August 11, 2024

Tough Weekend At Thruxton For Irwin

Round seven of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship proved to be a difficult one for Glenn Irwin and the Hager PBM Ducati team as they came away with just three points from the three races at Thruxton this weekend.

The Hampshire track hasn’t been a happy hunting ground in recent years for neither Irwin nor the team and 2024 proved to be no different as the weekend started with the Ulsterman only posting 17th fastest time in the combined free practice sessions on Friday.
 
Yesterday saw the twice runner-up in the series start the opening race from row five of the grid but despite around two seconds covering the top 15 riders for much of the race, he couldn’t make inroads into the pack and finished in 14th place to score two points.

A front row start in today’s sprint race heralded more of a chance for Irwin but a huge crash on the first lap caused a red flag and he was unable to take part in the re-run as he was checked out in the medical centre.
 
Glenn was declared fit for the third and final race of the weekend but had to start from the back of the grid but despite his best efforts, could only manage a 15th place finish after the 20-lap race in the hot temperatures to salvage another point.
 
The results from the weekend saw him slip back to fourth in the championship standings, 47 points behind leader Tommy Bridewell, going into the next round at Cadwell Park over the Bank Holiday weekend.
 
Glenn Irwin: “I’ve had some big highsides before but the second or third gear ones definitely hurt more! Starting from the front row for the Sprint race gave us a great chance of a podium but the mistake cost us and it was a missed opportunity. It made the final race 50/50 but I felt OK so gave it a go and although I was annoyed to lose a couple of places towards the end, we got some points. We have struggled with the front tyre all season, but we have more things to test ahead of the next round and some more ideas. We’re 47 points adrift of the lead but I’m not too concerned. There are plenty of races to come and plenty of points, all at good tracks for us so we’ll go again.”
 
Jordan Bird, Team co-owner: “When you look at the crash, to come back from that and make it on track for the final race is testament to both Glenn and the team. We got the absolute maximum out of everything in that last race. We knew Thruxton was going to be a difficult meeting for us but Glenn and the team never stopped working and we couldn’t be prouder of their efforts. We head to Cadwell next, a circuit that has been a happy hunting ground for both Glenn and the team so we’ll look to build our confidence up and get our title challenge back on track.”
 
 Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (20 laps)
1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) 
2 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha) +0.168s
3 Jason O’Halloran (Kawasaki) +0.502s
4 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +0.650s
5 Billy McConnell (Honda) +1.044s
6 Leon Haslam (BMW) +1.358s
 14 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +9.612s
 
 Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (10 laps)
1 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
2 Max Cook (Kawasaki) +0.531s
3 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +0.873s
4 Josh Brookes (BMW) +1.613s
5 Billy McConnell (Honda) +1.889s
6 Christian Iddon (Ducati) +2.298s
 DNF Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
 
 Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (20 laps)
1 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
2 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +0.150s
3 Billy McConnell (Honda) +2.103s
4 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +2.999s
5 Charlie Nesbitt (Honda) +3.016s
6 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +6.253s
 15 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
 
Championship Points (after seven rounds)
1 Bridewell 248
2 Ryde       223
3 Iddon       213
 4 Irwin       201
5 Vickers  198
6 Kent    178 
 
 Pictures (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin in action at Thruxton)

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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