by lap three was inside the top 15 and the points. Continually moving forward, the Carrickfergus rider moved into the top ten just before half race distance and when Danny Kent crashed out of third, he was promoted up to eighth which was where he finished.

The rain had stopped for the third and final race, again scheduled for 30 laps, with Glenn starting from ninth place but the circuit was still completely wet as he completed the first lap in 11th place. Dropping back briefly to 13th, he regrouped and moved back into the top ten when, ironically, brother Andrew retired. And when Leon Haslam crashed on the 22nd lap, the race was red flagged, with Glenn awarded ninth place in the final results.
 
Glenn Irwin: "Conditions have been tough this weekend but we all worked hard across the three days and after a good Friday, we were in the fight for a podium position in the first race. Unfortunately, we encountered a small technical problem, and I didn't see the black flag which put us on the back foot for Sunday's first race. All things considered, coming from 27th to eighth was a decent result but although it gave me a better grid position for the final race, ninth was the best I could do. It means we've given up the title lead but we're still in second and in a good position."
 
Frank Bird, Team co-owner: “It’s been a bit of a flat weekend overall to be honest and not much to shout about but it is what it is, and it’s just been one of those weekends. We didn’t have any crashes though and scored some points so it’s been damage limitation and we’ve still come away second in the championship; it could have been worse. Glenn rode really well in weather conditions that weren’t that kind to us, so we’ll analyse what went wrong this weekend and look to bounce back at Snetterton. Thanks to all the team and sponsors for their hard work and support and we’ll move on to the next round.”
 
British Superbike Championship race one (25 laps)
1 Tommy Bridewell (Honda)
2 Rory Skinner (BMW) +2.572s
3 Andrew Irwin (Honda) +4.290s
4 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +5.078s
5 Jason O’Halloran (Kawasaki) +7.141s
6 Josh Brookes (BMW) +10.955s
DNF Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
 
British Superbike Championship race two (20 laps)
1 Rory Skinner (BMW)
2 Christian Iddon (Ducati) +4.895s
3 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +4.909s
4 Storm Stacey (Kawasaki) +14.577s
5 Charlie Nesbitt (Honda) +15.436s
6 Fraser Rogers (Honda) +16.883s
8 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +22.655s
 
British Superbike Championship race three (22 laps)
1 Christian Iddon (Ducati)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +0.635s
3 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +1.728s
4 Rory Skinner (BMW) +3.158s
5 Billy McConnell (Honda) +1 lap
6 Fraser Rogers (Honda) +1 lap
9 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +1 lap
 
Championship Points (after four rounds)
1 Bridewell 141pts
2 Irwin 130
3 Kent 125
4 Iddon 118
5 Ryde 110
6 Haslam 88

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin in action at Knockhill.

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.
More Posts