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New bike. Testing complete. The stage is set...

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:32:45 GMT

Game on!

Hager PBM Racing Team and Scott Redding head to Oulton Park for the opening round of the 2026 British Superbike Championship this weekend (2-4 May), and if last week’s official test at the Cheshire circuit is anything to go by, expect high speeds and close on-track battles from the very first lap.

2026 is a big year for the Hager PBM Racing Team. As well as marking three decades at the forefront of British motorsport, the team is heading into this new season with a brand new bike.

The latest Ducati V4 R delivers major upgrades across the board, including its gearbox, aerodynamics and suspension set-up, along with a completely new double-sided swingarm, bringing Ducati’s MotoGP expertise closer to the domestic stage. To add further change, there's also a new Pirelli rear tyre to get to grips with.

Despite not riding a race bike for six months and with just two days to get up to speed on the new machinery, Scott and the team made the most of the last official pre-season test on 21-22 April, working solidly to fine-tune the set-up and maximise track time.

Impressively, at the end of the two days, Scott was second on the timesheet (+0.259s) and within a second of the lap record.

Jordan Bird, Hager PBM Racing Team, Co-owner: “What an incredible two days it’s been. Scott has been faultless, the technicians have been faultless, and the bike is phenomenal - I think we’ve got a real weapon on our hands this year! We’re all really excited to be back at Oulton Park next weekend for the start of the season. The fun part is over... now the hard work begins."

John Mowatt, Hager PBM Racing Team, Race Team Co-ordinator and Crew Chief: “The last few weeks have been pretty stressful but to see Scott spin some laps during the test was very satisfying! With the Ducati V4 R being a brand new motorcycle, we're still learning about it - how it works, what it does and doesn't respond to, plus we've had the new rear tyre to adjust to. All-in-all, we've had a positive test at Oulton Park and are ready to get back into the mix next weekend."

Scott Redding, Hager PBM Racing Team, #45: “ I’m grateful we had two good days of weather at the Oulton Park test, which meant we could get a lot of laps in. The new bike has real potential, and in the final laps of the last session I started to find a rhythm, so overall I’m really happy with how everything has come together.

"When we return to Oulton Park next weekend, I’m confident we can be competitive and that’s the most important thing. Let’s go racing!”

PBM Racing Team Announces Exclusive Donington Park Networking Event Ahead of 2026 BSB Season

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:33:32 GMT

The PBM Racing Team is opening its doors to prospective commercial partners with an exclusive, invitation‑only networking event at Donington Park on Friday 15 May, offering brands a rare opportunity to explore high‑impact sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 British Superbike Championship.
Positioned as a gateway for companies looking to align with performance, precision, innovation and passion, the event is designed for organisations seeking to elevate their brand through one of the UK’s most successful and recognisable motorsport teams.

Guests will receive unprecedented access to the PBM Racing Team, including direct insight into how strategic partnerships are activated across a full BSB season. Attendees will also be guided through the team’s 2026 sponsorship programme, with opportunities ranging from title partnerships to bespoke hospitality and client‑engagement packages.

The day includes:

Exclusive access to PBM Racing Team personnel
A deep dive into 2026 sponsorship opportunities
Behind‑the‑scenes experiences at Donington Park
Premium hospitality and networking with current and prospective partners

The event aims to help brands understand how motorsport partnerships can drive measurable commercial value, from brand visibility and customer engagement to internal culture, team building and VIP experiences.

The event provides a strategic platform for brands seeking differentiation; with competition for consumer attention at an all‑time high, PBM is positioning the 2026 season as a prime opportunity for companies to stand out. The team’s leadership emphasises that modern motorsport partnerships go far beyond logo placement, offering integrated marketing, digital storytelling, experiential activations and corporate hospitality tailored to each partner’s objectives.

Attendance is strictly limited, and interested companies are encouraged to register their interest early. Successful applicants will be contacted directly by a member of the PBM Racing Team to confirm their place.

PBM RACING MARKS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:14:53 GMT

PBM Racing, the most successful team in British Superbike Championship history, is celebrating its 30th anniversary, 30 days to the start of the 2026 season, marking three decades at the forefront of British motorsport.

The milestone season honours the legacy of the team’s founder Paul Bird, while unveiling a bold new era under the leadership of Jordan and Frank Bird.

Since its formation in 1996, PBM has become a dominant force in the British Superbike Championship, securing nine BSB titles, more than 150 race wins, and a reputation for excellence across multiple racing disciplines.

Speaking ahead of the season starting, Jordan Bird, Team Co-Owner, said: “Reaching 30 years is an incredible milestone for PBM. This team has achieved so much, and we’re immensely proud of the legacy our dad built. But 2026 is more than a celebration, it’s the start of a new chapter. We’re committed to pushing PBM forward with fresh ideas, renewed ambition, and a real desire to bring our supporters even closer to what we do.”

Frank Bird, Team Co‑Owner, adds: “Our father created something truly special, and it’s a privilege to carry that forward. The 30th anniversary gives us a moment to reflect, but it also marks the beginning of a new era for PBM. We want fans and partners to feel part of that journey, and we’re excited to share the unique opportunities we have planned for the season.”

PBM Racing is the most successful team in the history of the British Superbike Championship, with nine titles and a record‑breaking tally of wins and podiums. Founded by Paul Bird and now led by Jordan and Frank Bird, PBM continues to compete at the highest level of motorcycle racing while expanding its presence across multiple motorsport disciplines.

PBM RACING TEAM ENTER 30TH SEASON AND STRIKE 12 WITH RENEWED HAGER PARTNERSHIP

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:25:28 GMT

Looking forward to the 2026 season with HAGER

The PBM Racing Team enter their 30th year of competition in 2026 and as they aim for further title success in the 2026 ZYN British Superbike Championship, they have extended their long-term partnership with Hager, one of the UKs leading suppliers of electrical installation equipment.

Hager have been a committed sponsor to the team for over a decade, with the forthcoming season marking their twelfth year of association as they prepare to challenge for a tenth championship title with 2019 champion Scott Redding.

Last season the Hager PBM team reached a milestone of 150 race wins in BSB as they bid to add to their record-breaking achievements when the season gets underway at Oulton Park this May Bank Holiday weekend (May 2/3/4).

Bruce Davies, Managing Director at Hager Ltd, commented: “We are proud that we will continue our relationship with PBM and extend one of the longest team sponsorships in British Superbike Championship history. We expect that this anniversary season will be a big year for everyone involved and as the team’s title partner, we are excited to get started.

“We have celebrated big milestones together including during last season, Hager’s 70th anniversary at Assen and the team’s achievement of 150 BSB race wins, and the joint goal is obvious - to continue that success this year!

“Being part of the most successful team in BSB history and giving Hager guests a VIP experience with PBM throughout the season, always creates unforgettable memories. We know that the team have winning pedigree and with a proven champion in Scott Redding, we are looking ahead to another successful season for Hager PBM Racing.”

Team Owner Jordan Bird concluded: “As we enter our 30th year in racing, we are proud to once again have Hager as our title sponsor. Reaching this milestone together is a big moment for our team. Both Frank and I are incredibly proud to continue our father’s legacy. While the team has evolved over the years, the core values and championship-winning mind-set he instilled in us remains unchanged.

“Hager has played a crucial role in our history and remains an integral part of our future. We extend our sincere thanks to Bruce and the entire Hager team for their continued trust and belief in our programme.

“As the new season approaches, we look forward to seeing you all trackside as we battle it out to get our hands on our tenth championship title.”

THE COMEBACK KID IS HERE TO STAY

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 16:15:32 GMT

Chasing our tenth title in 2026

We’re delighted to confirm that Scott Redding is set to remain with the PBM Racing Team for the 2026 British Superbike Championship.

The 2019 BSB Champion made a welcome return to the PBM stable midway through the 2025 season, instantly finding his stride with five wins and five podiums across seven rounds. Now, with 32-year-old Redding firmly back in the saddle, PBM heads into 2026 hungry for more success, and chasing what could be a record tenth British Superbike title.

“I’m incredibly happy to be back with the PBM Racing Team for 2026,” said Redding. “Despite only rejoining the team from round four this year, we’ve achieved so much together. I’ve really enjoyed re-learning the UK tracks, and that experience will be a huge advantage heading into next season.”

‘Comeback Kid’ Redding joins a growing list of World Superbike riders who have returned to the domestic championship in recent years, underlining the strength, competitiveness and global appeal of the British Superbike series.

“Scott slipped straight back into the team when he rejoined us at Knockhill and has been an absolute pleasure to work with this season,” said Jordan Bird, PBM Racing Team Owner. “His commitment, focus and relentless drive to master both the UK tracks and the Ducati Panigale V4R have been exceptional. Combined with the foundation the team has built this year, we’re confident that the title will be within our grasp in 2026.”

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS OF HAGER

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 10:35:15 GMT

History meets horsepower

The PBM Racing Team is proud to join title sponsor Hager in celebrating its 70th anniversary with a striking retro livery and custom leathers at the historic TT Assen Circuit in the Netherlands this weekend. Hager has been a long-standing partner of the team, and our collaboration goes far beyond sponsorship - reflecting a shared commitment to innovation, excellence and pushing boundaries on and off the track.

Founded in 1955 in Germany by brothers Oswald and Hermann Hager, together with their father Peter, the Hager Group (Hager SE) has grown from a family business into one of the world’s leading providers of electrical installation systems. With 22 manufacturing sites across 10 countries, Hager continues to set the standard in delivering comprehensive solutions for residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

In Sunday’s Races 2 and 3, the PBM Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R will take to the grid in a special one-off retro livery featuring Hager’s original logo. Rider Scott Redding will also compete in bespoke Hager-branded leathers – bringing a powerful visual tribute to this remarkable milestone.

Bruce Davies, Managing Director at Hager Ltd, said: "Assen is such an iconic race circuit, making it the perfect stage to showcase this one-off livery for Hager’s 70th anniversary. It’s fantastic to have so many Hager colleagues from across Europe joining us this weekend too, and we’re confident Scott will make us all proud on the track!"

FOUR OUT OF FOUR AIN'T BAD!

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 17:58:12 GMT

What a weekend to remember!

Four races, a pole position, a race win, three podium finishes and the fastest-ever lap in the British Superbike Championship. We really couldn’t have asked for more.

After a couple of tough rounds at Thruxton and Cadwell Park, we came into Donington knowing it could be one of our strongest events. The Ducati has always thrived here, and with Scott having taken five wins at the circuit back in his 2019 championship year, the pressure was on from the very first session.

The weekend started better than we could have hoped. Scott stormed to pole position and set a record-breaking lap too! A well-deserved race win followed on Saturday, with a second place and two third-place finishes on Sunday, adding more silverware to the collection.

We’re incredibly proud of Scott and the entire team for the effort and commitment that went into making Donington such a success. A huge thank you as well to our sponsors and partners for checking in and supporting us every step of the way. Your backing makes all the difference.

Next up: Europe! In just over a week, we’ll be heading to Assen, The Netherlands, for the first of the Showdown rounds. It’s a circuit that holds great memories for us - Scott took both wins here in 2019, and we can’t wait to get back.

While the Riders’ Championship may be out of reach, we’ve climbed to fourth in the Teams’ standings, with third now well within striking distance. As a family-run team, achieving a top-three finish in the British Superbike Championship would mean the world to us... and we’re giving it everything to get there!

Thanks again for your incredible support.

A WEEKEND OF IMPROVEMENTS

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 11:51:42 GMT

Thruxton... our old nemesis!

Renowned for its blistering pace, Thruxton has always been a unique challenge for the Ducati. The biggest hurdle? Tyre management.

The abrasive track surface demands careful strategy - knowing exactly where and when to push, especially in longer races, can make or break a result. Adding to the challenge, Scott hadn’t raced here since 2019, and with temperatures soaring into the high 20s, we knew the weekend would test us.

That’s why the results we came away with feel so good. We ended every session quicker than the last, came away with two top-ten finishes and handled some tricky conditions with composure. Scott stayed calm and precise on track, while the crew worked quickly to fine-tune the bike when needed. Every lap is a learning opportunity and we couldn’t do it without the ongoing support of our partners, suppliers and sponsors.

Off track, our hospitality team delivered an absolute first class service. We were sold out with almost 150 VIP guests across the weekend, which created a buzzing atmosphere!

We’ve now got a weekend to reset before Cadwell Park - a circuit far better suited to the Ducati.

We can’t wait to hit the track and come out swinging!

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM HAGER PBM DUCATI

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 10:01:54 GMT

Full Throttle Into Thruxton

Hager PBM Ducati and Glenn Irwin have announced that their contractual relationship has been terminated by mutual consent.

Following Glenn's serious accident at Snetterton in June and period of recovery it was the opinion of the team that his return should be deferred until at least after Round 7 at Cadwell Park.

This decision was taken by the team management on the ground of managing competition expectations and a duty of care to Glenn as despite recovering to a position where ‘fitness to ride’ could potentially be achieved, the team felt that risks remained in this early period of recovery that a subsequent fall could result in a further, complicated injury.

As a result of a point of conflict the parties have agreed to terminate their contractual relationship, and Glenn is free to pursue other opportunities to fulfil his insistence to immediately return to competition.

Irwin has had outstanding success with the team since making his BSB class debut with them in 2016, taking 19 wins and 23 podiums over six seasons, narrowly missing out on the 2023 Championship win by just half a point.

Everyone at Hager PBM Ducati wishes Glenn Irwin all the very best in his continuing recovery and his future career.

THE KING OF BRANDS!

pbmracing@rbpagency.com — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 21:38:00 GMT

The Comeback Kid... is back!

What a weekend at Brands Hatch Circuit!

It was an incredible performance from Scott Redding and the Hager PBM Ducati team, securing a P1, P2 and P3 for a full set of podiums - a true testament to what can be achieved through talent, determination and above all, teamwork.

Scott also made sure to mark his full-time return to the championship by being crowned the Monster Energy King of Brands, as well as Bennetts Bike's Rider of the Weekend! Well that's how you make your comeback!

A huge thank you to our sponsors, partners and fans for their unwavering support - our successes reflect the strength of the network we’ve built around us and we couldn’t do it without you!

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race 1 result:

Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha)
Scott Redding (Hager PBM Ducati) +1.085s
Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Competitions OMG Racing Yamaha) +2.824s
Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +3.376s
Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) + 3.420s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race two result:

Scott Redding (Hager PBM Ducati)
Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Competitions OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.339s
Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) + 0.879s
Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +2.945s
Max Cook (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +3.012s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race 3 result:

Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Competitions OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.339s
Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) + 0.103s
Scott Redding (Hager PBM Ducati) +0.875s
Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) +1.090s
Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +6.461s

REDDING RETURNS!

pbmracing@rbpagency.com — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 18:16:53 GMT

The 'Come Back Kid' is back in BSB!

After his impressive debut at Knockhill, we're excited to confirm that Scott Redding is racing with us for the rest of the 2025 British Superbike Championship season!

Despite zero track time on the Hager PBM Ducati Panigale V4, he delivered incredible P4 and P9 finishes in Scotland – what a comeback!

Glenn Irwin also continues to recover well and plans to join us at Brands Hatch this weekend to support the team. We’re looking forward to getting him back on a bike and on track as soon as he’s fully able.

Thanks to all our fans, sponsors and supporters for sticking with us – we’re excited for what’s ahead. See you at Brands!

KNOCKHILL, OVER AND OUT!

pbmracing@rbpagency.com — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:12:56 GMT

First time in the seat for Scott Redding

Scott Redding returned to Hager PBM Ducati colours this weekend for the fourth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill in Scotland. Despite it being his first opportunity to get some laps in on the Ducati Panigale V4R, he delivered a seriously impressive performance against the backdrop of some incredibly tricky conditions!

Importantly, this weekend was all about the track time for the World Superbike Championship regular , as he learned more about the BSB-spec machine after each lap, and even managed to finish the weekend in the points. Awesome shift Scott!

Race 1 result - 30 laps

Bradley Ray, Raceways Yamaha
Kyle Ryde, OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha
Rory Skinner, Cheshire Mouldings Ducati
Scott Redding, Hager PBM Ducati
Tommy Bridewell, Honda Racing UK

Race 2 result - 20 laps

Bradley Ray, Raceways Yamaha
Rory Skinner, Cheshire Mouldings Ducati
Tommy Bridewell, Honda Racing UK
Danny Kent, McAMS Racing Yamaha
Storm Stacey, Bathams AJN Racing BMW

19. Scott Redding, Hager PBM Ducati

Race 3 result - 30 laps

Rory Skinner, Cheshire Mouldings Ducati
Bradley Ray, Raceways Yamaha
Fraser Rogers, TAG Honda
Christian Iddon, AJN Steelstock Kawasaki
Storm Stacey, Bathams AJN Racing BMW

9. Scott Redding, Hager PBM Ducati

Championship standings after 4 rounds

Bradley Ray, Raceways Yamaha 192
Kyle Ryde, OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha 140
Rory Skinner, Cheshire Mouldings Ducati 122
Leon Haslam, Moto Rapido Ducati Racing 122
Tommy Bridewell, Honda Racing UK 101

17. Scott Redding, Hager PBM Ducati 19

GUESS WHO'S BACK... BACK AGAIN!

pbmracing@rbpagency.com — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 19:11:55 GMT

Scott Redding returns to PBM Ducati colours

We’re excited to announce that 2019 British Superbike Champion Scott Redding is returning to Hager Ducati PBM team colours for this weekend’s fourth round of the 2025 series at Knockhill!

The Ducati World Superbike rider and fan favourite is standing in at the Scottish event for Glenn Irwin, who is recovering from his recent surgery. The challenge for our 10th title is still very much ON!

Thanks for your continued support – we hope to see you at Knockhill!

GLENN IRWIN TO UNDERGO SURGERY

pbmracing@rbpagency.com — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 19:16:30 GMT

It wasn't the weekend we wanted, but we’re now focused on recovery.

The third round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship came to an early end for the Hager PBM Ducati team following Glenn Irwin's crash at Turn Nine during Saturday’s Free Practice 3. Unfortunately, Glenn sustained fractures to his pelvis and hip socket in the incident and was unable to take part in the remainder of the weekend.

After lengthy discussions with his medical team earlier this week, Glenn is now scheduled to undergo surgery on his sacrum (pelvic region) this Thursday morning. We understand the serious nature of this injury and our heartfelt thoughts and best wishes are with Glenn and his family during this difficult time.

Following the procedure, we’ll be focusing on his recovery with an intensive rehabilitation plan. Until that gets underway, it’s not possible to predict a timeline for his recovery and his return to the Hager PBM Ducati team and the British Superbike Championship.

The understanding from the sponsors, series organisers and all our fans at this difficult time is most appreciated, and the team is working hard on finding a suitable stand-in rider with the aim of being back on track at Knockhill.

Every message, every cheer – it’s all helping more than you know. We’ll be back stronger.

HAGER PBM DUCATI SET TO TURN UP THE HEAT AT SNETTERTON

pbmracing@rbpagency.com — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:51:31 GMT

Who's ready for Snetterton?

Go behind-the-scenes with Hager PBM Ducati Co-Team Owner Frank Bird as the team prepares for the third round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

Round Three of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship gets underway at Snetterton this Friday, 20 June with two free practice sessions ahead of Qualifying and Race One on Saturday, followed by two further races on Sunday 22 June.

PODIUMS, POINTS AND PRIZES FOR HAGER PBM DUCATI

Sun, 18 May 2025 18:39:46 GMT

THE Hager PBM Ducati team heads home from Donington Park fired up for the rest of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike season after rider Glenn Irwin clinched a second and a third in today’s two races.

Irwin narrowly missed out on what could have been two wins at the iconic Derbyshire track – but he and the team leave feeling excited about the rest of the year after a strong performance.

It had been a tougher start to the weekend as the team struggled with a few niggling issues, but after topping Friday’s timesheets, Irwin clocked the third quickest time in Qualifying to line up on the front row for Saturday’s race.

Moving into second position at Turn One, he settled into a good rhythm and as he found himself in a three-way battle, took the lead on Lap Eight. However, a few issues struck in closing laps which left him unable to hold off his rivals and he slipped back to fourth.

Determined to make amends on Sunday, Irwin once again started from third on the grid. Getting a good start, he was up to second by the end of Lap Two and quickly began reeling in leader Bradley Ray.

A move for the front at the Fogarty Esses on the fourth lap didn’t pay off but he wasn’t giving up, quickly closing back in on his rival. On Lap Eight, he tried again to dive down the inside at the same spot but wasn’t able to make it, running down the slip road and slipping back to fourth. He fought hard in the remaining four laps to catch the bike ahead, making the move into the chicane on the final lap to secure third place.

It was another front row start for the final race and he held third place into Turn One, settling into position for the opening laps. By Lap Eight he was challenging Rory Skinner for third and as the race reached the halfway point on Lap 10, he made the move into Turn One and moved into second position.

More than two seconds adrift of leader Ray, Irwin put his head down and pushed hard, quickly reducing the gap and with three laps to go was just 0.296 behind. Once again, he tried a move at the Fogarty Esses but wasn’t able to make it work and despite pushing on, wasn’t able to pass.

He crossed the line just 0.396secs behind his rival and picked up another strong haul of points. He also set a new lap record, with a 1min 28.832s on the penultimate lap.

Glenn Irwin: “We’ve had a fourth, a third and a second so we’re going in the right direction. Race one was really, really tough. We had a limiting factor with the bike on Friday and Saturday which wasn’t rectified until Sunday morning, and it was a good chunk better today.

“I think the Sprint race was one that we could’ve won but we made a mistake. I think in the last race we played the right game, we were patient and again we could perhaps have won. I made a similar mistake at the same corner and it left us a lot of work to do with two laps to go.

“Setting a new lap record on Lap 19 was good and we may have lost a couple of points but at this stage of the year, two points here or there is nothing and I’m quite happy either way.

“Hats off to the team because they worked very hard this weekend and they gave me something that was missing and it’s so much better now. We now have a bit of a break, I’ll head to the TT for 10 days and chill out but keep training hard, working harder and trust that the wins will come.”

Frank Bird Jnr, Team Co-owner: “It’s been a very positive weekend, very consistent, which is obviously a good sign. We got there with the bike setup, I think we’ve found what we were missing at Oulton Park.

“It’s still only the second round so everyone is still getting into it, learning the bike, learning the new tyre but thank you to all the boys, they’ve been mega all weekend and have really worked hard.

“Glenn rode his heart out in all three races and we are definitely in the mix…now we will just keep going and look forward to the rest of the season.”

The championship now takes a break until mid June, when the pack will resume duties at Snetterton.

ROUND TWO BECKONS FOR HAGER PBM DUCATI

Wed, 14 May 2025 10:29:15 GMT

THE Hager PBM Ducati squad is heading to Donington Park this weekend as the second round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship roars into action at the iconic track.

The team and rider Glenn Irwin will be looking to build on their success at the opening round, where the Northern Irishman clinched two second place finishes, putting him third in the championship chase but equal on 32 points with his rivals sitting first and second.

It’s been a tough fortnight where the racing community has mourned the loss of riders Owen Jenner and Shane Richardson – and the team has been particularly affected by the death of Owen, a close friend of owners Jordan, Frank and other team members. Now, hopes are high that the team and Irwin can deliver a string of podium finishes this weekend, with performances which both boys would be proud of.

Glenn Irwin, rider: “Looking ahead to the weekend you almost feel a little bit guilty, because obviously we all want to continue to pay our respects to Owen and Shane’s families, and when we look back at Oulton Park, the whole event is overshadowed by this sadness.

“But if I was to look just purely at the riding side of things and the teamwork, I felt we did a good job. We had some difficult moments but we did well to come from 14 ^th to second in Race One and particularly Race two, after four laps we were 3.3 off and eight laps later to only be 0.1 off the win was very pleasing.

“I think as riders, we all know what we achieved in terms of race pace over the two races, we only ever took time out of Bradley (Ray) and Leon (Haslam) and for me that was confidence inspiring. I think we fired our own warning shots without winning races which is important for our own confidence and important to cement ourselves in the thoughts of our rivals as well.

“This weekend and the whole championship in general is going to be close. The three of us who were in it at Oulton will be there, I expect Kyle (Ryde) to be there and Danny Kent to also join the party this weekend…it’s going to be a good one.”

Jordan Bird, Team Co-owner: “As usual, we are ready for business this weekend - although this one is a little different. We race at Donington Park for Owen and Shane.

“Of course, we have a job to do but our thoughts will never be far away from both of them and we continue to send our love and best wishes to their families.

“We know it’s going to be a tough weekend in many ways for the team and for the paddock as a whole but we look forward to doing the best job we possibly can in memory of Owen and Shane.”

Round Two of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship gets underway at Donington Park this Friday, May 16 with two free practice sessions ahead of Qualifying and Race One on Saturday, followed by two further races on Sunday, May 18.

HAGER PBM DUCATI FIRED UP AHEAD OF OULTON PARK SEASON OPENER

Thu, 01 May 2025 10:10:49 GMT

HAGER PBM Ducati and rider Glenn Irwin are all set and ready for the start of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike season, as the championship roars into action this weekend at Oulton Park.

The team will head to its local circuit in Cheshire for the May Bank Holiday weekend, keen to get a strong start to its 2025 campaign and looking to emulate its success from two visits there last year, when Irwin celebrated four victories from six race starts.

The opening round follows a solid pre-season testing programme for the team, with Irwin topping the timesheets in two of the three R&G Official tests. Over the three events, the squad worked through a busy schedule, testing a host of new components for its Ducati Panigale V4R and while not specifically chasing lap times, were never far from the top the board.

Now, as they prepare for the first round at one of their strongest tracks, the team and Irwin are feeling quietly confident they can hit the ground running and emerge from Oulton Park on Bank Holiday Monday with a strong haul of points to get their championship off to a flying start.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s fantastic to be finally going into the opening round at Oulton Park – it’s almost seven months since the last season ended so it’s been a long wait. But now it’s time to go and put everything we’ve done, everything we’ve learnt over the off-season into practice.

“We’ve had a great testing programme, there’s a new addition on my side with my rider spotter which has been a nice refresh and I’ve also made some small adjustments to my own riding style.

“The team has brought some new items this year which have been nice, not performance parts but parts which can equate to performance…it’s not as simple as an extra 10 bhp or anything like that, but it’s nice to go racing with something new.

“I can’t wait for the weekend and to get going. My motivation is high, so let’s go and kick-off the year with the best possible points haul for the Hager PBM Ducati team.”

Frank Bird Jnr, Team Co-owner: “It’s finally time to get going. A lot of hard work has been put in over this winter, the team has had three solid tests so we should be right in the mix from the word go – that’s the plan, anyway.

“It’s felt like a long wait so it’s mega that the first round is finally here. I’d like to thank all our sponsors for helping us get here and we’re all hoping we can put on a good show and bring back some trophies.

“It’s fantastic to be starting the season at Oulton Park, particularly on a Bank Holiday weekend. A lot of our sponsors are north-based, it’s also our local round as a family too, so it’s obviously an important one for us. Here’s to a strong weekend and kicking-off the season with three great race results.”

The 2025 Bennetts British Superbike action opens with free practice on Saturday, May 3 followed by Qualifying and Race One on Sunday, May 4. The weekend will draw to a close following two further races on Bank Holiday Monday, May 5.

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI WRAP-UP SUCCESSFUL TESTING PROGRAMME

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:45:53 GMT

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

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 17:53:59 GMT

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.

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI READY FOR DONINGTON PARK TEST

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 08:32:15 GMT

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

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 12:49:39 GMT

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.

TESTING, TESTING… HAGER PBM DUCATI READY FOR NAVARRA ACTION

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 12:42:48 GMT

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

PBM RACING TEAM CONFIRMS HAGER AS TITLE SPONSOR FOR 2025

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 09:37:04 GMT

THE PBM Racing Team is to continue its long-term partnership with Hager, one of the UKs leading suppliers of Electrical Installation equipment, as it reveals the brand will continue as title sponsor for the 2025 season.

The team will return to Bennetts British Superbike Championship action under the Hager PBM Ducati banner for a second season, with rider Glenn Irwin back aboard the Ducati Panigale V4R.

The 2024 season marked the start of a new era for the team, headed by siblings Jordan and Frank Bird. Signing Northern Ireland’s Irwin, the most successful team in British Superbike history celebrated its first win at its home round at Oulton Park in May before taking the title fight all the way to the final round at Brands Hatch in October, where Irwin eventually ended the season third overall.

Now, with the 2025 season just over two months away, the team is gearing up for another assault on the world’s leading domestic racing series. With Hager committing its support for an 11th year, the squad is fully focused on securing its 10th – and what would be Irwin’s first – championship title.

Bruce Davies, Managing Director at Hager UK:
“Our relationship with PBM continues to go from strength to strength and we are delighted to continue our position as title sponsor for the 2025 season.

“The PBM VIP experience and being part of the most successful team in BSB history is something which all of our guests absolutely love and it’s always amazing to be part of such a professional and successful outfit.

“We can’t wait to welcome more Hager guests to each round this year for an unforgettable experience and what looks set to be an exciting and hopefully very successful season for the Hager PBM Ducati Racing team.”

Jordan Bird, PBM Racing Team co-owner:
“We are absolutely thrilled to once again be able to announce a partnership with Hager. It’s fantastic news that Hager has decided to continue with us after our first year as a new team and we’re all very happy and excited ahead of what will be our 11th season together.

“Hager has been a key member of our team and we are very grateful for their loyalty over the last 11 years and we hope this will continue and we can build more success together.”

The 2025 season begins with testing throughout April, before the first round at the team’s most local track, Oulton Park, over the weekend May 3-5.

READY2GO: PBM Racing Team target title number ten signing Irwin on new two-year contract

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 17:00:34 GMT

The PBM Racing Team and Glenn Irwin have signed a new two-year agreement as they bid for Bennetts British Superbike Championship title success in 2025 and 2026.

The team return next season hunting an unprecedented tenth title whilst Irwin will be fighting for a career first crown as he bids to become the first Bennetts British Superbike Champion from Northern Ireland.

In the past two seasons, Irwin has been in the title fight with PBM until the last day of the season, coming closest in 2023 when he missed out in the final standings by just half a point. This year, Irwin celebrated eight race wins and a total of ten podium finishes onboard the Hager PBM Ducati and is determined to achieve his career goal of becoming Bennetts British Superbike Champion in 2025.

Irwin said: “First of all, to re-sign with PBM and to continue onboard the Ducati was an absolute priority; to be honest it didn’t take much negotiation. Jordan, Frank and Johnny came to my motorhome at Donington Park and everyone is on the same wavelength.

“We all want to win; we are all working hard, purely to win championships. I think also after my recent announcement with my career, my sole goal is to win the British Superbike Championship. We know that is the goal of the team too as they chase their tenth title.

“To have a two year contract is cool, as in one sense you have security, but what makes it so cool is that we have consistency, something that I will be working hard on myself too. Hopefully, the stars align a little better as this year was a little bit tough at times, but we have put that behind us and are working hard towards 2025 and 2026 with Ducati.

“So I have to say thank you to the team and all of our sponsors for making it happen. To Jordan and Frank, to Johnny and the entire team let’s go and continue where we have left off the past two seasons. For me, I am looking within myself for more and seeing what I need to bring to the table in the search for that elusive first championship.”

Joint Team Owner Jordan Bird commented: “It is fantastic that we can announce that Glenn will remain with the PBM Racing Team for the next two seasons, ensuring we have consistency and stability as we strive to achieve our tenth title.

“This season was a big year for myself, Frank and the entire team and I am so proud of what we have all achieved in our first full season together. I also want to thank again all of our loyal partners who made it happen. Now we are all focused on the new season and are working hard behind the scenes in preparation to come out fighting for the Championship in 2025. We can’t wait to get started!”

Third Place In BSB Title Race For Brave Irwin

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 11:16:42 GMT

Glenn Irwin and the Hager PBM Ducati team came up just short in their quest for the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at the final round at Brands Hatch this weekend which saw them end the season in third place overall.

Both Glenn and the team had a good start to the weekend when they topped Friday’s free practice sessions but fine weather gave way to mixed conditions on Saturday when a technical problem caused the Carrickfergus rider to crash out of the qualifying session.

That put him back on the fifth row of the grid for Saturday’s 20-lap race when wet, autumnal conditions were the order of the day. Irwin worked his way through the field and was challenging for the podium but just when third place was within his reach, he crashed out on lap 15.

With 70 points available on Sunday, the title remained mathematically within his grasp and he started the 12-lap Sprint race from the front row with conditions sunny but cool. A sluggish start saw him drop back to tenth on the opening lap and although he soon fought his way up to eighth, he had to settle for tenth at the chequered flag with any hopes of the PBM team retaining their title gone.

Starting the final 20-lap race of the year from the front row again, a much better start saw Glenn work his way to the front of the pack but with some ferocious racing between the leading group, he found himself shuffled back and eventually took the chequered flag in seventh place.

With eight wins and two additional podiums, it meant Glenn ended the year in third overall with the title going the way of Kyle Ryde by one point from 2023 champion Tommy Bridewell.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s nice to end the season in third in the championship and that makes it two second places and a third in the last three seasons. Bike racing has a lot of highs and lows, and we didn’t have much of the middle ground this year with a few big crashes along the way, some of which weren’t of our doing. Even this weekend we’ve encountered bad luck firstly with a technical issue in qualifying and then me being unwell ahead of this morning’s race, but we can learn from all of it for 2025 and we can take a lot of positives from the season. We’ve won eight races, only one less than Kyle, and had three wins at the North West 200 and that’s no mean feat for a team that didn’t exist until March. Full credit to Jordan and Frank Bird for getting the team together and we’ve grown as individuals and as a team this season. Finishing third overall in BSB is something we can be proud of and the series has again delivered and we’ll be back for more next year. I’ve no doubt I’ll win the title one year!”

Frank Bird Team Co-owner: “That year went quick! If someone had offered us P3 at the beginning of the year, we’d have taken it, especially with everything coming together so late and it being the first year without Dad. I couldn’t be prouder of Jordan in terms of how she’s worked this year for the good of the team and with eight BSB wins and three at the North West 200, it’s been a successful season. Glenn rode his heart out this weekend, as he has done all year, and after a difficult mid part of the season, and again here at Brands with the problems on Saturday and then him being unwell, we recovered brilliantly. It’s been a stressful season at times but both Jordan and I have loved every second of it and we’ve learnt a lot which will stand us in good stead for 2025 so a big thanks to all our sponsors, partners, team and everyone connected to the team.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (20 laps)
1 Danny Kent (Yamaha)
2 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha) +1.625s
3 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +6.366s
4 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +14.877s
5 Peter Hickman (BMW) +15.433s
6 Max Cook (Kawasaki) +16.688s
DNF Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati )

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (12 laps)
1 Tommy Bridewell (Honda)
2 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +0.257s
3 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha) +4.679s
4 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +6.312s
5 Josh Brookes (BMW) +8.057s
6 Andrew Irwin (Honda) +8.203s
10 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +9.912s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (20 laps)
1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +0.296s
3 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha) +0.839s
4 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +3.614s
5 Max Cook (Kawasaki) +4.984s
6 Josh Brookes (BMW) +5.483s
7 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +6.756s

Championship Points (final standings)
1 Ryde 487pts
2 Bridewell 486
3 Irwin 382
4 Kent 373
5 Vickers 349
6 Iddon 261

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin in action at Brands Hatch

Brands Beckons For Title Contender Irwin

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 08:38:13 GMT

The 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship comes to its dramatic conclusion this weekend with the final round at Brands Hatch whereby Hager PBM Ducati rider Glenn Irwin is still in with a shout of the title.

The Ulsterman, who has finished runner-up for the past two seasons, currently holds third place in the standings and is one of just three riders who can claim the crown. Glenn is 46 points behind the leader, Kyle Ryde with defending champion Tommy Bridewell just four points behind in second, but with three races, each scoring 35 points for a win, then Glenn is most definitely still in the running.

However, the omens are good for the 34-year-old from Carrickfergus as he has won four of the last six races to be held at the October meeting at the Kent track, so if he can match that sort of performance, he will be well in with a shout of his first title and a remarkable tenth crown for the PBM team, who are the reigning champions.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s great to be heading to Brands Hatch for the final round, the forecast looks good and being from Northern Ireland, I enjoy the autumnal feel which the the last round always brings! We know there’s a lot at stake this weekend and although I’m in a different position than I was last year, I still am relishing the pressure. If we can get a couple of wins to start the weekend and outscore our rivals, then we can take it to the final race and anything can happen. We have to make sure we are in the fight and to take advantage of any slip up by Kyle or Tommy and I feel that both rider and team are capable of that. Going into this final round, I’d like to thank everyone at BSB, the marshals, the medics, our sponsors and all the fans, and of course, the Hager PBM Ducati team. It’s been a blast and if we can get a bit of luck, then the title is possible, but either way, to finish where we end up will be a remarkable achievement.”

Jordan Bird, Joint Team Owner: “The final round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship 2024 is here and what a first year we have had. To be in with a shout of the title is full credit to the team and Glenn as they have worked tirelessly all year. We are all looking forward to this weekend and anything can happen! Whatever the outcome, this year has been something to be proud of. The first year without our dad was always going to be a challenge but I know he would be so proud of our achievements. Glenn is in the form of his life and we look forward to seeing him round out 2024 in fine PBM style. I’d like to take this chance to thank each and every person who has made this year possible. Our partners, our family, friends and, of course, our supporters. Let’s put on a show for the final time this year, see you all trackside.”

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin in action, Frank & Jordan Bird.

Donington Park Victory Keeps Irwin In Title Chase

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 10:17:03 GMT

A victory, a podium and a fourth place finish at Donington Park this weekend saw Glenn Irwin and the Hager PBM Ducati team remain well in contention for the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship with one round remaining.

After taking a solid sixth in qualifying, Glenn was hoping for more in Saturday’s opening 20-lap race, held in sunny, but cool conditions and he didn’t disappoint. With main championship rivals Kyle Ryde and Tommy Bridewell ahead of him, Glenn fought off the close attentions of his brother Andrew to finish third and claim 20 valuable points.

Sunday saw cool temperatures once again, this time under a cloudy sky for the remaining two races, and starting the 12-lap Sprint race from fourth on the grid, Glenn immediately slotted into third place behind Bridewell and Ryde. The trio were nose to tail throughout but Glenn grabbed the lead for the first time at half race distance, and although Ryde briefly got back in front at one point, Irwin went on to claim his eighth victory of the season.

That race saw Glenn set a new lap record which put him on pole position for the final race, held over 20 laps once more, from which he led for the first five laps before Ryde overhauled him. With temperatures dropping, as the race entered it’s final third, the Carrickfergus rider ran in fourth place, but before he could mount a podium challenge, the race was stopped due to a three-rider crash one lap short.

As a result of a solid weekend, Irwin heads to the final round at Brands Hatch in third place, 46 points behind series leader Ryde and with 105 points still up for grabs, Glenn is still in with a shout of the title.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s been a really enjoyable weekend, and we haven’t lost any ground in the title race so we can be pleased with our results across the three races, especially the victory in the Sprint race. When you win a race like that, you want to follow it up with something similar, but the conditions suited our bike best in that race, rather than the final race when it was a lot cooler. I was having to use the tyre a lot to stay with Kyle, but eventually, I had to ease the pace but to come away with first, third and fourth means it was a good weekend. I’ve got an open mindset about the final round so we’ll re-focus and go again. To be in with a shout ahead of the final round is great and hats off to Jordan and Frank for the team they’ve put together, the work and effort is non-stop.”

Jordan Bird, Team co-owner: “It’s been a solid weekend, and we were hoping to go into the final round less than 50 points off the championship so to achieve that is mission accomplished. With 105 points available at Brands, it’s still all to play for and it’s BSB where, as we know, anything can happen. Glenn’s still very much in the mix and in the form of his life so to be in title contention going into the final round is something we can all be proud of. This time last year there was a lot of uncertainty around the team and people thought we couldn’t do it without Dad at the helm, but it shows how strong a team we are. I think Dad would be both impressed and proud to see where we are and what we’ve done this year.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (20 laps)
1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +2.071s
3 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +8.689s
4 Andrew Irwin (Honda) +8.972s
5 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +9.710s
6 Charlie Nesbitt (Honda) +10.661s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (12 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +0.241s
3 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +0.431s
4 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +0.741s
5 Charlie Nesbitt (Honda) +1.742s
6 Andrew Irwin (Honda) +3.067s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (18 laps)
1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
2 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +0.384s
3 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha) +1.727s
4 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +3.042s
5 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +4.521s
6 Andrew Irwin (Honda) +4.826s

Championship Points (after ten rounds)
1 Ryde 398pts
2 Bridewell 394
3 Irwin 352
4 Kent 290
5 Vickers 265
6 Iddon 261

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin in action at Donington Park

Irwin Aiming To Repeat Donington Park Success

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 15:43:22 GMT

The penultimate round of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Donington Park this weekend with Hager PBM Ducati rider Glenn Irwin looking to consolidate his title challenge.

The Ulsterman occupies third in the table following a superb win at Oulton Park last time out to claim his seventh victory of the season, and which thrust him right back into the frame to land the title as the PBM team go in search of their tenth BSB crown.

Irwin, who scored an additional podium to his victory at the previous round, is confident ahead of this weekend’s three races having won there earlier in the season so he will be looking to reduce the 39 point gap to current series leader Tommy Bridewell with six races remaining, especially now the revised points system is in place for the Showdown which climaxes the season.

Glenn Irwin: “I always look forward to going to Donington Park as it’s a track where we’ve had some amazing racing in the past couple of years. Having won there earlier in the season, we arrive with a good feeling, but perhaps I should have won more than one race so I’m confident. I really need wins now as the two riders in front have still a bit of a gap so three race wins would be ideal. I firmly believe we can leave Donington with a much-reduced gap to the leaders which would be the perfect scenario heading into the final round at Brands Hatch. The team have worked incredibly hard this season, so let’s go and enjoy this weekend and hopefully set up for a championship challenge.”

Frank Bird, Joint Team Owner: “The win and second place last time out at Oulton Park was a real morale booster for the team and also for Glenn and the vibe in the camp is fantastic going into the last two remaining rounds. We have closed the gap to the championship leaders and we were the highest point scorers from Oulton which is just what we needed. Donington Park should be a good one for us which we proved last time out there so hopefully we can make everything work again. We have always been very competitive there previously and that is the plan again and to keep the form rolling for the last six races.”

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red)

Irwin Back To Winning Ways At Oulton Park

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 13:07:54 GMT

A win and a second place at Oulton Park this weekend saw Glenn Irwin and the PBM Hager Ducati team thrust themselves firmly back into contention for the title at round nine of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

Fourth in qualifying got the weekend off to a good start for Irwin and it looked like it would get better still in Saturday’s opening race, held over 18 laps in dry conditions, when he took the lead from Josh Brookes on the third lap.

Up to eight riders were disputing the lead at one point but Glenn kept them all at bay until lap 16 when Yamaha’s Kyle Ryde overhauled him. By this time the pack had been reduced to five riders but despite his best efforts, the Carrickfergus rider was unable to get back to the front and he had to settle for second place behind Ryde.

It was his first podium finish since Snetterton in July, but Sunday saw extremely different conditions, with wet weather seeing racing delayed by more than two hours and the first race cut to 10 laps. Starting from fourth, Glenn was quickly into the lead on the opening lap but lost time avoiding the fallen Christian Iddon meaning he dropped back to sixth. However, he fought back superbly and took the lead from BMW’s Leon Haslam on the final lap to take a brilliant victory.

Starting the final 15-lap race from pole position, held in damp conditions, Glenn slipped back to fifth in the early stages but as rain began to fall once more, the red flag came out on lap eight. Re-started over five laps, Irwin had to settle for ninth place at the flag but the results over the weekend have reduced the gap to the two riders ahead of him in the title chase. Glenn is now just 45 points behind series leader Tommy Bridewell with two rounds and six races remaining with battle recommencing at Donington Park in two weeks’ time.

Glenn Irwin: “A brilliant weekend to take a second place in the dry and then a win in the wet which I reckon was one of the best rides of my career. I thought we could go on and repeat that in race three but the track conditions changed and made it difficult. But we scored the most points out of everyone over the weekend and to take our seventh victory of the season means we are right back in the title race. The plan is to maintain the championship challenge and to keep exerting pressure on my title rivals. It was also very fitting to get the victory which I dedicated to Paul Bird, who we paid tribute to at Oulton Park this time last year, so that was very special.”

Frank Bird, Team co-owner: “After a few tricky rounds, it’s been great to get back to winning ways especially at our home circuit and to take 15 points out of competitors makes it doubly pleasing. We knew it was one of our strong tracks and Glenn was back to his best; he was on rails in the wet race, and it was a sublime performance. Yes, we could have been even closer to the top two, and at one stage the points gap was less than 30, but the conditions were really tricky in the last race so whilst ninth wasn’t ideal it was more points on the board. The bike is great in both the wet and dry but trickier in the mixed conditions, but it’s been a positive weekend overall and we’ll keep pushing on and never give up.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (18 laps)
1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
2 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +0.303s
3 Lee Jackson (Honda) +0.423s
4 Josh Brookes (BMW) +0.705s
5 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha) +1.147s
6 Leon Haslam (BMW) +4.297s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (10 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
2 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +0.679s
3 Leon Haslam (BMW) +3.000s
4 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +3.618s
5 Lewis Rollo (Aprilia) +3.706s
6 Jason O’Halloran (Kawasaki) +4.472s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (5 laps)
1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +5.965ss
3 Storm Stacey (Kawasaki) +6.487s
4 Max Cook (Kawasaki) +12.345s
5 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +12.760s
6 Christian Iddon (Ducati) +12.766s
9 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +14.790s

Championship Points (after nine rounds)
1 Bridewell 334pts
2 Ryde 328
3 Irwin 289
4 Iddon 245
5 Kent 234
6 Vickers 228

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin in action at Oulton Park)

Irwin Hoping for Repeat of Oulton Park Success

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 12:15:19 GMT

The 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads into the Showdown stage this weekend when round nine of the series makes a second visit of the year to Oulton Park in Cheshire with Hager PBM Ducati rider Glenn Irwin hoping for a repeat of former fortunes.

Back in May, the Ulsterman won all three races there to move into the lead in the early stages of the year as he chased the elusuve title after finishing runner-up for the past two seasons. However, in recent rounds, Irwin hasn’t had the best of luck and currently finds himself in third place in the standings some 60 points behind leader Tommy Bridewell.

But with the revised points scoring system of the Showdown coming into play, and coupled with the fact that Glenn has won five of the last six Bennetts BSB races to be held at Oulton Park, then confidence is at a high as he looks to get back to winning ways this weekend.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s always great to go to Oulton Park having won six races around there in the past three visits so it’s always good to go back to a track where both me, the team and the bike have had a lot of success. It’s the team’s local round also which is always important. I feel good and although this year has presented some challenges for us, we know what works around Oulton and some of the weaker areas we have been struggling with shouldn’t be so much of a problem. I don’t want to set the bar too high but I feel we can be competitive again and I genuinely believe we can be back to where we need to be at the front. Race wins are what I need now and the championship is still up for grabs. Anything can still happen as we saw right to the end last season.”

Jordan Bird, Joint Team Owner: “We’re heading into the business end of the season now and also, this is our home round for our team which is always a big motivation for us. The plan is to get right back to where we should be fighting at the front consistently. We had three victories last time out at Oulton Park and there’s no reason why we can’t be back there once again. Glenn has had a couple of weeks to refresh and get ready to attack the last part of the season, the championship points also change from now onwards which gives us a good opportunity to get our championship assault back on track. We look forward to seeing our sponsors and fans at the track come race day.”

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red)

High Fives For Irwin At Cadwell Park

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 09:06:40 GMT

Hager PBM Ducati rider Glenn Irwin kept his title bid firmly on course with three solid rides to move into third place in the race for the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship following this weekend’s races at Cadwell Park.

The eighth round was held over the traditional bank holiday weekend at the popular Lincolnshire track but Irwin’s weekend didn’t get off to the best of starts as he struggled against the inclement conditions in Free Practice on Saturday meaning he had to go through Q1 before setting fifth fastest time in Omologato Superpole to place him on row two of the grid for the opening race.

A battling performance saw the rider from Carrickfergus challenging for a podium position throughout the 18-lap race but in the end had to settle for fifth at the chequered flag, with his lap time placing him on row two again for the first of the bank holiday Monday races.

Once again, Glenn was challenging in the leading bunch duing the 12-lap race before crossing the line in fifth place for a second time and hoping for a podium finish in the third and final race of the day. The 20-lapper got underway with Irwin once again up with the leaders and indeed, occupying a podium placing in the early stages before eventually claiming a third P5 finish of the weekend.

The end result sees Glenn climb from fourth to third in the standings and is now 41 points behind second placed Kyle Ryde and 60 points behind series leader Tommy Bridewell. However, now the series has reached the Showdown stage, the points on offer for each race are increased meaning Irwin’s bid for a first title and the PBM team’s quest for a tenth crown is still very much a reality going into the next round at Oulton Park in three weeks' time.

Glenn Irwin: “5-5-5 means I’m really happy with the performance of the team and myself this weekend, we worked hard to steady the ship and come away with some fighting results. Right now our package isn’t competitive enough to fight for wins every week due to our struggles on the harder tyre. It’s only in some areas of the track, but we lose so much. There are many positives with the performance in lots of other areas which keeps us optimistic whilst being realistic going forward into the next round at Oulton Park, where we won all three races earlier in the season.”

Jordan Bird, Team Co-Owner: “Cadwell has been another tricky round for us but to come away with a trio of fifth place finishes is more than we could’ve asked for at the beginning of the weekend. The team and Glenn worked tirelessly over the weekend and I can’t thank them all enough for their hard work. Now we can have a little time off, regroup and come back stronger at Oulton Park. It’s our home race and at the beginning of the year we took our first triple win. Thank you to our partners and the fans and supporters for all their support and belief in us. It’s certainly not over yet.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (18 laps)
1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
2 Lee Jackson (Honda) +0.791s
3 Charlie Nesbitt (Honda) +3.795s
4 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) + 5.214s
5 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +5.320s
6 Jason O’Halloran (Kawaski) +6.269s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (12 laps)
1 Tommy Bridewell (Honda)
2 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +0.219s
3 Lee Jackson (Honda) +0.242s
4 Charlie Nesbitt (Honda) +2.025s
5 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +2.425s
6 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha) +5.330s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (20 laps)
1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +0.702s
3 Lee Jackson (Honda) +3.436s
4 Charlie Nesbitt (Honda) +4.368s
5 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +10.337s
6 Josh Brookes (BMW) +10.919s

Championship Points (after eight rounds)
1 Bridewell 294
2 Ryde 275
3 Irwin 234
4 Iddon 231
5 Vickers 208
6 Kent 184

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin in action at Cadwell Park)

Irwin Aiming To Bounce Back At Cadwell Park

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 07:31:48 GMT

Round eight of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads to Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire this Bank Holiday weekend with Hager PBM Ducati rider Glenn Irwin aiming to consolidate his title bid.

The 34 year old from Northern Ireland has dropped to fourth in the standings following a couple of hefty crashes at both Brands Hatch and Thruxton in the two previous rounds, but hopes to reduce the 47-point gap to series leader Tommy Bridewell as the season heads for the Showdown stage.

Irwin has good reason to be confident as he won two races at the event last year, and finished second behind his then teammate Bridewell in the final outing so is relishing the opportunity to get back to winning ways and add to his six victories already this season.

After this weekend’s action, the scoring system changes slightly with more points on offer at the final three rounds, so Glenn is determined to put on a show for the biggest crowd of the season, and to defend his prestigious Cadwell Park ‘King of the Mountain’ crown which he won in 2023, as he bids to bolster his title hopes.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s always nice to go to Cadwell Park. We’ve had a small test at Knockhill since Thruxton, it was all pretty relaxed and we made excellent progress with the bike which will be key this weekend. I learned a little bit more about my riding so that will help us too. We arrive at Cadwell on the back of two difficult rounds but we know the bike works well there but we are taking nothing for granted. The team has been working hard and have all rallied round and I’m really looking forward to riding at a track which suits our strengths. I’m fully focussed and still have great belief so I’m looking forward to coming away with three solid results.”

Jordan Bird, Joint Team Owner: “Round eight is already upon us and the whole team can’t wait to head to Cadwell Park this weekend as it’s an event we all look forward to. The crowds are always great and the racing is even better. It’s no secret we have had a tough mid-season but it’s time to bounce back and show everyone what we’re made of. We won all three races at Cadwell Park last year and we’re all working harder than ever as it’s going to be an exciting final four rounds of the season. We are looking forward to seeing lots of you trackside this weekend.”

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red)

Tough Weekend At Thruxton For Irwin

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 19:55:38 GMT

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 Hopeful Ahead Of Thruxton Thriller

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 07:44:44 GMT

The 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads to the fastest circuit in the country where Thruxton in Hampshire hosts the seventh round of the series this forthcoming weekend.

Hager PBM Ducati rider Glenn Irwin is currently second in the title race following a tough weekend at Brands Hatch last time out so the 34 year old from Carrickfergus, County Antrim is hoping to bounce back and to close the 19-point gap to leader Tommy Bridewell.

Irwin has six victories to his credit this year already and as the season heads into the final half, he will be looking to add to those successes, especially with the imminence of the Showdown which starts next month and sees enhanced points up for grabs in the final few races.

Glenn has had a couple of podium finishes at Thruxton in recent years, the last being in 2021 so he’ll be hoping for a good performance throughout the weekend for team owners Frank and Jordan Bird and to keep his and the team’s title bid firmly on track.

Glenn Irwin: “We arrive at Thruxton after a slightly difficult weekend at Brands Hatch, where we showed a lot of character as a team. The guys did an amazing job rebuilding the bike after I was taken out in the second race and it showed a great team spirit. We have been making good progress with the development work so we will continue that this weekend, but Thruxton always gives us some unique challenges on the Ducati and with the tyre option also. The plan is to have a solid weekend and rack up as many points as possible. I’m not sure what sort of results we can achieve but I’ll be fighting all the way. The team is working hard to give me a great bike and this is the final hurdle before we start the last four rounds at tracks which work well for us.”

Frank Bird, Joint Team Owner: “We can’t wait to get the second half of the season underway. After a tough weekend last time out at Brands Hatch where we showed so much potential only to fall foul of someone else’s mistake, next up is Thruxton. Thankfully, Glenn has recovered and spent some time at World Ducati Week in Italy recently, so he is sharp and both he and the team are ready to go as always. We have done a lot of work back at base to try and rectify the issues we had last year at Thruxton on the Ducati, so hopefully that will allow us to be back and challenging at the front.”

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red)

Valuable Points For Battling Irwin At Brands Hatch

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 18:19:32 GMT

Glenn Irwin put in a heroic ride in the final Bennetts British Superbike Championship race at Brands Hatch today, fighting through the pain barrier to come from 23rd on the grid to seventh on the Hager PBM Ducati.

Irwin, who finished fourth in the opening race of the sixth round of the series yesterday, suffered a first corner crash in the first race today which looked like it would end his weekend. But, having been cleared by the medical staff to race in the final outing, dug deep to fight his way through the field and pick up nine valuable points.

The weekend started with hot temperatures, but Glenn had a strong day of practice on Friday, putting the Hager PBM Ducati Panigale V4R in second place on the timesheets and he took that form into qualifying the following day with third place giving him a front row start for the first 20-lap race.

The slightly cooler weather saw Yamaha’s Ryan Vickers take a dominant win with Glenn embroiled in a four-rider battle for second with fellow Ducati rider Christian Iddon and the Hondas of Tommy Bridewell and brother Andrew Irwin. Positions changed hands regularly and Glenn had to settle for fourth place just over a second adrift of second place.

With the fourth fastest lap of the race, Glenn started from the head of the second row for Sunday’s 12-lap race but, unfortunately, his race was over before it had even begun. Pushed wide going into the first corner, another rider then crashed out and collected Glenn as he slid across the track, the end result seeing the Ulsterman barrel-roll through the gravel trap and stretchered away.

However, despite being in considerable pain, the 34-year-old Ulsterman was able to line up on the grid for the third and final race of the weekend, albeit on the back row. Held over 20 laps once more, Glenn gained five places on the opening lap and was up inside the points a lap later, steadily moving forward from there on in. His reward was seventh place which saw him end the weekend in second overall in the championship standings, 19 points adrift of Bridewell.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s no secret we tried something different with the rear shock for Saturday’s race and although it didn’t work as we’d hoped, we’re continually trying to develop the bike. We persevered but realised it wasn’t the right solution so went back to what we knew for Sunday, and I felt good in morning warm-up despite the damp conditions. My confidence was high but, unfortunately, another rider’s mistake caused a crash, and I genuinely thought my season may have been over. Full credit to the BSB medics and my own physio, they got me ready for the race and I showed the fight and resilience in me. I had some right arm fatigue, which I guess was my body overcompensating for the neck pain, but we didn’t lose too many points and are closer to the championship lead than we were this time last year. We’ll regroup and come out fighting at the next round.”

Frank Bird, Team co-owner: “All things considered, the weekend has ended on a positive note, and I don’t think there are many riders who could come through from the back of the grid to seventh so full credit to Glenn. That ride showed just how much grit and determination he has. Full credit to the team as well for getting the bike ready. It’s been a bit of damage limitation but we haven’t lost too much ground in the standings and whilst the next round is at Thruxton, a circuit that hasn’t been the kindest to us over the last few years, we’ll work hard between now and then, keep developing the bike and look to get back onto the podium.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (20 laps)
1 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +7.334s
3 Andrew Irwin (Honda) +7.520s
4 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +8.678s
5 Christian Iddon (Ducati) +9.095s
6 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +10.708s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (5 laps)
1 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +1.188s
3 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +1.237s
4 Andrew Irwin (Honda) +2.566s
5 Leon Haslam (BMW) +2.749s
6 Christian Iddon (Ducati) +3.077s
DNF Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (20 laps)
1 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
2 Christian Iddon (Ducati) +3.073s
3 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +3.322s
4 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +4.316s
5 Andrew Irwin (Honda) +8.015s
6 Lee Jackson (Honda) +9.997s
7 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +12.599s

Championship Points (after six rounds)
1 Bridewell 217pts
2 Irwin 198
3 Iddon 193
4 Ryde 185
5 Kent 148
6 Vickers 146

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

Table Topper Irwin Bouyant Ahead Of Brands Hatch

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 09:22:42 GMT

Hager PBM Ducati rider Glenn Irwin heads to Brands Hatch for round six of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship in bouyant mood after reclaiming the lead in the title race after a double victory at Snetterton two weeks ago.

The 34 year old from Carrickfergus, County Antrim bounced back after a disappointing round at Knockhill to emerge victorious at the previous round and as a result leads the series by four points over rival Tommy Bridewell.

Those two wins took Irwin’s tally to six for the season as he returns to the venue which saw him just miss out on the title last October by the narrowest of margins to his then teammate Bridewell, despite winning two of the three races.

Bridewell won two of the races at the corresponding meeting last July meaning the PBM team won four of the six races to be held at Brands Hatch last season, and as a result the team and Irwin are hopeful that the winning run can continue as this year’s series hits the half way point.

Glenn Irwin: “As I always do, I’m looking forward to going to Brands Hatch and hoping we can get some more wins under our belt. I have a great feeling with the bike and I’m feeling good in myself so hopefully we can carry that energy forward from the previous round. I’m grateful to the whole team for what they are giving me and there’s a great buzz within the team. We need to continue working on our package as we still need to improve in a couple of areas and I need to keep adapting to various factors also, as we have different strengths and weaknesses compared to last year. Brands Hatch is one of most iconic racetracks in the world and there’s always a great crowd so let’s go and put on a show again.”

Jordan Bird, Team Owner: “After a double win and a solid fifth in the wet at Snetterton we’re really pleased to have the next couple of rounds close together, starting with Brands Hatch this weekend. Brands has always been a successful hunting ground for PBM and we are all looking forward to continuing our hard work and to add to our six BSB wins so far this year. Thank you to all our partners and supporters as always, let’s look forward to another great weekend's racing. Plus the weather is looking great so after a couple of wet meetings, let’s keep our fingers crossed! Also, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the well wishes after my surgery last week, I’m recovering well and looking forward to the weekend.”

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red).

Double Delight For Irwin At Snetterton

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 07:45:11 GMT

Glenn Irwin and the Hager PBM Ducati team got back to winning ways in the British Superbike Championship at Snetterton at the weekend with a double victory on Sunday seeing them reclaim the lead in the title standings.

The weekend was affected considerably by weather conditions with heavy rain falling at times combined with cool temperatures throughout and Glenn encountered both in qualifying on Saturday where he ended up in 14th on the grid. The first race took place later in the afternoon with Glenn outside the points when the race was stopped due to an incident involving Rory Skinner.

Re-started over just five laps of the ‘300’ circuit, Glenn made it count and moved forward throughout eventually taking a solid fifth place. It gave him a much better start position for Sunday’s Sprint race, and he quickly opened up a second lead over Kyle Ryde only for the race to again be stopped. Once again re-started over five laps, Glenn delivered an identical ride and aided by the fastest lap of the race, ultimately took the chequered flag from Tommy Bridewell by 1.4s.

The fastest lap gave him pole position for the final race of the weekend, which saw the best of the conditions and went the full 16-lap distance. A slightly sluggish start saw him drop to fourth on the opening lap, but he steadily moved forward and took the lead for the first time on the seventh lap. From there on in, his lead over Christian Iddon and then Bridewell was never more than a tenth of a second, but he determinedly kept them at bay to take the victory by 0.125s.

The results over the three races saw him lift the prestigious Race of Aces trophy but also re-take the championship lead on 177 points, four ahead of Bridewell.

After taking ill, joint team owner Jordan Bird was admitted to a local hospital on Saturday and had an operation today (Sunday). The team wishes her a speedy recovery and thanks everyone for the good wishes.

Glenn Irwin: "I was really pleased with both wins and it’s good to be back in the championship lead. I’ve probably lost a little bit this last month, but we continue to work hard and massive thanks to the team for the bike they gave me. We experimented a little bit in the first race and found some areas that worked well and others where we could still improve but I rode with clarity and resilience, and it was a well-executed victory. The weather conditions changed for the second race which meant I struggled with grip especially in the second half of the race and I lost the front several times. I had to dig deep and did a really good last lap so fair play to Tommy and Christian as they were there all the way. I love racing against Tommy as he’s like me and never gives up. It’s nice to get the Race of Aces trophy as well so a big thanks to the team and get well soon Jordan."

Frank Bird, Team co-owner: “What a bounceback weekend that was and just what we needed after a difficult Knockhill. I’m super happy and proud of the team and Glenn rode brilliantly all weekend and in the wet conditions did what he needed to do and brought the bike home in a solid fifth place. The double today was the icing on the cake and shows all the work we’re doing on both a race weekend and behind the scenes. We got the rewards this weekend so fair play to the team, well done again to Glenn and thanks to all the sponsors for their commitment and enabling us to go racing. We’ve started another wave so let’s keep riding it into Brands, another strong track for us. Well done to everyone and best wishes of course to Jordan, hopefully the wins will have cheered her up!”

British Superbike Championship race one (5 laps)
1 Storm Stacey (Kawasaki)
2 Lewis Rollo (Aprilia) +0.222s
3 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +6.369s
4 Jason O’Halloran (Kawasaki) +9.297s
5 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +10.742s
6 Christian Iddon (Ducati) +15.906s

British Superbike Championship race two (5 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +1.487s
3 Christian Iddon (Ducati) +2.163s
4 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +2.197s
5 Andrew Irwin (Honda) +2.642s
6 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +2.682s

British Superbike Championship race three (16 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +0.125s
3 Christian Iddon (Ducati) +0.740s
4 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +1.122s
5 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +1.322s
6 Andrew Irwin (Honda) +2.204s

Championship Points (after five rounds)
1 Irwin 177pts
2 Bridewell 173
3 Iddon 156
4 Kent 147
= Ryde 147
6 O’Halloran 108

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

Irwin Aiming To Get Back On Course At Snetterton

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 07:39:47 GMT

Following a disappointing outing at Knockhill where he surrendered the championship lead, Glenn Irwin aims to get his and the Hager PBM Ducati team’s title bid back on course as they head for Snetterton and round five of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship this weekend.

Due to a number of factors, the 34 year old from Northern Ireland was unable to add to his four victories so far this season at the Scottish track last month, so the plan is to get back to the early season form which saw him so dominant on Jordan and Frank Bird’s machine.

Irwin is just 11 points adrift of former teammate and rival Tommy Bridewell who now leads the series but is confident ahead of the weekend, especially as it’s a track where the Ducati excels at and which saw him on the podium last year, narrowly missing out on a victory.

Glenn won at the Norfolk track back in 2020 so is looking forward to the weekend and hopefully getting some more victories under his belt as the title race heads towards the busy mid-season.

Glenn Irwin: “When you’ve had a difficult round, it’s always good to turn up at the next track fully motivated and keen to put things right. The conditions at Knockhill were some of the toughest I’ve ever raced in but I felt good and it was disappointing that the results didn’t quite go our way. But we are taking the positives out of that weekend and the plan is to start winning races again this weekend at Snetterton. We have gained a lot of information over the first few rounds and we are always working on areas where we can improve. There are a lot of things different from last year but we know what we need to do and there is a great mindset and belief in the team.”

Jordan Bird, Team Owner: “Snetterton is always a round we look forward to and we had a wonderful meeting there last season with three victories. It’s going to be a bit of a surreal and emotional weekend in some ways as the Snetterton round last year was the last one my dad attended before he passed away. We hope we can return to winning ways and get our championship challenge back on track after a frustrating weekend at Knockhill last time out.”

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red).

Tough Weekend At Knockhill For Irwin

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 13:20:59 GMT

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 Aims To Increase Championship Lead At Knockhill

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 20:29:44 GMT

Round four of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads north of the border to Knockhill this weekend with Hager PBM Ducati rider Glenn Irwin looking to continue his winning streak.

The 34-year-old from Northern Ireland enjoyed a stellar month in May whereby he won four races in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship as well as doing the hat-track at the International North West 200, so after a month long break, Irwin is back and raring to go.

He leads the title race by 13 points arriving at the Scottish circuit where he won two of the three races last year on the PBM Ducati. He should really have made it a treble but slipped off at the Hairpin when leading with just a few laps remaining so is hopeful of another good showing.

And with the track being situated not far from the ferry crossing from Northern Ireland, and also it being relatively close to the Hager PBM Ducati team’s Cumbrian origins, there will be lots of support for Glenn as well as team owners Frank and Jordan Bird.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s nice to have had a couple of weeks away from racing motorbikes, but I’ve still been working hard in order to prepare for Knockhill. This always feel like a home round for all of us from Northern Ireland and having achieved the double last year, it’s even more special now. We still have a lot to work on and there are areas we need to focus on but we’ll continue our plan. I’m in a great frame of mind, I’m healthy and really looking forward to the weekend and I know we’ll have a lot of support so hopefully we can grab a few victories and send everyone home happy.”

Jordan Bird, Team Owner: “Knockhill is always a weekend we look forward to. We as a team have had a couple of weeks to reflect on what has been a hugely successful start to the year. We are all recharged and ready to hit the ground running on Friday in what we hope will be sunny Scotland. As always we are looking forward to welcoming lots of friends, family, sponsors and partners to what I’m sure will be an exciting weekend of racing.”

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red)

Victory And Series Lead For Irwin At Sunny Donington

Sun, 19 May 2024 17:58:42 GMT

Glenn Irwin and the Hager PBM Ducati team took another win in the 2024 British Superbike Championship at a sun-kissed Donington Park today with the overall results across the weekend enabling them to extend their championship lead to 13 points.

After setting fourth fastest time in free practice, a difficult Superpole session put Glenn back in eighth for yesterday’s opening race and although he was quickly running inside the top six, positions were changing regularly. Indeed, it looked like sixth would be the outcome but after fellow Ducati rider Christian Iddon crashed, the race was stopped on lap 15 and Glenn subsequently awarded fifth place.

With the second fastest lap of the race, the Carrickfergus rider started today’s 12-lap Sprint race from the middle of the front row, immediately taking the lead at the first corner. After quickly opening a lead of more than a second, he was able to control it for the remainder of the race and although BMW’s Leon Haslam closed in over the final laps, Glenn duly took the chequered flag just under half a second clear for his fourth win of the season.

Starting the final race of the weekend from the middle of the front row once more, Glenn took the lead for the first time on the fifth lap but after that it was a tough battle with the leading four riders – Glenn, Tommy Bridewell, Danny Kent and Jason O’Halloran – constantly changing places. Glenn looked well on course for a podium but in the end, he had to settle for fourth with just 1.2s separating them at the end of 20 laps.

The next round takes place at Knockhill on June 14/16.

Glenn Irwin: “We had a bit of a problem with the bike after the North West 200 which hindered us on Friday and Saturday, and we were nowhere but the team worked beyond midnight on Saturday to give me a bike I could win on. The bike felt so good today and the hard work paid dividends in the first race. I was able to go flat out from the word go with some incredibly fast laps and we were ultimately rewarded with the victory. The final race of the weekend was just one of those you’re glad to be involved in. And whilst I would have been happy with any of the top four positions, I feel it should have been a podium. On the plus side, it was my first win on the GP circuit and we’ve extended our lead in the championship so on we go. I feel great and I’m enjoying the pressure of being the championship leader.”

Frank Bird, Team co-owner: “It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster of a weekend with the first two days being a bit scrappy due to the issue with the bike but if fifth is the outcome on a bad day, then it’s not too bad. Full credit to the team though, they rectified the issue, and we came out swinging today with a superb win and whilst we couldn’t repeat it in the final race, it was a pleasure to watch and typified why BSB’s so popular. Any of the four could have won and the results could have been different, but we come away from Donington Park having extended our lead in the championship and the whole team is working incredibly well together.”

British Superbike Championship race one (14 laps)
1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +0.559s
3 Leon Haslam (BMW) +1.060s
4 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +1.312s
5 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +2.748s
6 Max Cook (Kawasaki) +3.078s

British Superbike Championship race two (12 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
2 Leon Haslam (BMW) +0.335s
3 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +2.308s
4 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +3.920s
5 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +5.903s
6 Christian Iddon (Ducati) +11.201s

British Superbike Championship race three (20 laps)
1 Jason O’Halloran (Kawasaki)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Honda) +1.068s
3 Danny Kent (Yamaha) +1.209s
4 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) + 1.259s
5 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +5.064s
6 Leon Haslam (BMW) +5.969s

Championship Points (after three rounds)
1 Irwin 115pts
2 Kent 102
3 Ryde 95
4 Bridewell 93
5 Iddon 84
6 Haslam 82

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin in action and on the podium at Donington Park

Six Shooter Irwin Aims For More Wins

Tue, 14 May 2024 17:41:12 GMT

After six consecutive victories, Hager PBM Ducati rider Glenn Irwin heads to round three of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park this weekend in confident mood.

The 34 year old from Northern Ireland followed up his sensational triple victory at the previous BSB round at Oulton Park with a stunning hat-trick of Superbike race wins at the International North West 200 meaning he has won six races in six days, a remarkable feat for new team owners Frank and Jordan Bird.

Irwin heads the BSB title race by six points going into this weekend’s action and hopes to rectify his bad luck at the track which promised so much last season, but he still ended up with a podium finish to his name.

Both Glenn and the Hager PBM Ducati are a formidable combination around the 2.5-mile Grand Prix track and he is well placed to achieve his first win at the track and to continue the victorious run prior to a short break in the series after this round.

Glenn Irwin: “Going into Donington Park on the back of a treble at Oulton Park and my three race wins at the North West 200 means I’ve never been in a better place in my racing career. I think that’s my biggest achievement to date so I can’t wait to carry that momentum into this weekend. Donington is a track that we all enjoy and last year’s resurfacing favoured us, but sadly we didn’t get the results for various reasons. We were very strong at the test last month so we know we have a great package so I’m dreaming of a ‘treble treble’, and as we all know, sometimes dreams do come true!”

Jordan Bird, Team Owner: “Frank and I are still coming back down to earth after this past week which has seen us win an unprecedented six straight races so after a short while to recharge the batteries, we are back to it. Both Glenn and the team have done a wonderful job and I can’t thank them enough but the work starts again now, and hopefully we can continue this winning streak at Donington Park. If anyone deserves some luck after what happened last time we were there, it’s Glenn, so having been on the pace at the official test there last month, there’s no reason why we can’t keep this incredible run going.”

Pictures courtesy of Double Red

Treble NW200 Victory For History Maker Irwin

Sat, 11 May 2024 20:51:59 GMT

Glenn Irwin made history at the International North West 200 when he became the most successful Superbike rider in the history of the event as the Hager PBM Ducati rider won all three races around the high-speed 8.97-mile circuit linking the Northern Ireland towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush.

Irwin’s victories made it eleven Superbike wins in total and saw him surpass the previous record of nine, held jointly by the late Joey Dunlop and Michael Rutter.

Both qualifying sessions on Wednesday and Thursday signalled Glenn’s intentions and with a fastest lap of 125.928mph, which was some 2.3 seconds inside the outright lap record, he duly lined up in pole position for the first Superbike race held over four laps on Thursday evening.

As expected, the race saw Glenn go head-to-head with Davey Todd and although his BMW rival led for the first two laps, the Carrickfergus rider moved into the lead at the Juniper chicane next time around. It remained close but Glenn kept Todd at bay and duly took the chequered flag for his ninth NW200 victory, 2.545s clear of Todd. He also claimed the lap record, this time officially with a lap of 125.779mph.

The second race, held over the longer distance of six laps, took place early on Saturday afternoon with the Causeway Coast blessed with sunshine and it followed a similar pattern to Thursday’s race. On this occasion, Glenn took the lead on the third lap and although it remained close, he again kept Todd behind him, his winning margin on this occasion 0.382 seconds.

That just left the feature Superbike race, again held over six laps, and Glenn went hard at it with Todd once more with Honda’s Dean Harrison also in contention. Todd led for the first two laps before Glenn went into the lead on lap three and although there were a few more changes in the lead, Glenn made a move at University on the sixth and final lap stick and took the victory, his eleventh Superbike win in a row, from Todd by just under half a second.

Glenn Irwin: “To take a hat-trick and become the most successful Superbike rider in the history of the North West 200 feels really, really special. The team and I have worked hard this season and to respond to the challenges of two great riders like Davey and Dean isn’t easy and all three races were hard. I had to go to their level to win. It's an amazing achievement to win eleven races in a row and although some people ride harder than me here, I can find a way to win. When I first came here, I probably won some races on talent alone but since 2020, I've worked hard in other areas and that's why I keep winning. It means so much to me to win here as it’s my favourite event in the world and although it feels wrong to take a record from Joey Dunlop, I'm incredibly proud to do it. I feel on top of my game and love the team, every single one of them so with the hat-trick here and at Oulton Park last weekend, it’s my best week in racing.”

Jordan Bird, Joint Team Owner: “Six wins in six days at both Oulton Park in BSB and then here at the NW200 has been a dream. We’re just having a great time and Glenn is on fire at the minute. It’s pretty special for my brother Frank and I and our wonderful team so it’s a massive thank you to them and of course Glenn and our sponsors for making it happen. It’s now back to the day job of BSB so we will regroup and then head for Donington Park to try to keep this winning streak going.”

Briggs Equipment Superbike race (4 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
2 Davey Todd (BMW) +2.545s
3 Michael Dunlop (Honda) +16.786s
4 Peter Hickman (BMW) +17.230s
5 Dean Harrison (Honda) +18.286s
6 Conor Cummins (Honda) +34.509s

Anchor Bar Superbike race (6 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
2 Davey Todd (BMW) + 0.382s
3 Michael Dunlop (Honda) +19.255s
4 James Hillier (Honda) +1m01.866s
5 Michael Rutter (BMW) +1m03.292s
6 Erno Kostamo (BMW) +1m03.551s

Merrow Hotel & Spa Superbike race (6 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
2 Davey Todd (BMW) +0.464s
3 Dean Harrison (Honda) +3.342s
4 Michael Dunlop (Honda) +23.903s
5 Paul Jordan (Honda) +59.740s
6 Michael Rutter (BMW) +1m02.104s

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin took three victories at the North West 200 & pictured with Frank & Jordan Bird.

Treble Joy For Irwin At Oulton

Mon, 06 May 2024 18:29:25 GMT

Glenn Irwin and the Hager PBM Ducati team enjoyed a superb second round of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park over the Bank Holiday weekend as they claimed a stunning hat-trick of wins at their local circuit which were the first victories for the new-look team.

Fastest in Saturday’s practice session signalled Glenn’s intentions and he took that form into qualifying the following day with second place and a front row position for Sunday’s opening 18-lap race. A strong start saw him slot into second place behind Yamaha’s Ryan Vickers but on lap three Glenn took the lead for the first time and never looked back. Controlling the race from the front, he duly led for the remaining 15 laps and took the chequered flag just over a second clear of fellow Ducati rider Christian Iddon.

Victory, along with the fastest lap meant he lined up for today’s 12-lap ‘Sprint’ race on pole position with conditions slightly cooler at the Cheshire venue and this time it was an even more impressive performance from Irwin as he led from start to finish. Consistently maintaining a lead of around 0.4s, Irwin took the win by 0.352s from former team-mate Tommy Bridewell with Iddon again on the podium in third.

Starting the third and final race from second on the grid, the Northern Irishman had to sit behind Iddon for two thirds race distance but on lap 12, he made his move and took the lead at the Hizzy’s chicane. The race went all the way to the end though with Glenn doing battle with Iddon, and the Yamahas of Vickers and Danny Kent but he kept his rivals at bay once more to complete his hat-trick and with it the championship lead.

Glenn Irwin: “Sunday’s race was very enjoyable and races like that, when you lead for so long, are the sweet ones. We did the hard work learning the bike through testing and practice so set the pace from the front. I like to lead and control the race from there so with the fastest lap of the race as well, it couldn’t have worked out better. We stayed focused for today which we needed to do as we were constantly making changes to the bike and we improved a number of key factors which we needed to win – resilience, determination and precision being three. We had to show our character too and boxed professionally this weekend so the treble was nothing short of what the team deserved. It sets us up nicely for a busy two weeks with the North West 200 next and then Donington Park BSB so a big thanks to Jordan, Frank and the whole team.”

Frank Bird, Team Co-Owner: “It’s been a dream weekend and to take a hat-trick for the next generation of PBM is superb. After Navarra, we’ve regrouped and come back with a bang and to do it at our local circuit, in front of many of our sponsors as well as family and friends, is the icing on the cake. Both Glenn and the bike were on point all weekend and the team have worked incredibly well so hopefully it can give us some momentum and there’s no reason why we won’t be adding more wins this year. The last time we were here was for Dad’s memorial last September so to return to the venue and take all three wins is perfect – we’re continuing racing in his memory so all the wins are dedicated to him.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race One (18 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
2 Christian Iddon (Ducati)
3 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
4 Tommy Bridewell (Honda)
5 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
6 Danny Kent (Yamaha)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race Two (12 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Honda)
3 Christian Iddon (Ducati)
4 Danny Kent (Yamaha)
5 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
6 Jason O’Halloran (Kawasaki)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race Three (18 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
2 Christian Iddon (Ducati)
3 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
4 Danny Kent (Yamaha)
5 Leon Haslam (BMW)
6 Tommy Bridewell (Honda)

Championship Positions (after two rounds)
1 Irwin 74
2 Vickers 68
3 Iddon 67
4 Kent 64
5 Ryde 55
6 Bridewell 47

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin in action and with the team after a hat-trick of historic victories.

Irwin Heads to Oulton Park in Confident Mood

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:53:34 GMT

Round two of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads for Oulton Park this bank holiday weekend with both Glenn Irwin and the Hager PBM Ducati team looking forward to the action.

After the opening round at Circuito de Navarra in Spain which saw Ulsterman Irwin claim a fourth and eighth place finish, the series returns to the UK for the remainder of the rounds starting with the team’s local event this weekend.

The Cheshire track has been a happy hunting ground in recent times with Glenn taking three wins out of the six races held there last year, and placing himself on the podium in the other three so he arrives in confident mood ahead of the triple header.

Prior to the races on Sunday and Monday, the team will be in action at the R&G official test at Oulton Park on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s always great to go to Oulton Park which is the team’s home round and I also have many sponsors based in the area. It’s always a special time of year as we have a busy few weeks what with BSB and the North West 200. We lost our way a little in the second race at the opening round but I know we have a great setting for Oulton Park and can’t wait to get to work at the test this week. This track holds special memories for me with all the success I had last year, never finishing off the podium and winning three races. I’ve been working really hard behind the scenes since Navarra so I’m sure we can take the fight to the opposition and hopefully come away with a repeat of last year's successes.”

Jordan Bird, Team Owner: “It’s back on home soil for the Hager PBM Ducati team and we are looking forward to welcoming all our longstanding partners plus a few new ones this weekend. Oulton Park is our home round and also a circuit we have had plenty of success at both as a team and Glenn as a rider. The circuit always makes for exciting racing so we anticipate some great battles across the weekend. Let’s hope we can take home our first silverware of the year.”

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

Solid Points At Navarra For Irwin

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 17:40:48 GMT

Hager PBM Ducati rider Glenn Irwin scored a fourth and eighth place finish in today’s opening two rounds of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship to get some solid points on the board at Circuito de Navarra.

The Carrickfergus rider showed good pace in testing prior to the races at the track in northern Spain and followed that up with fourth place in the Omologato Superpole qualifying session to place him at the head of the second row of the grid for race one.

In the opening race today, Irwin got a good start and was circulating in the leading bunch throughout the 20-lap race but couldn’t make a move for the podium and in the end, had to settle for fourth place behind the Yamahas of Ryan Vickers, Kyle Ryde and Danny Kent.

The nine-times title-winning PBM Racing Team made a few improvements to the Hager PBM Ducati for the second race of the day where Glenn lined up on the front row. However, an uncharacteristic poor start saw him mired down the order and had to battle his way through from a lowly 14th place.

The double runner-up in the series for the past two years was making good progress in the 20-lap race and was up to fifth at one point but in the end had to salvage an eighth place at the chequered flag to ensure a solid points-scoring start to his 2024 campaign.

Today’s results see Glenn hold fifth in the standings, just a single point behind Christian Iddon and 16 points off the series lead going into the next round at Oulton Park in two weeks’ time

Glenn Irwin: “A tough weekend. We had a great test during the week but after putting a new motor in afterwards, the whole dynamic of the bike changed. It did not feel like my bike whatsoever but all in all it’s solid points on the board and we know how to solve it which is an easy fix. We always knew the Yamahas would be strong in the races here, and so it proved, but I’m still disappointed we couldn’t get on the podium in race one and eighth in race two was the best I could do. It’s been a frustrating weekend but thanks to the team and it’s great to get the new era for PBM underway.”

Jordan Bird, Team Owner: “That’s round one done and dusted for the Hager PBM Ducati team. Overall it has been a little tougher than we anticipated and the results definitely don’t show the effort we put in and potential of both the team and bike. Saying that we have plenty of positives to walk away with, points on the board and the first weekend of our new era under our belts. We head to Oulton Park for round two now, it’s our local track and one we have had plenty of success at in the past. We hope to see as many of you trackside as possible.”

Bennetts British Superbike Race 1 (20 laps)
1. Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
2. Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
3. Danny Kent (Yamaha)
4. Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
5. Rory Skinner (BMW)
6. Christian Iddon (Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Race 2 (20 laps)
1. Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
2. Danny Kent (Yamaha)
3. Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
4. Leon Haslam (BMW)
5. Christian Iddon (Ducati)
6. Jason O'Halloran (Kawasaki)
8. Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Points (after Round 1)
1. Ryan Vickers (Yamaha) 36 points
2. Danny Kent (Yamaha) 30
3. Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) 30
4. Christian Iddon (Ducati) 21
5. Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 20
6. Leon Haslam (BMW) 17

Pictures (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin in action and Team Owners Jordan and Frank Bird with mum Karen

Irwin On The Pace Heading Into Navarra BSB Opener

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:06:32 GMT

Hager PBM Ducati rider Glenn Irwin sent a clear message to his rivals as he just missed out on top spot of the combined official test times at Circuito de Navarra ahead of the opening two 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship races this weekend.

The Carrickfergus rider was at the sharp end throughout the three day test at the Spanish track and topped the times in a couple of sessions before rival Kyle Ryde edged him out in the fifth and final session this morning.

Riding for the nine-times title-winning PBM Racing Team, now under the ownership of Jordan and Frank Bird, Irwin intends to make up for the disappointment of finishing runner-up the last two seasons and is looking to get off to a great start in the pair of races on Sunday.

Glenn Irwin : “I’m really excited to start our first race weekend as part of the new era for the Hager PBM Racing Team. They say you’re as good as your last race and I won that at Brands Hatch last year so I’m feeling confident. I must praise the team for doing a tremendous job to get to where we are today, everyone is working so hard and I’m proud to be a part of this. We’ve had a huge program to get through in testing so it’s been busy but at the same time we’re proved we are competitive. We know how strong the opposition is but I feel as if we can challenge for the victories this weekend as we’ve done a lot of hard work. Roll on this year’s championship!”

Jordan Bird, Team Owner: “Well, 2024 has finally arrived. It’s been an extremely tough winter for us so arriving here in Spain was a real milestone. Testing has gone exactly as we planned, we did our own thing and made some really good headway with both 2023 and 2024 parts. Now it’s for the fun part, the racing. Hager PBM Ducati are as ready as ever and we can’t wait to add to my late father’s success.”

Images (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin testing at Navarra.

PBM Racing Team and Hager Power Into New Title Sponsorship Partnership

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 20:02:07 GMT

The title-winning PBM Racing Team have unveiled a new look ahead of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship, announcing a new title sponsorship partnership with leading electrical supplier, Hager.

Hager have been long-term sponsors of the PBM Racing Team, celebrating their tenth year of association this season by increasing their support, as together they target a tenth Bennetts BSB title in the new era for the team.

Last season the team claimed the top two positions in the Riders’ standings and sealed the Team’s Championship with 18 race wins and a total of 36 podium finishes. Glenn Irwin now returns with Hager PBM Ducati this year in a bid to claim his first Bennetts BSB title, getting underway with the first Official Test at Donington Park (April 6-7) ahead of the opening round at Circuito de Navarra later this month (April 20-21).

Bruce Davies, Managing Director, Hager UK: “It was going to happen one day, and now the time is right. We have been part of the team now for ten years and given all the speculation around the future for 2024, it was never in doubt that Hager would be back to support the next step in the PBM story under the leadership of Jordan and Frank. This a great opportunity for Hager and PBM to further engage with our customers, providing them with an unrivalled experience whilst supporting Glenn and the team in the quest to achieve an unprecedented tenth title. Our desire to be a part of this was something that I was not going to pass on.”

PBM Racing Team Owner Jordan Bird: “It would be an understatement to say it has been a big winter for the team! We had our first big announcement of PBM returning this season and now we are really happy to share the news of our new title sponsor, Hager, who I would firstly like to thank for their continued support and also unveil our new livery. Hager remains one of the team’s most loyal partners and it seems the perfect fit for them to celebrate their tenth year with us by becoming our title sponsor as we prepare to fight for a tenth title. Together we can now look forward to the next key moment for the team in our new era, when Glenn rolls out of pitlane for the first time at the Official Test this weekend before the first round of the season at Circuito de Navarra.”

Image (courtesy of Double Red): The 2024 Hager PBM Ducati livery with Team Owner Jordan Bird

Irwin To Front PBM Title Defence In Bennetts BSB

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 09:16:34 GMT

Nine times and defending Bennetts British Superbike champions PBM will return to the grid in 2024 with Glenn Irwin looking to go one better after finishing runner-up for the past two seasons.

The 33-year-old from Carrickfergus finished an agonising half point behind teammate Tommy Bridewell last season and returns with the PBM team which is now fronted by Jordan and Frank Bird as they continue their father Paul’s legacy following his untimely passing last year. 

 Jordan and her twin brother have spent the winter finalising plans for the 32-race Bennetts BSB season ahead with Irwin as the sole rider aboard the Ducati V4R, on which he will contest the International North West 200 too.

Last season, the PBM team won 18 races and finished on the podium a further 18 times also, of which Irwin won ten races and podiumed eight times additionally, so the Ulsterman goes in search of his maiden crown which would be an unprecedented tenth title for Britian’s most successful team.   

Over a 23-year involvement in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, as well as their nine titles with riders including Steve Hislop, Shane Byrne, Scott Redding, Josh Brookes, and Tommy Bridewell, PBM have won 138 races, secured an additional 175 podium finishes and claimed 98 pole positions. 

 PBM has a new title sponsor for the 2024 Bennetts BSB season which will be revealed shortly prior to the opening test weekend at Donington Park on April 6/7. The season gets underway at Navarra in Spain with two races over the weekend of April 20/21. 

 Glenn Irwin: “For the people reading this it must be a relief as I have been inundated with messages from fans asking me about what I am doing this season, which has been really nice, and I am so grateful for their support. It might sound like a cliché, but there was never really anywhere else I wanted to be, despite interest from elsewhere when there was some uncertainty, my heart and attention was always to remain with PBM. To touch on last year, we had an amazing season working together, and after four years apart we came back together, and I think in that time I have grown up and matured. The team went through a lot last year, but it was also an amazing year, and the championship was one of the most exciting in history and I am extremely grateful to have been a part of that. It didn’t work out in my favour as such, but it doesn’t take any of the sweetness away from it because we had great success. I believe and fully expect myself to be fighting for the championship from the off, but we also have to understand some changes and we will have to adapt. It certainly isn’t just a case of roll the dice like last year, we have a lot of work to do, and I think it is important that we are not complacent. We do our work, and then I think we can certainly be in for a lot of race wins and success ahead. I started my Superbike career with PBM and as much as it is a new era with Jordan and Frank as my bosses now, I will never separate the first part of the PBM chapter to this one. I had my first pole position, first podium and first win with the team, but there are a few things I want to achieve. First off, it is to win the British Superbike Championship and secondly to retain it, they are the two things I want to achieve with PBM.” 

 Team Owners Jordan and Frank Bird Junior: “We are delighted to confirm that the PBM team will be back on the grid this season. It has obviously been a real emotional rollercoaster for us, and we are so proud of what the whole team achieved last year, ending the season on a high with a one-two in the standings. The PBM team remain fully committed to the championship and after a lot of uncertainty over the last few months we are delighted that Glenn returns as we begin the next chapter for PBM. He has a long-standing history with the team – from making his Superbike debut, to a first podium and his first race win in the championship. We hope that together we can add a Championship title to that this season! We want to take this opportunity to thank our partners and fans for their continued support and we are now looking forward to the future of PBM and keeping Dad’s memory alive.”

Fourth For Frank in Gulf 12 Hours

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 20:24:27 GMT

24-year-old Cumbrian racing driver Frank Bird made the most of this opportunity from winning the recent AMG Young Driver Test to take a superb fourth place overall in the Lenovo Gulf 12 Hours race which took place at the YAS Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi at the weekend.

Penrith-born Frank was part of a three-driver team entered by the GruppeM Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing team where he competed alongside 21-year-old Italian Lorenzo Ferrari and the experienced Austrian Lucas Auer in the Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The event, which formed the final round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli saw 28 teams in action in the Middle East’s premier GT endurance race, whereby the team endured some technical issues during Friday’s open practice before qualifying in fifth on Saturday to start Sunday’s race from the third row, just half a second off the pole position time.

Thereafter, an exciting and hard-fought race saw an action-packed encounter which featured battles for the top positions right until the chequered flag and ended with victory for Mercedes-AMG GruppeM Racing’s Maro Engel, Luca Stolz and Mikael Grenier.

Team WRT’s BMW M4 GT3, driven by MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, Dries Vanthoor and Nick Yelloly, pushed their rivals all the way to the flag, finishing just under 13 seconds behind after 348 laps of racing. Mercedes-AMG Team 2 Seas completed the overall podium in third place with Jules Gounon, Maximilian Goetz and Fabian Schiller just a lap ahead of Bird and his teammates.

Frank Bird: "P4 in the race this weekend was pretty good considering we had a few minor issues in our first few days of practice. It was a long, hard race but I think we maximised everything so it was satisfying to leave the weekend with a positive result. We had a few little setbacks along the way but nevertheless, a top-four placing is a very strong result on my Pro car debut. Thanks to AMG for this opportunity after winning the Young Driver Shootout in Valencia, it was a huge privilege to represent the brand and hope it’s not the last time. Thanks to my teammates Lucas and Lorenzo and to Team GruppeM for their hard work which didn’t go unnoticed. Also congratulations to our teammates for winning the race overall.”

Images: Frank Bird finished fourth in the Lenovo Gulf 12 Hours race for Mercedes.

Impressive Frank Bird Gains Gulf 12 Hours Prize Drive

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 13:44:24 GMT

The AMG Young Driver Test took place last week at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo near Valencia which was attended by 22 talented youngsters, all of whom hold a Gold or Silver FIA classification.

The participants, who come from all over the world, were coached on site by a team of Mercedes-AMG Performance drivers, each of whom was assigned to a different group. To ensure optimum comparability, the various Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars were matched for weight and fitted with identical Pirelli tyres.

The Haupt Racing Team (HRT) nominee, 24-year-old British driver Frank Bird from Penrith in Cumbria and 21-year-old Italian Lorenzo Ferrari, who drove a Windward Racing AMG GT3, came out on top against strong competition.

As a result, both Bird and Ferrari will now share a cockpit in the Gulf 12 Hours which forms the season finale of the Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli. The race takes place at the YAS Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on 8/10 December.

The car will be entered by the GruppeM Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing team, and their professional co-driver will be Austrian Lucas Auer who was a member of the coaching team in Valencia.

One of the drivers Frank will be competing against is nine-times MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi, who will make a debut appearance in the Middle East’s premier GT endurance race, driving a BMW.

Frank Bird: "I am very happy with the result of the Young Driver Test. It's an honour to have been given this opportunity by HRT and I felt very comfortable with the team. We worked hard, focused on ourselves and ultimately put in a great performance. Many thanks to the whole team and to Luca Stolz, who helped me a lot as my driver coach. I'm looking forward to competing in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the Gulf 12 Hours. In Lorenzo Ferrari and Lucas Auer, we have a good line-up and we hope to bring home the best possible result."

Lucas Auer, Mercedes-AMG Performance driver: "The AMG Young Driver Test in Valencia was a great event and the quality of the participants was extremely high. Lorenzo Ferrari and Frank Bird did a really excellent job. Now I'm really looking forward to competing with the two of them in Abu Dhabi, and I hope that we acquit ourselves well as a team."

Image: Frank Bird beat 20 other young drivers to land the Gulf 12 Hours prize drive for Mercedes.

Frank Bird’s Team Wins GT World Challenge Championship

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 07:40:58 GMT

In what can only be described as one of the best ever weekends in the near thirty year history of Paul Bird Motorsport, Frank Bird helped secure the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Silver Cup Championship to the PBM bike team’s fantastic 1-2 in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship following a double victory at Zandvoort.

Once again driving for the German-based Haupt Racing Team in the Mercedes-AMG GT3, Penrith-born Frank helped Australian teammate Jordan Love secure the driver’s championship in the Silver Cup and in doing so, the pair claimed the team’s title on the final race weekend of the season at the Dutch track.

After a successful season so far with two class wins and five further podium finishes, the team were just a single point behind the series leaders going into the final two races. Saturday's race started in unsettled weather conditions but on the rain-soaked track, Love started from second position in class. At the start of the race, he was able to move up a few places and handed the #77 car over to Bird as class leader leaving him to cross the line to win the Silver Cup, recording their third victory of the season, and claiming a remarkable sixth place in the overall standings.

Starting the final race day as the championship leader in the team’s class, Frank was able to take advantage of the difficult qualifying conditions and claim pole position in the Silver Cup to start the race from the second row of the grid. From there, the Cumbrian coped well with the difficult conditions in the race and handed over to Jordan who took another victory in the Silver Cup.

At the end of an eventful race, the Haupt Racing Team secured its fourth class win of the season and a strong sixth place overall meaning the team from Drees was the strongest Mercedes-AMG in the field this weekend. They won the Silver Cup team championship with a 17-point lead whilst Love was crowned driver's champion in his class.

As well as the team honours, Frank was able to secure fourth place in the driver's championship despite having to miss two recent races following the death of his instrumental father Paul last month..

Frank Bird, #77Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “Wow, what a weekend where to even start! Firstly from my side it was fantastic to finally be back in the car in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Silver Cup Championship. Overall I’m super happy with the weekend and it was great to finally piece everything together with P3 overall in qualifying and to lead the race outright in race two. Unfortunately the weather hit midway through the stint and we lost some time on slicks in the wet as it was a bit sketchy. It was fantastic that I could get my teammate over the line to win the Silver Cup Championship for him and help secure the team title too, which is a huge accomplishment and well deserved. Thanks to all the team for everything this year, it’s been a pleasure. Racing myself ultimately meant I couldn’t be present at Brands Hatch for the final British Superbike Championship round. That was left in great hands with my sister Jordan at the helm. Congratulations to our two riders, Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin, for their outstanding seasons individually and to get our ninth BSB championship over the line and also a 1-2 in both races as well as in the championsip is the icing on the cake. They really did my dad proud! Thanks to all our sponsors for making this whole season happen.”

Pictures courtesy of www.gt-world-challenge-europe.com

For further information, please visit https://media.hauptracingteam.de

Bridewell Claims Dramatic British Superbike Title For BeerMonster Ducati

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 17:38:54 GMT

BeerMonster Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell clinched his maiden Bennetts British Superbike Championship crown at Brands Hatch today as he defeated teammate Glenn Irwin by just half a point to make it the closest end in the history of the championship.

It was Irwin who took both race victories on the day, his ninth and tenth of the season, but Bridewell’s brace of second-place finishes saw him come out on top and with it, give the PBM team an unprecedented ninth BSB title, a fitting tribute to their late team boss Paul Bird.

The results of Saturday’s thrilling BikeSocial Sprint race meant Glenn and Tommy lined up in second and fourth respectively for today’s opening 20-lap encounter, which saw Irwin grab the lead at the second corner as Tommy dropped back to sixth.

However, he soon regrouped and as Glenn continued to lead, Tommy moved up to third at half-race distance and when Kyle Ryde ran wide on lap 15, he took over second. For the remainder of the race, the two teammates ran nose to tail but despite the pressure he was under, Glenn held firm to take the victory ahead of Tommy.

It meant Tommy went into the final race of the season with a 5.5-point lead from where he lined up on pole with Glenn on the second row. What followed was nothing short of sensational as positions changed frequently in the race and, with it, the championship lead which exchanged hands on no less than eight occasions.

The race went right down to the wire and although Glenn did all he could by taking the win, second for Tommy was enough for him to take the title with a brave pass on Kyle Ryde on the last lap.

Tommy Bridewell: “Everything in my life has been built towards this and I’ve dedicated every day to my late brother Ollie and to become BSB champion, so for it to finally happen has made my life complete. Full credit to Glenn, he’s brought both the best and worst out of me and he’s pushed me like no teammate has ever done before – he’s an unbelievable rider and certainly knows how to ride a bike! When Paul Bird took me on, I told him I’d give everything, so the title is dedicated to both him and Ollie and I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone involved in the team for the opportunity. Today was tough and tense, but we got it done.”

Glenn Irwin: “The maths were simple today; I had to win both races and although I did that, it wasn’t quite enough so hats off to Tommy. I tried every trick in the book, especially in the last race, and positions changed regularly, sometimes in my favour and sometimes not. The most important thing though was that I gave it everything and that’s all I can ask so full respect to Tommy. You had two guys from the same team giving it everything and all for the same reason and whilst there were ups and downs along the way, you could see today the respect we have for each other. Saturday’s race was probably what cost me, but I feel in the form of my life and a 1-2 in the championship is the best possible outcome for the Birdman.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “What a day and what a weekend! Tense wouldn’t do it justice but after the 3-4 in yesterday’s race, it made things a bit simpler for the final day and Glenn knew he had no option other than to go for two wins with Tommy knowing he needed two seconds if that happened. As it turned out, that’s how the race panned out and maybe Glenn will regret not making his move a lap later but what’s great has been to see the lads fight it out on track cleanly and with great respect. To see them congratulate each other at the end shows what sportsmen they are. It’s been a surreal year, probably the strangest I’ll experience but the bottom line is we took 18 wins, finished 1-2 in the championship, and won both the team and manufacturer awards all after losing the boss. We had a few bumps along the way, but I can’t thank the team enough for their hard work every single weekend.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship – race two (20 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
3 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
4 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
5 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)
6 Leon Haslam (BMW)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship – race three (20 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
3 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
4 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
5 Leon Haslam (BMW)
6 Christian Iddon (Ducati)

Final Championship standings (after 33 races)
1 Bridewell 455pts
2 Irwin 454.5
3 Ryde 422
4 Jackson 376.5
5 Haslam 369
6 O’Halloran 365.5

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Tommy Bridewell is the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Champion with Glenn Irwin finishing runner-up.

BeerMonster Ducati Maintain Title Bid After Opening Race

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 18:55:01 GMT

The BeerMonster Ducati duo of Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin maintained first and second place in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship after taking third and fourth place finishes respectively in the opening race of the final round at Brands Hatch today.

Bridewell’s third place, his 16th podium finish of the season, means he goes into tomorrow’s final two races with a slender 10.5-point advantage over his teammate with today’s race winner Kyle Ryde a further 16.5 points adrift.

After mixed conditions in practice, today initially saw dry and sunny conditions albeit with cool temperatures, but heavy rain fell just before eBay Qualifying which meant challenging conditions for the riders and although Tommy put in some solid laps to place seventh for the afternoon’s race, Glenn could only manage 17th.

That means confidence is at a high as both riders look to increase the gap to third placed Kyle Ryde who is now 35 points behind Bridewell and 27.5 adrift of Irwin but with three races all scoring 35 points for a win this weekend, nothing can be taken for granted.

If either rider can box off the title, it would be an unprecedented ninth Bennetts BSB crown for the PBM team, and the first since 2020 when Josh Brookes won on the Ducati. It would also be a perfect tribute to Birdy who passed away after a short illness in September.

Tommy Bridewell: “It’s hard to believe it’s the final round already but I’m looking forward to getting the championship decider underway this weekend. I’m in the position where everyone else wants to be at the head of the table and arriving at Brands Hatch, I’m feeling very confident. We have shown earlier in the season we have good pace in both the wet and the dry so if there’s one track I’d like the title to be decided at, it’s there. Hopefully it will all work out well and if everything goes to plan, I’ll do the team, myself and of course Paul proud by lifting the champion’s trophy.”

Glenn Irwin: “The mathematics speak for themselves and although we could dwell on the previous round, that doesn’t align with my plan on where this championship is going. I’ve said all along that there is a long-term goal for this season and that’s to become British Superbike champion, and I still maintain that, and I feel it is going to happen. I plan to shape my own upwards trajectory so if I listen to my own advice, then it’s all to play for. I just want to enjoy the weekend, have some fun and the plan is to come away with the number one plate.”

John Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “Although we surrendered a few points to our rivals at Donington Park, some of them didn’t maximise their opportunities and we’re still first and second in the standings with three races left. Both Tommy and Glenn have a fantastic chance of becoming British champion, but if the title is to come our way, it can only be one of them, sadly. We’ll arrive and do our job as normal; we have had great success at Brands Hatch over the years, and if we can get that ninth title for the team and especially for Paul, it would mean the world to us. May the best man win, whoever that is.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship – BikeSocial Sprint Race (12 laps)
1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
2 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)
3 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
4 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
5 Christian Iddon (Ducati)
6 Peter Hickman (BMW)

Championship standings
1 Bridewell 395pts
2 Irwin 384.5
3 Ryde 368
4 O’Halloran 347.5
5 Jackson 338.5
6 Haslam 327

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) challenge for the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship title this weekend.

Title Showdown Beckons For BeerMonster Ducati

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 10:23:49 GMT

The final round of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads for Brands Hatch this weekend with BeerMonster Ducati riders Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin first and second in the standings.

The pair arrive at the season finale separated by 7.5 points having won eight races each so far and accumulating a further 15 podiums between them for the late Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team and after a disappointing round at Donington Park, they aim to get back to winning ways and reassert their authority on proceedings.

Earlier in the season, Bridewell took a double victory at the Kent track whereas Irwin took two wins at the corresponding meeting last year meaning the pair have won four of the last six Bennetts BSB races to be held at Brands Hatch.

Nürburgring Disappointment For Frank Bird

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 07:25:29 GMT

Just over a month since the untimely passing of his father Paul, Penrith-born racing driver Frank Bird returned to action when he contested the Nürburgring Endurance Series (Langstrecken-Serie) at the weekend but was out of luck.

Driving for the German-based Haupt Racing Team, it was Frank’s first outing since the Misano round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe back in July and was teamed up with Estonian driver Ralf Aron and Arjun Maini from India for the four-hour race.

The trio were contesting the SP9 Pro class in the the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and qualified in 17th place overall amidst a very strong field for the 47th PAGID Racing DMV Münsterlandpokal race but Frank’s hopes of repeating his class victory at the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Race Nürburgring earlier in the season were dashed early on with a techical problem whilst holding ninth place.

Frank Bird: “It’s been a difficult few weeks since we lost my dad and I’ve had to put my schedule on hold for a while, but it was good to get back in the car again. Unfortunately we had a transmission issue very early on and lost around 45 minutes whilst the team made repairs but we got back out to gain some more valauble track time and bring the car home to a finish although not to a result we wanted. Thanks as always to team HRT and my sponsors for the opportunity.”

Images: Frank Bird in action in the 47th PAGID Racing DMV Münsterlandpokal race this weekend.

For further information, please visit https://media.hauptracingteam.de

Bridewell And Irwin Still Top The Table After Difficult Donington

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 19:29:32 GMT

Despite a very testing weekend at the penultimate round of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park, the BeerMonster Ducati duo of Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell endured another difficult day today but still lead the series in first and second position going into the final round at Brands Hatch in two weeks’ time.

After yesterday’s lottery of tyre choice in the changing conditions which saw neither rider score points in the BikeSocial Sprint race, hopes were high for today’s opening race despite Irwin starting from row four and Bridewell on the back of the grid.

Both riders made excellent starts with Glenn up to second at the end of the opening lap and Tommy already in 15th. Glenn soon took the lead as Tommy continued to move forward, working his way up into the top ten on lap four and then into the top five four laps later. By then, spots of rain were falling, and less than two seconds covered the leading seven riders as Bridewell hit the front followed by Irwin.

But as the lead continued to change, going into the Melbourne Hairpin, Bridewell clattered into the back of his teammate sending the pair crashing out and adding no points to their tally for a second race running. Yamaha’s Kyle Ryde took the win from Leon Haslam (BMW) which meant 33.5pts covered the four riders in the points table.

The final race of the weekend, held in fully wet conditions, saw the pair line up on the grid next to each other in fourth and fifth but Glenn’s race was over almost straightaway, retiring at the first corner with a technical issue. Tommy, meanwhile, ran in fifth in the early stages before dropping back and with the race ending early after Haslam’s bike expired, he claimed ninth at the flag which saw him reclaim the championship lead.

The race was won by Yamaha’s Jason O’Halloran ahead of Christian Iddon (Ducati) and Josh Brookes (BMW) to leave Bridewell in the lead of the series, 7.5 points ahead of Irwin with Ryde in third a further 27.5 points back and Haslam in fourth. The three races at Brands Hatch offer 35 points each for a win.

Glenn Irwin: “This weekend has highlighted the highs and lows of racing, particularly the latter but it’s part of the job and it’s left the championship on a knife edge. I felt good in the first race and was pretty much in cruise mode until the spots of rain began to fall which led me to back off a bit. The incident with Tommy happened but I bear no resentment, we put it behind us and moved on to the last race. I had a good feeling in the wet but, unfortunately, a throttle sensor went so we ended the weekend with no points. The points table could have looked a lot different but I’m only 7.5pts behind Tommy and mentally I feel in a good place and I’m so fortunate to ride for such a good team.”

Tommy Bridewell: “I’m sore after today’s crash and worn out emotionally after the weekend. Without doubt it’s been a tough day and a rollercoaster of a meeting and whilst the incident in the first race was bad for all of us, it was just a racing incident, but I apologised to Glenn and his team as it was obviously disappointing for both of us. I felt so strong on the bike and to come from last on the grid to lead after eight laps is almost unheard of in BSB so it’s a real shame it happened. In the final race, I had a few visibility issues, but I came here half a point behind in the championship standings and I’m leaving 7.5pts in the lead so I’m feeling positive going into the final round at Brands.”

John Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “It’s been a tough day in a manner of ways but with the way the results went today, I think we’ve dodged a bullet as the championship table could be a lot closer than what it is. What happened in the first race was a racing incident and could have happened to anyone, it’s just more unfortunate when the person you take out is your teammate. No-one intends to do that in racing and at the end of the day, they’re human beings competing in a pressure situation and today Tommy made a mistake with both riders paying the price. After six wins on the bounce, it’s a shame the run has ended the way it has but we can be grateful that we’re still first and second in the championship and still with a bit of a buffer to the rest of the field.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (16 laps)

1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) 

2 Leon Haslam (BMW) 

3 Christian Iddon (Ducati) 

4 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki) 

5 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha) 

6 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha) 

DNF Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 

DNF Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (15 laps) 

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Christian Iddon (Ducati)

3 Josh Brookes (BMW)

4 Charlie Nesbitt (Honda)

5 Jack Kennedy (Yamaha)

6 Storm Stacey (Kawasaki)

9 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 

DNF Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)

Championship Standings (after ten rounds)

 1 Bridewell 368pts 

2 Irwin 360.5 

3 Ryde 333

4 Haslam 327

5 Jackson 324.5

6 O’Halloran 317.5

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) at Donington Parkrk.

Donington Disappointment For BeerMonster Ducati

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 09:43:50 GMT

The BeerMonster Ducati duo of Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell had a race to forget at Donington Park this afternoon with the duo both finishing outside the points in the BikeSocial Sprint Race of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

With rain arriving as the bikes assembled on the grid, their choice of intermediate tyres worked against them, but with the majority of their main championship rivals not faring any better, they remain separated by half a point at the top of the championship standings and more than fifty points ahead of new third placed rider Leon Haslam.

After solid performances in the three practice sessions where both riders were placed inside the top ten, this afternoon’s eBay qualifying session saw Bridewell best of the two teammates as he posted the second quickest time for a front row start in the race with Irwin a further row back in sixth place.

However, the dry weather in qualifying gave way to a damp track in the actual race, which was cut from 12 laps to ten and meant tyre choice was something of a lottery especially as the threat of rain was never too far away.

The two BeerMonster Ducati riders both opted for intermediate tyres front and rear but by the time the race got underway, light rain had begun to fall so they, like many others, found themselves on the wrong Pirelli rubber. Both pitted to change tyres but rejoining a lap down, 23rd and 24th was the best they could manage at the finish.

The race was won by Yamaha’s Ryan Vickers, but nearest championship rival to the PBM riders, Kyle Ryde, could only manage 12th and it was second placed Haslam who benefitted the most in the conditions. He moved up to third in the championship standings but still lies 55.5 points adrift of leader Irwin going into tomorrow’s two races.

Glenn Irwin: “We had an idea of what the weather forecast was going to do but the slight delay in the schedule meant things changed and that led to a variety of opinions on what tyres to go with. There wasn’t much time to decide, and I perhaps could have been more assertive in saying what I wanted rather than asking the question of the team, but it is what it is. It was a chaotic race which led to a strange result, but the championship position has barely changed at all. There’s still only half a point between Tommy and myself and we’ve a good gap to Leon and Kyle so no harm done.”

Tommy Bridewell: “As strange as it seems, there’s nothing to be disappointed about today. These are the days you can’t win the championship, but you can certainly lose it especially if you were to fall off and get injured. After the sighting lap I felt sure the intermediates were the right tyre choice, but conditions were getting worse and by then it was too late to change. The rain caught us out but whilst I knew we weren’t going to score any points; I also knew lots of other riders would be in the same position and so it proved. We’re all in one piece and we’ve lost minimal points in the table, so we’ll go again tomorrow.”

John Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “On paper, the results don’t look good at all, but these are the days when you need to consider the overall picture and the bottom line is that we’re still first and second in the championship with a healthy lead. That’s what matters most and if we can take the positives out of today, then that’s a good thing. Many of our rivals went for the same choice of intermediate tyres and it was just a chaotic race for a lot of people, so we’ll just write this one off. Our pace in the dry was strong, as seen in qualifying, so we’ll go again tomorrow and look to bag a big haul of points and hopefully extend our championship lead.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship – BikeSocial Sprint race (10 laps) 

1 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)

 2 Leon Haslam (BMW) 

3 Luke Mossey (BMW) 

4 Jack Kennedy (Yamaha) 

5 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki) 

6 Franco Bourne (Honda)

 23 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 

24 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)

Championship Standings 

1 Irwin 360.5 

2 Bridewell 360pts 

3 Haslam 305 

4 Ryde 304 

5 Jackson 296.5

6 O’Halloran 276.5

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) at Donington Park.

BeerMonster Ducati Aim For More Success At Donington Park

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 10:12:14 GMT

BeerMonster Ducati riders Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell head into the penultimate round of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship looking to continue their recent domination.

Just half a point separates the pair arriving at Donington Park following a clean sweep of six successive victories at the previous two rounds with Ulsterman Irwin holding the narrowest of advantages over Devizes rider Bridewell with both riders winning eight races each so far this year for the Lake District-based team.

Following an emotional past month having lost team owner Paul Bird and the subsequent tributes at Oulton Park and since then at his well-attended funeral, Paul’s daughter Jordan and son Frank have taken up the mantle of running the team and are now focusing on the quest for an unprecedented ninth BSB title for the PBM team.

The two BeerMonster Ducati riders have a healthy 60-point gap at the top of the table but with enhanced points on offer again in the three races at Donington Park this weekend, which escalate even higher into the three Brands Hatch races two weeks afterwards, both Irwin and Bridewell know they need to be on top of their game once again.

However, earlier in the season, Donington Park was just one of two tracks out of the nine rounds so far where either or both riders didn’t score a victory so they will aim to rectify that at a track both riders traditionally go well at with a combined total of ten podiums between them.

Glenn Irwin: “We will get back to business this weekend after a very emotional few weeks paying our various tributes to Paul. But just like at Oulton, we have work to do and that’s to focus our efforts and continue the job in hand. The journey this season keeps getting better and is something I’m very much enjoying as we chase the championship. I’m looking at the end goal rather than each race and whatever will be will be. We didn’t have the best of luck at Donington earlier in the season, but we were strong and had good pace, so the plan is to keep the recent winning run going.”

Tommy Bridewell: “It’s been an emotional time for everyone in the team as we said our farewells to Paul but now, we need to do him proud by maintaining our challenge for the title. Oulton wasn’t ideal for me but that’s history and all I’m concentrating on is this weekend at Donington. I suffered my one and only technical failure all season when leading there earlier in the season so I’m 100% focused on gaining as many points as I can. The plan is to leave Donington in a stronger position than when I arrived and if I can do that, then it’s game on for the final round at Brands Hatch.”

John Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “It’s fair to say emotions were running very high both on and off the track at Oulton Park which is understandable given the situation with losing Paul and both our riders being so hungry to win. We’ve all had a chat and suffice to say, we are totally united more than ever in our quest to win the BSB title for a ninth time. We didn’t enjoy the best of fortunes at Donington earlier in the year, but we know we have a great chance to continue our unbeaten run and if we can manage that, we will get a little bit closer to achieving our dream.”

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) hope for more good results Donington Park this weekend.

Clean Sweep For BeerMonster Ducati At Oulton Park

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 18:28:28 GMT

Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell served up a masterclass in riding in the two Bennetts British Superbike Championship races at Oulton Park today with the duo taking a win each to strengthen their stranglehold on this year's series.

The victories made it eight each for the teammates for the Penrith-based PBM team as they sit just half a point apart in the championship standings, continuing to honour their late team owner Paul Bird in the best possible manner.

The opening race of the day held over 18 laps saw Tommy again line up in pole position with Glenn starting from fifth and they were quickly running in line astern in first and second place ahead of Kyle Ryde (Yamaha), Leon Haslam (BMW) and Lee Jackson (Kawasaki).

In a similar pattern to yesterday’s BikeSocial Sprint race which Irwin won, it looked like it would come down to a last lap shoot-out between the pair but a safety car period on lap 14 brought the pack together and meant the race would be decided over the final three laps.

Drama followed, however, as Tommy was deemed to have made an incorrect re-start which saw him given a penalty and despite crossing the line first, he was ultimately demoted to sixth which handed Glenn the win from Jackson and Ryde. It also saw Irwin re-take the championship lead by 3.5 points ahead of Bridewell.

The final race saw the pairing again go head-to-head throughout the 18 laps and although Glenn briefly led early on, it was Tommy who hit the front and controlled proceedings. He continually kept his teammate at bay and pulled away in the closing laps to win by 1.1s and make up for the earlier disappointment with the result seeing the team claim their sixth 1-2 of the season.

Glenn Irwin: “I couldn’t have expected any more from the weekend and with two wins and a second, it’s been unbelievable. There was obviously a lot of emotion, but everyone handled it well and put on a show and it pleases me how hard the guys worked and how I rode all weekend. To come back from 34 points adrift a few races ago to be in the lead is really good especially as I’ve had one additional DNF but hats off to Tommy in the final race. He rode perfectly in the final laps and when I saw +0.8 on my board, I settled for second and 22 points so with two wins and a second, it’s a great start to the final three rounds. I never expected to pull 15 points back this weekend and I have a lot to be grateful for.”

Tommy Bridewell: “It’s been a tough weekend, not just for me but for the whole team and everyone involved, and it’s been lovely to see the deserved tributes from the BSB paddock to Paul. I felt like I deserved two wins today and didn’t think I’d done anything to deserve a penalty, but I accept it and although I lost some points to Glenn I’m not overly concerned as I know how strong we’ll be at Donington and Brands Hatch. Having said that, it was nice to respond with the victory in the final race and whenever I wanted to, I could drop into the low 34s and when I did, my lead increased. Glenn was riding well all weekend and it’s very much ‘game on’ in the championship and that win is dedicated to Paul.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “We could quite well have come away with a 1-2 in both races today, but we can understand why the decision was made to give the penalty although it was obviously a bitter pill for Tommy to swallow. His misfortune meant Glenn got the win, but Tommy made up for his disappointment in the final race and the two boys have been dominant in all three races so hats off to them. They rode away from everyone and that’s credit to them and their respective crews and you could see just how evenly matched they were all weekend, as they have been all season. As a team, we couldn’t have done any more this weekend so hopefully we’ve done the Birdman proud and he’s looking down on us with a smile on his face.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (18 laps)

 1 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 

2 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki) 

3 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)

 4 Leon Haslam (BMW)

 5 Josh Brookes (BMW) 

6 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (18 laps) 

1 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 

2 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)

 3 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki) 

4 Leon Haslam (BMW) 

5 Josh Brookes (BMW) 

6 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)

Championship Standings

 1 Irwin 360.5pts

 2 Bridewell 360 

3 Ryde 300 

4 Haslam 283 

5 Jackson 280.5 

6 O’Halloran 276.5

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) at Oulton Park

Irwin Takes Emotional Victory For BeerMonster Ducati At Oulton Park

Sat, 16 Sep 2023 23:05:38 GMT

Glenn Irwin gave the BeerMonster Ducati team an emotional, fairytale victory in round nine of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park this afternoon when he won the first race of the weekend which was the first outing for the PBM team since the passing of team owner Paul Bird.

Irwin was locked in battle with teammate Tommy Bridewell for the entire 12 laps around the Cheshire track, but it was the Ulsterman who came out on top when Bridewell ran on at the chicane on the final lap. It was Glenn’s seventh win of the season and saw him cut the gap in the championship standings to just 7.5 points behind Bridewell who salvaged fourth at the flag.

Both riders enjoyed strong practice sessions, particularly Irwin who topped the leaderboard ahead of qualifying, but it was Bridewell who claimed pole position for the afternoon’s BikeSocial Sprint race, just 0.006s ahead of Irwin, which emphasised how closely matched they were around the 2.692-mile circuit.

With cloudy but dry conditions prevailing for the race, the duo duly lined up on the front row with Carrickfergus rider Irwin taking the holeshot as Bridewell, from Devizes, slotted into second. The duo soon opened a one-second gap over the rest of the field although as the race entered its final third, Lee Jackson and Leon Haslam had reeled them back in.

Irwin’s lead over Bridewell was never more than a tenth of a second and the victory was set to be between them and Jackson going into the final lap. Bridewell nosed ahead for the first time at the Avenue only for Irwin to retake the lead immediately and when Tommy got into Hizzy’s too hot, he had to run straight on allowing Irwin to come home for the win. Bridewell’s mistake saw him drop back to fourth at the chequered flag and in doing so, relinquished seven points of his lead to his teammate.

Earlier in the day, the BSB paddock community gathered to pay their respects to Paul Bird with an emotional tribute on the grid which included the PBM team, friends, and family members as well as a number of significant machines from the long and successful history of the Lake-District-based team over the past 30 years. The bikes will remain on display during the pit walk at Oulton Park tomorrow morning. The team would like to thank everyone for their support

Glenn Irwin: “It’s so nice to lead the race from start to finish, or at least most of it and the plan worked. The bike is so good this weekend, especially on the brakes, and I made the perfect start, managing the race from there on in. Tommy’s so strong around here at Oulton so to force him into a mistake on the final lap and come out on top shows how strong I rode, but I’m humble about the victory as we get on so well and it’s tough fighting your teammate for the title. At the same time, we’re professional riders who want the same thing so you must take whatever advantage you can get. We still have two more races to go but I’m feeling confident and that one’s for the Birdman.”

Tommy Bridewell: “I didn’t make the best of starts from pole, so rode a patient first lap but, unfortunately, I’ve been struggling to stop the bike for a couple of rounds now and the same problem occurred today. The bike’s not giving the support I need under braking and that, in turn, is reducing stability and causing the rear wheel to lift off the ground. I’m OK when riding on my own as I can roll into the corner but in a group it’s difficult and if I hadn’t picked the bike up, I’d have taken both Glenn and me out. It’s a disappointing start but whilst you can’t win the title this weekend, you can lose it, so we’ll use tomorrow’s warm-up to get to the bottom of the problem and come out fighting in Sunday’s races.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Owner: “Right from the get-go on Friday, the boys have been really, really strong and they worked hard on their race pace, which paid dividends. The one lap pace in qualifying was phenomenal too and fair play to them both for lapping so fast. It was fitting to start our first race without the boss 1-2 on the grid and I’m sure he was looking down super proud of what the boys were achieving. Both made great starts and pulled a gap on the rest of the field, and it all came down to a last lap battle which could have had a very different outcome. Tommy just got into Hizzy’s too hot but was wise enough to pick the bike up to avoid Glenn who went on to take a great win and that one’s definitely for the boss.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship – BikeSocial Sprint race (12 laps) 

1 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 

2 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki) 

3 Leon Haslam (BMW) 

4 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 

5 Josh Brookes (BMW) 

6 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)

Championship Standings 

1 Bridewell 321pts 

2 Irwin 313.5 

3 Ryde 266 

4 O’Halloran 258.5 

5 Haslam 247 

6 Jackson 238.5

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) at Oulton Park and the BSB paddock community tribute to Paul Bird.

BeerMonster Ducati Set To Roll On At Oulton Park

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 08:04:00 GMT

The BeerMonster Ducati British Superbike Championship Team head for Oulton Park this weekend determined to continue their winning ways as a legacy to team owner Paul Bird who died on September 1st.

Last time out at Cadwell Park, both series leader Tommy Bridewell and second placed Glenn Irwin won all three races between them to consolidate their positions at the top of the table going into round nine of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship which now heads into the Showdown stage.

Both the PBM team and the organisers are planning tributes to ‘Birdy’ over what will be a poignant and emotional weekend but as he would have wanted, the focus will be on landing the Lake District-based team an unprecedented ninth BSB title next month.

Bridewell’s lead stands at 14.5 points ahead of Irwin as the pair of them have racked up 13 wins and a further 14 podiums between them so far this season, but now the points-scoring system changes and both riders know they can’t rest on their laurels.

It’s the second visit of the season to the Cheshire track, which is classed as the local one for the team, and it proved to be successful earlier in the season as both Bridewell and Irwin took a win each. Carrickfergus, County Antrim-based Glenn also took a double podium back in the spring with Tommy, from Devizes in Wiltshire, scoring solid points with a fourth and fifth, so the aim will be to maximise the scoring opportunities with only two rounds remaining after this one.

Bridewell cites Oulton Park as his most successful circuit with a total of six wins and a dozen podiums over his BSB career with Irwin also adding an additional podium previously to the successes he had earlier in the year.

Tommy Bridewell: “This weekend, I go into it like any other weekend and that is to do the best job I possibly can for myself, the team and of course for Paul. I feel like what we’ve been doing this year has been good enough, there is a reason why we’ve managed to win seven races, and another seven podiums along the way as well. Cadwell was a tough weekend but getting the bike bang on for the last race gave me the same feeling I had when I won at Snetterton and Brands Hatch. All I’m focused on is winning races and if I carry on doing what I’ve done all year then the championship should take care of itself.”

Glenn Irwin: “I have a great feeling and I have said it all year, and despite the tough times for the team of late with the news of Paul’s passing, I still have a great feeling of how this season’s chapter ends. I have continued to target Tommy and we have beaten him in five of the last six races. I feel that momentum is with me, as it was with him in the middle part of the season, and I would be ignorant to ignore that as he has done a fantastic job. Right now, I want to continue with the momentum that I feel we have the upper hand and to continue to build on that, and most of all, put on a good show for not just Paul, but all the fans of PBM who I am sure are also saddened by the recent news.”

Pictures attached courtesy of Double Red.

Paul Bird – Funeral Details

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 08:59:47 GMT

The funeral of Paul Bird will take place on Friday 22nd September 2023 at 12.30.

The private service will take place at Eden Valley Crematorium followed by a gathering afterwards at Roundthorn Country House, Roundthorn, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 8SJ.

All friends are welcome to go directly to Roundthorn House where the entire service will be livestreamed and afterwards there will be refreshments and tributes to Paul from family and friends.

The funeral cortege will leave Langwathby and travel via the B6412 to Culgaith enroute to the crematorium for anyone wishing to pay their respects.

Family flowers only please, but if desired, donations in memory of Paul, which will be divided between Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland, Pride of Cumbria Air Ambulance and Down’s Syndrome Association, may be made at the service or gathering, or sent c/o Richardsons Funeral Directors, Victoria Road, Penrith, CA11 8HR.

what3words references:
Eden Valley Crematorium: mission.repeat.admiringly

Roundthorn Country House: poorly.arena.struck

Paul Bird (1967-2023)

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 17:05:13 GMT

The Bennetts British Superbike Championship is deeply saddened to announce the sudden passing of Paul Bird, the Team Owner of Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM), the series’ most successful team.

Paul died earlier today at the age of 56 following a short time in hospital with illness.

Paul’s family are requesting privacy during this time.

Frank Bird In Search Of Another Win At Hockenheim

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 08:27:52 GMT

The 2023 Fanatec GT Europe season resumes this weekend when the series travels to Hockenheim for the third round of the Sprint Cup campaign.

In amongst a 41-car field which will tackle a pair of 60-minute races at the 4.6km circuit in Baden-Württemberg is Cumbrian driver Frank Bird who will again be in action for the German-based Haupt Racing Team in the PBM and Hager-backed Mercedes-AMG GT3.

It follows a five-week summer break whereby Penrith-born Bird, and Australian teammate Jordan Love, will be hoping to continue where they left off in Misano last month when they scorched to victory in the Silver Cup class.

The pair also took a double podium in the opening round at Brands Hatch earlier in the season so hold second place in the Silver Cup standings as a result, just three points behind the leaders Lorenzo Patrese and Alex Aka (#99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi) ahead of the two races which take place at the German track over the weekend.

Free Practice gets underway tomorrow (Friday) at 09:30 CET with Pre-Qualifying at 14:20. Saturday sees Qualifying 1 take place at 09:50 for the opening race which starts at 14:00. Sunday’s Qualifying 2 gets underway ay 09:55 with the second race scheduled for 14:35.

Frank Bird, #77Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “It will be good to get back racing and to blow the cobwebs off as it’s been a long break since Misano and it’s important we carry that momentum forward. I’m looking forward to teaming up with Jordan again and hopefully we can keep the pressure on the leaders as there’s only a couple of rounds of the Sprint Cup to go after this weekend. Hockenheim is a track that has suited the Mercedes in the past so the plan is to be competitive from the start and to give ourselves the best chance in the races with a decent qualifying position and hopefully we can get a pair of good results. The PBM BeerMonster Ducati team did well at Cadwell Park in BSB last weekend so I’m hoping to carry that form on.”

For further information including a live stream, please visit https://www.gt-world-challenge-europe.com/watch-live . Pictures courtesy of www.gt-world-challenge-europe.com

BeerMonster Ducati Clean Up At Cadwell

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 22:21:13 GMT

Round eight of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship proved to be a successful one for the Lake District-based BeerMonster Ducati team who claimed all three race wins over the bank holiday weekend at Cadwell Park.

Following on from Glenn Irwin’s superb victory in yesterday’s BikeSocial Sprint race, the Ulsterman followed that up with a second win of the weekend at the Lincolnshire circuit in the opening race today before teammate Tommy Bridewell made it a clean sweep for Paul Bird’s team when he crossed the line first in the final outing to cap a memorable weekend.

After yesterday’s action, Irwin started on row three of the grid for today’s first 18-lapper with Bridewell, who finished fifth yesterday, alongside. In front of a massive crowd, Irwin worked his way to the front to make it a double as Bridewell conceded a few more points in the race for the title by claiming another fifth place.

That set things up perfectly for the final encounter this afternoon with championship leader Bridewell, from Devizes in Wiltshire starting from row two and second-placed Irwin, from Carrickfergus in County Antrim, back on row three.

The race was another epic encounter with both BeerMonster Ducatis in contention from the start and soon they were running first and second on the road. Irwin was doing all he could to fend off Bridewell as he homed in on his first treble of the season but with a couple of laps to go, Bridewell seized his opportunity and swept into the lead which he hung on to and claimed his seventh victory of the season.

The result also saw the PBM riders claim their fifth one-two of the 2023 season and with Glenn’s solid points haul, which saw him take his winning tally to six races this season, the pair have consolidated their top two positions in the title race going into the final three rounds of the season starting at the team’s home round of Oulton Park in three weeks’ time.

Bridewell’s advantage now stands at 14.5 points ahead of Irwin who is 36.5 points ahead of Kyle Ryde in third.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s been a dream weekend really. To go to a track where I’ve never had a podium at before and come away with a double victory and a second place as well as being crowned Pirelli King of the Mountain is amazing. I had to fight hard in every race, all of us were on the limit, but importantly for me, I’ve pulled back a good chunk of points on Tommy. It’s hotting up and I’m feeling great so a massive thanks to the team, they never stopped working all weekend.”

Tommy Bridewell: “It’s been a really tough weekend but, in the end, it’s been a rewarding one. I’ve not felt good on the bike all weekend for some reason, and we were searching for a solution but all credit to the team that we found it for the last race. Looking at it positively, if I can get results like this when I’m not comfortable on the bike, then that bodes well but I expected more here. It was just a case of digging in and getting what points I could in the first two races, but it all came good in the end. We’ll come out swinging at the next round.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “We can do no more than win all three races on a weekend and after Thruxton, it was vital we bounced back here and got our championship challenge back on track. Glenn rode brilliantly all weekend and it was great for him to do the double and only just missed out on a third win. Tommy really did dig deep and was rewarded after a superb ride in the final race, and you could see by his emotions what it meant to him. We’re still one-two in the championship and are really looking forward to the final three rounds now where we know our bike works well.”

The BeerMonster Ducati team would like to extend their sincere thanks for all the messages and good wishes received recently for team owner Paul Bird who is continuing his recovery from illness.

British Superbike Championship – Race two (18 laps)

1 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)

2 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) 

3 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha) 

4 Leon Haslam (BMW)
5 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)

6 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

British Superbike Championship – Race three (18 laps)

 1 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 

2 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)

3 Leon Haslam (BMW) 

4 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) 

5 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki) 

6 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

Championship Positions 

1 Bridewell 303pts 

2 Irwin 288.5 

3 Ryde 252 

4 O’Halloran 248.5

5 Haslam 227 

6 Jackson 216.5

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) at Cadwell Park

Irwin Gets Back To Winning Ways At Cadwell Park

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 22:49:29 GMT

BeerMonster Ducati rider Glenn Irwin reminded everyone that he was still a major contender in the fight for the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship when he scorched to a superb victory in today’s BikeSocial Sprint race at Cadwell Park.

Having started on the front row of the grid following the 15-minute Omologato Superpole qualifying session, the Carrickfergus, County Antrim rider had to fend off a concerted challenge from his rivals to land his fifth victory of the year around the 2.18-mile Lincolnshire circuit.

With sporadic rain affecting the day’s proceedings, the 12-lap race took place in cloudy but dry conditions and saw Irwin lead from start to finish in his 200th race as he brought the factory supported BeerMonster Ducati home to a deserved victory and in doing so, reduced the gap to series leader and teammate Tommy Bridewell to 19.5 points.

Bridewell, meanwhile, managed to claim fifth place following on from him starting the race on row three of the grid on the second of Paul Bird’s bikes as he looked to improve after a tough start to the weekend.

The Devizes, Wiltshire rider got a good start although a clash with another rider early on set him back, but he gamely battled back to challenge the leading bunch but had to settle for fifth at the chequered flag.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s been a while since I won a race, so it was about time! We’ve been plugging away all weekend and I knew I had the pace to win, but I had to ride defensively at times. I got a good start and felt comfortable after we’d made some changes to the bike. Cadwell is tough to pass at and I was expecting a challenge, but it never really came. I’m feeling good, that was my first win here at Cadwell so hopefully we can maintain the momentum into tomorrow’s races.”

Tommy Bridewell: “It’s proving to be a tougher weekend than what I expected if I’m being honest. We’re getting a lot closer to getting me feeling comfortable on the bike and when you put it into perspective, fifth place just over a second and a half off the win isn’t a disaster. I’ve surrendered a few points to Glenn, but the key here is to get a good start so hopefully we can work on the data and improve tomorrow and get our championship challenge back on track.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “A fantastic result for everyone connected to PBM BeerMonster Ducati, which was just what we needed after a difficult Thruxton, and what a perfect way to bounce back. Tomorrow’s races will be every bit as close, with at least five or six riders in the mix for the race win including both Glenn and Tommy so hopefully we can repeat today’s victory.”

Bridewell enjoys that 19.5-point lead over Irwin, who in turn, extended his advantage over third-placed Jason O’Halloran to 30 points going into tomorrow’s two races over 18 laps each.

British Superbike Championship – BikeSocial Sprint race (12 laps) 

1 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)

 2 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) 

3 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha) 

4 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha) 

5 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)

 6 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

Championship Positions 

1 Bridewell 274pts

 2 Irwin 254.5 

3 O’Halloran 224.5

4 Ryde 224 

5 Haslam 201 

6 Jackson 195.5

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) at Cadwell Park

BeerMonster Ducati Aim To Bounce Back At Cadwell

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 16:50:13 GMT

After a tough weekend at the previous round, BeerMonster Ducati riders Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin are aiming to bounce back in style when round eight of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Cadwell Park this bank holiday weekend.

Despite the disappointment of Thruxton, Paul Bird’s riders still occupy first and second in the standings heading into the final four rounds with Bridewell holding a 26.5-point advantage over teammate Irwin, who in turn is 24 points ahead of third placed Jason O’Halloran.

Bridewell, from Devizes in Wiltshire, has won six races so far this season which he’s backed up with seven additional podiums whereas Irwin, from Carrickfergus in County Antrim, has four victories to his name as well as six podiums for the Lake District-based team.

In contrast to the wide-open sweeps of Thruxton, the undulating nature of Cadwell Park is expected to suit the BeerMonster Ducatis better in front of what is expected to be the biggest crowd of the season at the Lincolnshire venue whereby Tommy and Glenn will be aiming to reassert their authority.

Bridewell has a great record at Cadwell Park which includes a win and ten podiums, seven of which have come in his last eight Cadwell Park races aboard Ducati machinery. Irwin, meanwhile, who celebrates his 200th Bennetts BSB start in Sunday’s opening BikeSocial sprint race, has race-winning pedigree in the Supersport class at Cadwell so will be looking to grab that first BSB win around the 2.18-mile track.

Tommy Bridewell: “Cadwell Park has been a happy hunting ground for me in the past and I’ve had some really good results over recent years on a Ducati, so the plan is to continue that run. I know for a fact the bike is really strong around there and I’m looking forward to getting back to the circuits I know we’ll be competitive at, starting this weekend. I love Cadwell Park as it’s so unique and it suits my riding style also, plus it’s the polar opposite to Thruxton and you have to be pin-perfect everywhere. We need to get back to the sharp end where I know we should be, and this weekend is the perfect opportunity to bounce back.”

Glenn Irwin: “I know Cadwell Park really well as I’ve done a lot of testing there over the years when I rode for Honda and it’s a round I always look forward to. I had pole position there in 2021 and led the race but was riding injured so couldn’t wrap the victory up. This year with the Ducati, it’s a challenge I’m particularly relishing as I know how good Tommy has been in recent years on the older-spec bike. We know the 2023 bike will work well and after the disappointment of Thruxton, it’s vitally important we get back to being competitive and for me to keep chipping away at the lead and keep the pressure on Tommy.”

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) head for round eight of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park this weekend.

Damage Limitation At Thruxton But Bridewell Still Leads

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 22:33:45 GMT

It was very much a case of damage limitation for BeerMonster Ducati riders Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin who, despite a challenging weekend, maintained their first and second positions in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship following the conclusion of round seven at Thruxton today.

After yesterday’s 14-lap BikeSocial Sprint race which saw Irwin finish ninth and Bridewell 14th, any hopes of improvement in today’s two 20-lap feature races didn’t materialise as both riders struggled with similar issues which they encountered with the performance characteristics of the bike while using the specified harder compound SCD tyre.

In the opening race around the 2.35-mile circuit in Hampshire, Ulsterman Irwin started on row four with local hero Bridewell from nearby Devizes a row further back as he looked to maintain his series lead but in another hard race, Irwin crossed the line in 13th with Bridewell one place further back in 14th.

Warmer conditions ensued for the final race of the weekend and despite some major changes to Paul Bird’s factory supported BeerMonster Ducatis, whilst Irwin replicated his 13th place finish, Bridewell faded back to end up in 15th place at the chequered flag.

However, with a number of both Bridewell’s and Irwin’s main championship challengers not scoring well either, the end result is that Tommy maintains his lead with a slightly reduced margin of 26.5 points with Glenn still second but now only 24 points ahead of Thruxton treble winner, Jason O’Halloran in third.

Tommy Bridewell: “I’m slightly lost for words to be honest, and these days make the good ones even sweeter! None of us expected this and as a team we’ve struggled this weekend, but we win as a team and lose as a team, so we’ll take it on the chin and move on. If Glenn had been winning, I’d have been scratching my head, but he was only one or two places ahead of me with the other Ducati rider in the same ballpark so it’s clear the track just doesn’t suit us. I’ve lost a few points to Glenn whilst Jason has been phenomenal but the next four circuits are all good for us, so we’ll come out swinging and get back to winning ways.”

Glenn Irwin: “I’ve been working on things a lot this season and focusing on my mindset which really helps and whilst the results aren’t the best, from a championship perspective I’ve closed the gap to Tommy, and if you’d given me that at the beginning of the weekend, I’d have taken it. Hats off to Jason, he rode phenomenally well but we knew he’d be strong here as were some others. Fighting for two or three points in each race is far from ideal but the bike simply doesn’t work here. That’s just a fact and no criticism of anyone or anything so we’ll put it behind us and move on. I’ve enjoyed all the races and am content with my riding and the effort we all put in so with four strong tracks coming up, we’ll be back up front next time out.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s fair to say this weekend didn’t go to plan, far from it, and it’s hard to put into words. We had our reservations coming into the weekend given past history and the tyre we’d be using, but whilst we had optimism that the bike would work better, it didn’t pan out that way. You wouldn’t believe the number of settings that have gone into both bikes across the three days but unfortunately, they didn’t transfer into results, so it’s been a disappointing weekend given the results taken at previous rounds. At the same time, we know it’s a one-off and the next four tracks are some of our strongest, both for the riders and bike, so we’ll kick-start our title challenge next time out.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (20 laps) 

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha) 

2 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki) 

3 Charlie Nesbitt (Honda) 

4 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha) 

5 Jack Kennedy (Yamaha)

 6 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) 

13 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 

14 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (20 laps) 

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha) 

2 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki) 

3 Charlie Nesbitt (Honda) 

4 Max Cook (Kawasaki) 

5 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha) 

6 Leon Haslam (BMW) 

3 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 

15 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)

Championship standings (after seven rounds) 

1 Bridewell 263pts 

2 Irwin 236.5 

3 O’Halloran 212.5 

4 Ryde 208 

5 Haslam 201 

6 Jackson 185.5

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46 )

Bridewell And Irwin Salvage Points At Thruxton

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 11:19:35 GMT

Despite a tough day at round seven of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Thruxton today, Tommy Bridewell maintained his series lead despite only managing a 14th place finish in the BikeSocial Sprint race whilst BeerMonster Ducati teammate Glenn Irwin consolidated his second position in the title race when placed ninth.

Both riders enjoyed a solid day of practice on Friday in fine conditions at the Hampshire venue and although today saw some morning showers, they’d disappeared in time for the afternoon’s eBay qualifying session. The 2.35-mile circuit was dry all the way round although it was a mixed session for the team with Glenn in eighth and Tommy in an unfamiliar 15th on the grid.

That set the tone for the remainder of the day and the 14-lap race proved to be equally challenging with neither rider able to make a significant impression although it was an extremely close race with less than ten seconds covering the first 15 riders.

With tyre wear a factor around the high-speed circuit, it was Irwin who was able to claim the best result in ninth and with Bridewell in 14th, it means the gap between the two in the championship standings came down to 29.5 points.

However, with the main rivals to Paul Bird’s two riders not scoring heavily, the pair remain in first and second positions in the title race going into tomorrow’s two races.

Tommy Bridewell: “We’re all having to run the harder SCD tyre this weekend and it’s hurting us more than we expected, certainly more than our rivals, and we’ve been unable to get any form of mechanical grip. We’ve made big changes throughout the weekend, but the feeling has remained the same, so it’s understandably been frustrating, and I didn’t think it would be this tough. That’s no excuse for a poor performance though; I should be better, I expect to be better, and I need to be better and that’s the undoubted aim for tomorrow. Track position will be key, and it will be interesting to see how things change for the whole field with six extra laps.”

Glenn Irwin: “I knew it would be tough this weekend, for a number of reasons, but whilst we have good drive, we’ve hardly any edge grip and that’s hurting us as you’re on the edge of the tyre so much here at Thruxton. The positives are that I was in a fight for sixth and I felt as strong, if not stronger, than some of the other riders around me. It’s so difficult to fight though without that edge grip but I fought hard and I'm happy enough. I wouldn’t usually be happy with a ninth, but I was close to the top six and that’s what we’ll take into tomorrow's races where we’ll be looking to finish higher up the leaderboard in both races.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It wasn’t a round we were overly optimistic about and with every bike having its strengths and disadvantages, this is a circuit that highlights our weaknesses. Having said that, we hoped for more and the results are clearly not what we hoped for although we were fortunate not to lose more points to our rivals. We know we have four strong circuits coming up, but we want to improve tomorrow and get the most out of the two races that we possibly can. We know we can do more and maximising our points haul in the two races on Sunday is the clear aim.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship – BikeSocial Sprint race (14 laps)

 1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha) 

2 Charlie Nesbitt (Honda) 

3 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)

 4 Max Cook (Kawasaki) 

5 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

 6 Leon Haslam (BMW)

 9 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 

14 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)

Championship standings 

1 Bridewell 260pts 

2 Irwin 230.5

3 Ryde 189

 4 Haslam 182 

5 Brookes 178 

6 O’Halloran 176.5

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) at Thruxton

Bridewell And Irwin Set For Thruxton Thriller

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:52:51 GMT

Round seven of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads for the fastest circuit in the UK whereby BeerMonster Ducati will hope to continue their recent winning ways.

Thruxton in Hampshire always serves up a feast of exciting racing and this year’s round has a special significance about it as local hero Tommy Bridewell leads the charge for Paul Bird’s eight-times British Champions.

Bridewell, from Devizes just over the border in Wiltshire, has won five out of the last six Bennetts BSB races aboard the factory-supported BeerMonster Ducati and will have the backing of a partisan crowd as he defends his 34.5-point advantage over teammate Glenn Irwin.

Irwin hasn’t won since Knockhill back in June so will be keen to get the better of Bridewell, especially as Tommy hasn’t enjoyed the best of luck around Thruxton in his lengthy career. Glenn has won four times this season and when added to Bridewell’s six victories, it means the BeerMonster Ducati riders have won more than half the races run so far this season.

County Antrim rider Irwin has a 42.5 lead over third placed Kyle Ryde arriving at Thruxton so will be hoping to extend that at a track where he’s enjoyed podium success in the past.

Tommy Bridewell: “I’m looking forward to the weekend, but we are going there with absolutely no expectations. It’s the best way for me to approach this round as it’s no secret that Thruxton has never been my strongest track, but then again, I’ve never gone there with the results and momentum I’ve been enjoying recently. The team has intense knowledge and experience so between us all, we should be able to produce the results we have proved we are capable of. It’s just a case of us doing what we’ve been doing all season long as that’s been working well but I’ll take what’s on offer, enjoy my local round, and maximise what we can from the weekend.”

Glenn Irwin: “Thruxton is always a brilliant round and unique as we don’t get to test there so it’s great to go somewhere you don’t get to ride at too often. We know the opposition will be strong, so I intend approaching the weekend with an open mind, but we arrive in good shape and with some good results recently. We are learning all the time and tyre management is always critical around Thruxton, so it will be interesting to see how that pans out with the optimum SCD Pirelli tyre, which will be a different challenge for us all. If the racing is as good as last year, it will be fantastic for the fans, and I hope to be in there challenging at the front.”

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) head for round seven of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship this weekend.

Double Delight As Bridewell Wins At Brands Hatch

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 19:57:02 GMT

Tommy Bridewell and the BeerMonster Ducati team enjoyed a superb day of racing at Brands Hatch today taking both wins at round six of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship to extend his title lead over team-mate Glenn Irwin to 34.5pts.

Irwin took second to Bridewell in the final race of the weekend, to give the team their fourth 1-2 of the season with the Ulsterman having taken fourth place earlier in the day.

Yesterday’s wet race results meant Tommy and Glenn started from seventh and 14th on the grid respectively for today’s first 20-lap race which saw dry conditions throughout with both making good starts, especially Irwin who jumped up five places to ninth.

By lap six, Bridewell and Irwin were up to fifth and seventh respectively and although the safety car was deployed for the next three laps, when racing resumed on lap ten, Bridewell began to make his move. Indeed, by lap 12 he was in the lead, and he never looked back, eventually winning by 2.4 seconds for his fifth win of the season.

Irwin made good progress throughout too and although he just fell short of the podium, fourth was an excellent result having started from so far back on the grid.

The final race saw Wiltshire ace Bridewell start from pole with Irwin a row further back in fifth and it proved to be the best race of the weekend with no less than five riders contesting the race win for much of the way.

As the 20-lap race entered the closing stages, it became a straight fight between Tommy, Glenn, and Yamaha’s Ryan Vickers and that’s the order they crossed the line, the gap between Tommy and Glenn just 0.133 seconds at the chequered flag meaning Bridewell took his sixth win of the season.

Tommy Bridewell: “It’s been a great weekend in all aspects. To win one BSB race is an achievement so to win two in a day and five out of the last six shows how confident I am and how I feel within myself, with the bike and with the team. I’m really proud of what we’re doing at the moment. I’m thinking more about what I’m doing which is allowing me to analyse more, understand more, and learn more and all of that combined is helping me go faster. In the final race, I knew Glenn would be there with me but it’s testament to the hard work we’re doing on Friday and Saturday that I could hold him off and it’s all about maintaining the good momentum we have.”

Glenn Irwin: “I felt good with the bike in the dry on Friday and although we had a few issues in the wet in Saturday’s race, we were able to convert that into two good rides and results today. Coming through from 14th to fourth in the first race was a good effort although the bike didn’t quite feel like mine, but the final race was really enjoyable and it’s good to show your pace here as it’s where the final round will be and where a lot of points will be on offer. I thought about having a go at Tommy on more than one occasion and perhaps should have done so as the level’s so high now you have to take the chance when you get it. I’m happy with second though and fair play to Tommy and Ryan. It’s great to give the team another 1-2 as they really deserve it.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s been an awesome day for the BeerMonster Ducati team and having had good pace in the dry on Friday and Saturday morning, we were able to convert that into wins and podiums today. Both riders had worked hard on their set up and Tommy picked the riders off one by one in the first race to pull away and take a great win. The second race was simply a great advertisement for BSB; five or six riders going for the win and exchanging positions all the time. Tommy couldn’t pull away this time so fair play to both Glenn and the other riders and to finish the weekend with another 1-2 is brilliant. All the hard work is paying dividends and we look forward to the next round at Thruxton in a fortnight.”

British Superbike Championship race two (20 laps)
1 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Christian Iddon (Ducati)
3 Danny Kent (Honda)
4 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
5 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
6 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

British Superbike Championship race three (20 laps)
1 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
3 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
4 Christian Iddon (Ducati)
5 Danny Kent (Honda)
6 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

Championship positions (after six rounds)
1 Bridewell 258pts
2 Irwin 223.5
3 Ryde 181
4 Brookes 177
5 Haslam 172
6 O’Halloran 158.5

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46)

Bridewell Increases Championship Lead At Damp Brands Hatch

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 10:20:58 GMT

BeerMonster Ducati rider Tommy Bridewell further extended his lead in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship today following a wet race at Brands Hatch despite only managing a seventh-place finish.

After scorching to pole position as the rains came for round six of the series, Bridewell was confident going into the 12-lap Bike Social Sprint race and hit the front from the start.

However, he started to slip back as he suffered a misted visor and was holding seventh place when the red flags came out due to an oil spillage and because of the extent which needed an extensive clean up operation, the race was declared as of seven laps and half points awarded.

Teammate Glenn Irwin also struggled in the wet conditions and after starting seventh on the grid for the opening race, he settled into eighth place in the early stages as the rain continued to fall. But like Bridewell, he too suffered with issues during the race with a lack of grip and when the race was stopped early, he was classified in tenth place.

Tommy Bridewell: “Today’s race was very much damage limitation as we had a few issues which held us back. In qualifying the bike was brilliant, as it was in the dry, but in the race, I was struggling as I couldn’t physically see from the second lap onwards. I couldn’t see my pit board and could only really see the red light from the bike in front of me, so it wasn’t pleasant at all. It was disappointing as I felt I could have won the race but there’s a bit of joy too as none of the riders in front of me are championship rivals and with Glenn finishing behind me, I increased my lead slightly. Tomorrow’s another day and the weather looks good so I’m confident of being in a better position in the races.”

Glenn Irwin: “Everything’s gone well in the dry and in both FP3 and FP4 I was strong and although seventh on the grid wasn’t ideal, I felt confident of moving forward in the race. However, I also felt confident Tommy could win as he looked so strong but we both struggled in the race, and it felt like I had no grip. Fortunately for me, Tommy was only a couple of places ahead of me and with the half points, I’ve only lost marginally to him in the standings. It could have been a lot worse but tomorrow’s looking dry although I’m 14th on the grid for the first race so will have to pull some big moves to make up ground.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “All in all, it’s been a positive weekend so far and both riders have shown exceptional pace in the dry, both over one lap and over longer race runs. They worked hard again in the practice sessions but obviously the rain came along which presented a different challenge but Tommy rode well to get pole position. Glenn opted for the harder tyre initially which was the wrong way to go and lost him time but both riders were confident for the race. Conditions were worse and both experienced problems in their first race on the bike in the wet but used their heads, rode solidly, and picked up more points than their main rivals. Tomorrow looks dry so we’ll go again then.”

The result sees Bridewell extend his lead in the series to 26.5 points over Irwin who in turn increased his lead in second place to 23.5 points ahead of Kyle Ryde going into tomorrow’s two races over 20 laps each.

British Superbike Championship – BikeSocial Sprint race (7 laps)
1 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
2 Danny Kent (Honda)
3 Christian Iddon (Ducati)
4 Jack Kennedy (Yamaha)
5 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)
6 Leon Haslam (BMW)
7 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
10 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)

Championship Positions
1 Bridewell 221.5pts
2 Irwin 195
3 Ryde 171.5
4 Brookes 169.5
5 Haslam 169
6 O’Halloran 138.5

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) at Brands Hatch

BeerMonster Ducati Ready to Rock at Brands Hatch

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 08:32:33 GMT

BeerMonster Ducati rider Tommy Bridewell takes the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship lead with him into round six of the series at Brands Hatch this weekend as he looks to continue his fantastic form from the previous round at Snetterton.

Last time out at Snetterton, the Wiltshire rider romped to an impressive treble victory for Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team to take his winning tally to four races so far this season and along with an additional seven podiums, Bridewell holds a 25-point advantage over BeerMonster Ducati teammate Glenn Irwin.

Like Bridewell, the County Antrim ace has scored four wins also this season and with his fifth podium of the season coming in the final race at Snetterton, where the PBM team finished first and second for the third time this season, Irwin is keen to reduce the gap to his rival and to extend his lead over third placed Josh Brookes who is 21 points adrift of the Ulsterman.

Both riders can boast great records around the historic Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit over the years with Irwin claiming three victories, two of which came on his previous visit last October as he secured runner-up spot in the 2022 title chase.

Added to that, Glenn has an additional five podium finishes to his name and whereas Tommy has still to post his first win at the Kent track, he has scored an amazing 15 podium finishes, including eight in his last dozen Brands Hatch races, and just missed out last year as he claimed third place in the 2022 standings.

Tommy Bridewell: “After Snetterton, I really want to keep the momentum rolling into Brands Hatch as we made some pretty massive steps in a lot of areas. I adopted a different mental approach to every aspect of the race weekend, and it made a big difference for me, so we plan to carry that on. We have a clear direction and have a great base set-up with the bike and going into Brands Hatch, which is one of my favourite tracks, I’m really looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully, a combination of the bike working well and a track I love will reap dividends again for us. I feel I’m on great form so let’s see what we can do there this weekend.”

Glenn Irwin: “I have no particular favourites when it comes to tracks but Brands Hatch is one I always look forward to, and it’s where the title will be decided later in the year. We have done some reflecting after Snetterton and after four great rounds, I suppose the results there didn’t match my potential, but I have learned, and we move forward. I have been strong in the early rounds so I need to bring that mindset to Brands Hatch. We’ll get cracked on early and work on the areas we need to and continue with our game plan which has worked well so far this season. We have a wonderful feeling in the team and it’s now time to bounce back with some race victories this weekend.”

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) head for round six of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship this weekend.

Sweltering Misano Victory For Frank Bird

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 08:21:32 GMT

Round two of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup took place this weekend at a sweltering Misano track in Italy and saw Cumbrian racing driver Frank Bird emerge with a victory.

Driving for the German-based Haupt Racing Team in the PBM and Hager-backed Mercedes-AMG GT3, Penrith-born Frank was again teamed up with Australian Jordan Love in the Silver Cup class whereby the duo were hoping to continue their good form from the opening round at Brands Hatch where they scored a double podium.

Despite the intense heat throughout the weekend, the pair were third fastest in Free Practice before claiming second in Pre-Qualifying and going one better in Qualifying which allowed a good grid position and pole position in class.

Taking the first stint in the hour-long opening race on Saturday, Love gave the team a great foundation before Bird took over and continued to push for the second half hour, whereby he duly brought the car home to an amazing and well-deserved victory in the Silver Cup class.

Sunday’s race was held in even hotter conditions and the pair started from P3 in class on the grid from where they battled with a trio of other Silver Cup competitors throughout. Despite not being able to replicate Saturday’s heroics, Frank claimed fourth at the flag as he just missed out on another podium in what was a close finish.

Frank Bird, #77Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “Saturday was a mega day with pole and win in the Silver Cup class showing we had good pace overall also. Today was not the best day as we seemed to lose some performance so qualifying wasn’t fully maximised which put us slightly further back than planned on the grid. The race was tricky but we just didn’t have the overall pace and we fought till the end to finish P4. Not the smoothest day but Saturday made up for it. Thanks to the team for a great car, my teammate Jordan for a great job and to our sponsors and my dad. I’m really looking forward to the next round at Hockenheim.”

Pictures courtesy of www.gt-world-challenge-europe.com

Treble Top For Brilliant Bridewell At Snetterton

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 07:14:30 GMT

BeerMonster Ducati rider Tommy Bridewell was in scintillating form at round five of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Snetterton with a hat-trick of victories increasing his advantage at the top of the table as he left the Norfolk track unbeaten.

The Wiltshire ace followed up his BikeSocial Sprint race win yesterday with a superb double victory today to extend his championship lead to 25 points over teammate Glenn Irwin, who took second and fourth place finishes today to make it 20 podiums for the team after the first five rounds.

Bridewell and Irwin lined up in first and third respectively for the opening 16-lap race today, but a red flag brought the race to a premature halt on just the seventh lap, and it was restarted over eight laps.

Tommy slotted into third with Glenn in fifth on the opening lap of the restart and a lap later, Bridewell was up to second on the F23-specification BeerMonster V4R Ducati before on lap three, he was in the lead after overhauling the fast-starting Josh Brookes. From there, he never looked back and increased his lead on each lap, eventually taking the chequered flag by 1.6 seconds from Brookes for his second win of the weekend.

Ulsterman Irwin had a more eventful race, dropping back to sixth at one point, and it looked as if fifth was the best he could hope for. However, he dug deep and on the final lap moved ahead of Jason O’Halloran to take his second fourth position of the weekend.

The final race went over the full 16-lap distance and saw both Tommy and Glenn dispute the lead with Brookes, Leon Haslam, and Ryan Vickers. Positions changed throughout but when Brookes went out, Irwin took over in front with Bridewell moving up to second with three laps to go.

Tommy then took over the lead and ultimately held on although it was mightily close with his eventual margin of victory over Glenn just 0.032 seconds as they flashed across the line at the end of the hard-fought race.

It was Bridewell’s first ever multiple win in the series and the third 1-2 for Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team this season as his riders remained first and second in the title race heading to the next round at Brands Hatch in a fortnight.

Tommy Bridewell: “What can I say!? It’s been a great weekend and these types of meetings don’t come around too often, so I’m delighted to take my first ever treble. We’ve hardly changed the bike all weekend and the team absolutely hit the nail on the head with set-up so a huge thanks to them. It was nice to go toe to toe with Glenn in the final race with neither of us willing to give an inch, but it was good, clean racing. I focused on preserving the tyre in the early stages and we exchanged places on more than one occasion, so it was nice to come out on top and get the job done.”

Glenn Irwin: “We could have come away with three second place finishes this weekend but have had to settle for a second and two fourths, so it hurt us in the points although we’ve managed to consolidate second in the standings. I lost time in the first race battling with Jason and it would have been better if we’d have worked together but I was finally able to take a podium in the final race. I stayed patient when Josh was leading and when he went out, I tried to keep a little in reserve but when Tommy came by, I wanted to get back into the lead straight away. It was a good battle with Tommy so hats off to him; I never gave up and am happy with the result.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Coordinator: “It’s been a fantastic weekend and to be sitting here with both Tommy and Glenn on four wins apiece and with 20 podiums in total is phenomenal. Tommy’s been a revelation this weekend; we sat down before we got here and spoke about only having one win so far this season and now was the time to kick on and make his championship challenge. It’s fair to say he’s done exactly that and sent out a message to the rest of the field. From Glenn’s perspective, he was unlucky not have been on the podium in all three races and he got caught in some silly battles in the first race today, which upset his rhythm. We made some small changes to the bike for the final race, and he was able to fight at the front, the end result being another 1-2 for the team. Both riders are giving everything so we’ll look forward to Brands Hatch now, which should be another strong circuit for us.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (8 laps)

1 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Josh Brookes (BMW)
3 Leon Haslam (BMW)
4 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
5 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)
6 Danny Kent (Honda)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (16 laps)

1 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
3 Leon Haslam (BMW)
4 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
5 Christian Iddon (Ducati)
6 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

Championship Positions (after five rounds)

1 Bridewell 217pts
2 Irwin 192
3 Ryde 171
4 Brookes 168
5 Haslam 164
6 O’Halloran 133

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46)

Sensational Snetterton Victory For Bridewell

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 23:22:08 GMT

BeerMonster Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell extended his lead in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship today with a thrilling victory in the opening BikeSocial Sprint at Snetterton.

The weekend started well for both Bridewell and teammate Glenn Irwin as they placed second and sixth respectively after yesterday’s two free practice sessions, and that trend continued into today. Indeed, after topping the third free practice session, Irwin took second in qualifying on the F23-specification V4R BeerMonster Ducati with Bridewell two places further back.

That put them in second and fourth on the grid respectively for the afternoon’s 12-lap encounter around the 2.96-mile circuit and it was Irwin who made a better start as he slotted into second behind Jason O’Halloran as Bridewell dropped back to eighth after running wide at the first corner.

A lap later and Irwin took the lead for the first time with Bridewell up to sixth and by half race distance, the duo were running in first and second as Bridewell tore his way through the field. Indeed, he led the race from laps seven to ten as he and Irwin battled for the lead.

All the time O’Halloran and Josh Brookes were closing in but on the final lap, Tommy grabbed the lead at the end of the back straight with a great move and although it looked like a BeerMonster Ducati 1-2 was on the cards, Brookes pushed Glenn back to third at the final chicane before O’Halloran relegated him to fourth on the dash to the line.

The result sees Bridewell extend his lead in the series to 17 points over Irwin going into tomorrow’s two races over 16 laps each.

Tommy Bridewell: “That was a mega race! Glenn was riding well but I’ve been keeping my head down, working with my team and doing all the hard work so it was a pleasing race. I felt like I had better pace than the others, but I knew Glenn would be determined enough to come back at me and so it proved. He was better in a couple of places but, overall, I felt stronger, and the bike was working well so felt confident of getting back ahead. I was so determined to win the race and it’s great to see my boss Paul Bird smiling. I’m here to win the Championship and I’ve got the team and infrastructure to do it so wins like today are what I need.”

Glenn Irwin: “We had some issues yesterday so today’s FP3 was like my FP1, but I felt comfortable on the bike when we got to qualifying. In the race, I felt strong and was surprised when the gap went up to 0.6 seconds as I wasn’t deliberately trying to put the hammer down. When Tommy came by me, I could see he was strong, and I learnt a lot from him. I was struggling with the rear through the Bomb Hole and Coram and whilst I was defensive at the end of the straight on the penultimate lap, I wasn’t on the final lap which allowed Tommy through. He beat me fair and square so hats off to him and although it’s very frustrating not to even finish on the podium after leading for so long, it was a good, fun race.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Coordinator: “It’s been another good day and fair play to Tommy, he’s been strong all weekend. He came with a plan and focused on long runs in practice, so his bike was set up for the race as opposed to qualifying and it paid dividends. Glenn has been behind after suffering a bike issue yesterday and is essentially a couple of sessions behind everyone else, but you could see he was strong in the race and only a bit of bad luck prevented him finishing on the podium. We weren’t anticipating a four-way scrap so we'll have to be on our guard tomorrow but there’s no reason why we won’t be fighting it out for the wins again in tomorrow’s races.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship – BikeSocial Sprint race (12 laps)
1 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Josh Brookes (BMW)
3 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)
4 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
5 Christian Iddon (Ducati)
6 Danny Kent (Honda)

Championship Positions
1 Bridewell 181pts
2 Irwin 164
3 Ryde 158
4 Brookes 152
5 Haslam 136
6 O’Halloran 112

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) at Snetterton

BeerMonster Ducati All Set For Snetterton

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 17:22:54 GMT

Round five of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads east to Norfolk this coming weekend when championship leaders BeerMonster Ducati hope to increase their advantage at Snetterton.

Wiltshire-based Tommy Bridewell leads the standings following the opening four rounds which has seen him take seven podiums and a single victory to emerge with an eight-point advantage over Yamaha’s Kyle Ryde. Bridewell is riding as well as he has done in recent years and is making a habit of racking up solid points at each round.

In third place just three points down on Ryde is Northern Ireland’s Glenn Irwin who has won four races for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team so far this season. Irwin has backed his victories up with four more podiums and would have been on top of the table had it not been for a crash at Knockhill when leading the second race of the weekend.

Both riders arrive at Snetterton with good records in the recent past, with Irwin’s victory in 2020 backed up by two podiums whereas Bridewell has an incredible nine podium finishes to his name, including being on the podium for the past four years, but is still in search of a first victory at the track.

Tommy Bridewell: “I’m looking forward to Snetterton as it’s a track that really suits my style, unlike the last round at Knockhill. That said, for me to come away with two podiums and an increased lead from one of our weaker tracks isn’t too shabby but the focus is now on this weekend. I have a great record of podiums around Snetterton so it’s about time I won a race round there, so that’s the aim this weekend. The team and the bike are working brilliantly for me, so there’s no reason why we can’t look to increase that lead at the head of the table.”

Glenn Irwin: “I’ve enjoyed a holiday with my family since Knockhill so I’m feeling refreshed and ready to continue the battle at Snetterton. It’s been a good journey with the team so far and we have a great set-up with a fantastic work ethic. Those efforts mean I’m excited and hopefully, we will have some upgrades to try this weekend also. I enjoy racing at Snetterton, it’s traditionally a strong track for Ducati and I’ve had some good results there too. Let’s continue the hard work and hopefully get some more wins as I’m fully focused on this championship.”

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) head for round five of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship this weekend.

Spa Heartbreak for Frank Bird

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 07:14:40 GMT

Penrith-born racing driver Frank Bird saw a valiant effort come to nothing when he and his team was forced to retire from the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa held at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium this weekend.

Driving for the German-based Haupt Racing Team in the 75th edition of the great event, Cumbrian Frank was part of a four driver team including fellow Brits James Cottingham and Matt Bell along with American Naveen Rao contesting the Pro-Am Cup class in the Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Considered the biggest GT3 race in the world and undoubtedly the highlight of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS race calendar, and with experience around the seven kilometre circuit nestled in the Ardennes region, Frank was looking forward to the challenge following his recent class victory at the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Race Nürburgring which saw him impress during the night.

However, due to a number of incidents involving the #64 car the team were contesting the event in, after two-thirds distance during the early morning hours, they had to retire the car due to the amount of damage sustained.

Frank Bird: “Unfortunately it’s a non-finish in this year's Spa 24 Hour race. After showing good speed in qualifying with P5 in the Pro-Am class, sadly the race didn’t go quite to plan. We sustained a number of hits to the car throughout the opening half of the race which took its toll, forcing us to retire with eight hours to go. Yet again it showed why it’s one of the toughest races in the world but we’ll be back to try and conquer it. I definitely enjoyed my first experience of being in a Pro-Am entry. Thanks to team HRT and my sponsors for the opportunity.”

Images: Frank Bird in action at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa race this weekend

Frank Bird To Contest 24 Hours Of Spa This Weekend

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 07:59:25 GMT

Cumbrian racing driver Frank Bird and his German-based Haupt Racing Team will be in action this weekend when they contest the 75th edition of CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

Considered the biggest GT3 race in the world and undoubtedly the highlight of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS race calendar, Penrith-born Frank will be part of a four driver team including fellow Brits James Cottingham and Matt Bell along with American Naveen Rao contesting the Pro-Am Cup class in the Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Frank has experience around the seven kilometre circuit nestled in the Ardennes region and is looking forward to the challenge following his recent class victory at the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Race Nürburgring which saw him impress during the night.

Frank Bird: “I'm really looking forward to the 24 Hours of Spa. We've worked really hard and had a fantastic start to the season and I know we're going to have to keep up the good work and get to the end without making too many mistakes. The experience gained at Nurburgring will stand me in good stead and I’m looking forward to teaming up with James, Matt and Naveen for the race.”

Sean Paul Breslin, team principal Haupt Racing Team: "We are going to Spa full of anticipation and with a lot of optimism. After recent good results, we have set our sights high for this race. With around 70 GT3 cars, there will be a lot of traffic on the track. It will be crucial to get through the race without any major incidents so we will do our best.”

Images: The Haupt Racing Team livery of Frank Bird’s Mercedes-AMG GT2 for the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers

BeerMonster Ducati Double Up At Knockhill

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 23:22:56 GMT

Round four of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship proved a successful one for BeerMonster Ducati with doubles all round following the three races held at Knockhill in Scotland this weekend.

Following Glenn Irwin’s victory in the BikeSocial Sprint race yesterday, he backed that up with another win today to claim his first double of the season whilst teammate Tommy Bridewell kept his title charge on course with a superb double podium in both of today’s races to increase his championship lead.

Saturday’s results meant Glenn and Tommy lined up in fifth and ninth respectively for the opening 30-lap race around the 1.26-mile Fife venue with Irwin quickly slotting into third as Bridewell set about moving his way through the field once more on Paul Bird’s F23 specification V4R BeerMonster Ducati.

Tommy had moved up to sixth at half race distance with Glenn continuing to hold onto third as just 1.5 seconds covered the top six riders. It was all change on lap 23, however, as Irwin moved into the lead with Bridewell up to fourth before taking third two laps later.

But with three laps to go, there was heartbreak for Irwin as he crashed out of the lead at the Hairpin and that meant it was Kyle Ryde who got the win with Bridewell coming through for an excellent second.

That put Tommy in the middle of the front row for the final race of the weekend with Glenn in fifth once more. The duo completed the opening lap in the top five and soon moved forward, with Tommy taking the lead on the third lap as Glenn moved up to third.

By the tenth lap, they were running first and second and with Glenn having slightly quicker pace, he took over the lead on lap 18. On this occasion, he controlled proceedings all the way to the end and this time there was to be no mistake as he took the win from Bridewell by 0.879 seconds.

The result, which was the team’s second 1-2 of the season, sees Bridewell increase his championship lead to eight points ahead of Ryde with Irwin in third just three points down on his Yamaha rival.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s a shame what happened in today’s first race as I could have been coming away with a hat-trick but I’m happy with the two wins we had, and I really enjoyed the final race. I could see Tommy in the lead and knew when it was time to up the pace as whilst he was strong in some areas, I felt strong all around the circuit. He’s improved his braking into the Hairpin all weekend, but the BeerMonster Ducati was strong out of the Hairpin, and I was able to make my move along the straight and into the first corner. Two wins out of three means it’s been a pretty good weekend.”

Tommy Bridewell: “I’m over the moon with two seconds today especially as we were off the pace for the first day. I struggled a bit but credit to the team, we turned it around from qualifying onwards and I felt a lot better. It was a shame to see Glenn go down in the first race as it was again showing the strength of the team and the bike, but I knew he’d come out fighting in the third race. I got to the front and set a steady pace, trying to look after my tyre, but I knew Glenn would be there. He’s been riding with a bit more confidence than me, so I’ll take the two seconds especially as they’ve increased my championship lead.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s been another good day and whilst we could have come away with all three wins, we’ve still had four podiums and that’s a really good return given we thought this would be one of the more difficult circuits on the calendar. The team have worked phenomenally hard so full credit to them and both riders rode exceptionally well. Glenn’s had that bit more than the rest of the field this weekend and the crash was just one of those things where the penalty didn’t fit the crime. He bounced back superbly well but Tommy kept him honest in the last race and it’s great to have another 1-2. We’re looking good in the championship table and the way things are going, it’s going to cost us a lot in win and podium bonuses this year!”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (30 laps)
1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
2 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
3 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)
4 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
5 Christian Iddon (Ducati)
6 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)
DNF Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (30 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
3 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
4 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
5 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)
6 Leon Haslam (BMW)

Championship positions (after four rounds)
1 Bridewell 163pts
2 Ryde 155
3 Irwin 152
4 Brookes 136
= Haslam 136
6 O’Halloran 98

Images courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46)

Irwin Romps to Knockhill Victory

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 09:14:32 GMT

BeerMonster Ducati rider Glenn Irwin enjoyed an excellent start to round four of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill this afternoon with pole position followed by a dominant performance in the BikeSocial Sprint race to take his third victory of the season.

With the team having taken part in a test at the Scottish venue earlier in the month, hopes were high coming into the meeting, but it was Irwin who shone the brightest in qualifying as he claimed pole position on Paul Bird’s F23-specification V4R BeerMonster Ducati.

A time of 47.158s gave him the top spot with teammate Tommy Bridewell having to settle for tenth place, three rows further back, albeit less than four tenths of a second adrift.

The 20-lap race was expected to be a tight and hectic affair around the 1.269-mile Fife circuit which overlooks the Firth of Forth, but Irwin quickly took the lead from Jason O’Halloran and from there on he was never headed, consistently maintaining a half second advantage over the rest of the field. Towards the end of the race, he upped his pace to extend his lead and eventually took the win by 0.606 seconds over Kyle Ryde with O’Halloran finishing third.

Irwin’s debut Knockhill victory sees him reclaim the title lead ahead of Bridewell, who put together a strong race from his fourth row starting position. With two places gained on the opening lap, Tommy continually moved forward and once he’d overtaken Leon Haslam, he immediately pulled away from the chasing pack to take a hard-earned fourth place to end up just three points behind Irwin going into tomorrow’s two races.

Glenn Irwin: “It was a tough start to the weekend, and we knew it would be a strong track for our rivals, but we improved in every practice session, and I was really happy to take pole position. I knew then that we could have a great day and we made another change to the bike ahead of the race and it was so enjoyable. I wanted to be precise, composed and at one with the bike and everyone’s working really hard so, hopefully, we can do the same again tomorrow.”

Tommy Bridewell: “We were off the pace initially but made a bold geometry change ahead of qualifying which was massive step forward and we then made another change ahead of the race. That meant I had to re-learn the bike and, of course, when you go faster, you find new issues. That said, our pace was good and once I’d got up to fourth and pulled away from Leon, the gap to the front three stayed the same. We’ve got some good data now and I’m confident we’ve got the pace to fight for the wins tomorrow.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s been a really good day. The test a couple of weeks ago put us in good stead and Glenn has been able to fine tune the bike in each session and ride it to its limits. Pole position was an unexpected bonus, but we knew if we could do low 47s, we’d be hard to beat. He rode an impeccable race with pinpoint accuracy and never let anyone get close enough to pass; it was a fantastic ride. Tommy and his side of the garage have had to work a bit harder, but they found a good setting in qualifying and to come from tenth to fourth around here was a remarkable ride. We’re still 1-2 in the Championship so let’s see what tomorrow brings.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship – BikeSocial Sprint race (20 laps)

1 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
3 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)
4 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
5 Christian Iddon (Ducati)
6 Leon Haslam (BMW)

Championship positions

1 Irwin 134 pts
2 Bridewell 131
3 Ryde 125
4 Brookes 121
5 Haslam 120
6 O’Halloran 84

Images courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) at Knockhill

Bennetts BSB Leaders BeerMonster Ducati Head For Knockhill

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 07:58:35 GMT

The picturesque circuit of Knockhill in Fife is the destination for round four of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship with Lake District-based BeerMonster Ducati hoping to continue their recent good form.

Arriving at the Scottish track which overlooks the Firth of Forth, Paul Bird’s riders Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin occupy first and second place in the standings aboard their factory supported BeerMonster Ducati F23s.

After a four-week break, Wiltshire-based Bridewell heads the title chase by just three points ahead of Irwin, from County Antrim, with Tommy winning a race at Oulton Park and following it up with five additional podiums. Glenn, meanwhile, has won two races so far at Silverstone and Oulton Park, and has four podium finishes to his name out of the nine races held so far.

But neither rider can rest on their laurels as the chasing pack is ready to pounce, with just ten points separating the top five riders ahead of the three races this weekend around the tight and twisty 1.27-mile circuit.

Neither Bridewell nor Irwin has won a Bennetts BSB race at Knockhill although the PBM team have had plenty of success over the years at what is effectively one of their local tracks, being located just over the border in Cumbria.

Tommy Bridewell: “It’s been good to have a little bit of a break since the last round and I’ve enjoyed a holiday and recharged my batteries. That said, we had a great one-day test at Knockhill during the break which gave us some good data to work with. That has given the team some time to work on settings ahead of the weekend. Because of the nature of the circuit, qualifying is crucial as it’s difficult to make passes in the races, so a good set-up is vital from the start. Arriving as championship leader, the idea is to consolidate that position, but I know it’s not going to be easy.”

Glenn Irwin: “It will be great to visit Scotland as it’s as near as I get to a home round, and I always have lots of support which I enjoy. We had a good test at Knockhill a couple of weeks ago and worked through what we needed to and made some good improvements. So, we arrive a little further ahead than we would be with a new bike so we'll see what that brings. But we know the weekend will present us with some challenges, so both me and the team need to be 100% and we should be fine. Hopefully, the weather holds, and we can enjoy another successful meeting.”

Images (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) hope for more good results Knockhill this weekend.

Nurburgring 24 Hour Race Victory For Frank Bird

Mon, 22 May 2023 17:39:56 GMT

After a double class win in the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers last month, Cumbrian racin driver Frank Bird ventured back to the German circuit to contest the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring and once again emerged victorious.

The Penrith-born driver was once again behind the wheel of the Haupt Racing Team’s new Team HRT Mercedes-AMG GT2 in the SPX class alongside teammate Thomas Jäger, who is the Mercedes-AMG test and development driver, and fellow German drivers Elia Erhardt and Jörg Viebahn who were contesting a 24-hour race with the new customer racing model for the first time as a four-man team.

Frank was again entrusted to take the first stint in the new car and gave the team another great start despite suffering damage caused when another competitor collided with him, which resulted in a lengthy pit stop.

Undeterred, and along with his teammates, they gradually climbed back up the leaderboard throughout Saturday night and into Sunday morning and as the race progressed to its conclusion, they consolidated their position in the pack to cross the line and take a memorable SPX class victory.

Frank Bird, #46 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “That’s my debut Nurburgring 24 Hours completed. It was an amazing experience to say the least, firstly starting the race and then driving in the night with a fantastic atmosphere is an experience I won’t forget. It was a long 24 hours with lots of action packed racing but the new Mercedes-AMG GT2 was faultless and we could give it the proper debut weekend it deserved, coming away with first in the SPX class. Thanks to the team for the hard work throughout the event and to my teammates for getting us over the line. Thanks to my dad and all our sponsors too for allowing me this fantastic experience.”

Double Donington Podium For BeerMonster Ducati

Sun, 21 May 2023 19:12:40 GMT

BeerMonster Ducati riders Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin remain in first and second places respectively in this year’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship after they bounced back from disappointment in the opening race today to claim second and third in the final race of the weekend at a sun kissed Donington Park.

Bridewell and teammate Irwin lined up in third and fourth places on the grid aboard the F23-specification V4R BeerMonster Ducatis for the first 20-lap race around the 2.5-mile GP circuit, but the race started in the worst possible fashion for Irwin when he was pushed wide at the first corner dropping all the way back to 16th.

Bridewell also struggled off the line and slipped back to eighth but a lap later he was up to fifth and by lap five he’d moved into the podium positions. Irwin’s race was over, however, as he crashed out uninjured at Redgate Corner.

That just left Bridewell to fly the flag for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team, and all was going to plan when he hit the front for the first time on lap 11 before a safety car bunched the pack back up. Racing resumed on lap 15 and although he briefly lost the lead, Tommy was back in front on lap 16 as he tried to keep the five riders immediately behind him at bay. Sadly, a technical issue saw him slow with three laps to go and his race came to an unfortunate end in retirement.

Despite the disappointment, Tommy’s pace enabled him to start the final race of the weekend from pole position although Glenn had considerably more work to do from the fourth row of the grid. Both riders made good starts though, especially Glenn as he gained four places on the opening lap, with Tommy running solidly in third.

Tommy was soon up to second and chasing yesterday’s race winner, Kyle Ryde, but in a carbon copy of the day before, he was unable to find a way by and ultimately had to settle for second place although the result did allow him to reclaim the title lead.

Glenn, meanwhile, steadily progressed forward and moved into the final podium spot on lap 13. His pace slowed slightly towards the end of the race, but he had enough in the tank to hold off his rivals to see him now just three points behind his teammate.

Tommy Bridewell: “I was a little bit deflated after the first race, but we turned it around and whilst it’s always disappointing to have a technical issue, it’s ended up being a strong weekend for both me and the team with two podiums. Donington has seen mixed results for Ducati in the past but full credit to the team as you could see how strong the bike was. Kyle just had that little bit extra which meant I couldn’t get close enough to make a pass in the last race. Both the team and I are putting in so much effort and the season is shaping up quite nicely for us.”

Glenn Irwin: “We arrived at Donington excited about the weekend, but it turned out to be harder than the previous rounds so full credit to everyone in the team to end the weekend with two BeerMonster Ducatis on the podium once more. The crash was just one of those things and no-one’s fault, but we bounced back well, and I think we’ll be even stronger when we get to the circuits which are upcoming. Donington was a strong track for the Yamaha, but Kyle rode faultlessly as did Tommy and although we were running out of tyre at the end, we got the job done and 1-2 in the championship is a pretty good place to be ahead of the break.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s disappointing to have had two DNFs in the second race as we pride ourselves on finishing every race but full credit to everyone in the team for turning it around. Tommy showed good pace all weekend and ran at the sharp end in all three races so it was a shame he had the technical issue as he may have won if the safety car hadn’t come out. He bounced back brilliantly as did Glenn especially as he came from the fourth row of the grid. Kyle and the Yamaha were strong so fair play to them, but we go into the break 1-2 in the championship, so we’ll evaluate everything and look to come out at round four even stronger.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race Two (20 laps)
1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)
2 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
3) Josh Brookes (BMW)
4) Leon Haslam (BMW)
5) Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)
6) Charlie Nesbitt (Honda)
DNF Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
DNF Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race Three (20 laps)
1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
2 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
3 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
4 Ryan Vickers (Yamaha)
5 Christian Iddon (Kawasaki)
6 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

Championship Standings (after three rounds)
1 Bridewell 119pts
2 Irwin 116
3 Brookes 114
4 Haslam 110
5 Ryde 109
6 O’Halloran 70

Images courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) in action at Donington Park

Donington Park Podium Sends Bridewell Top of the Table

Sat, 20 May 2023 21:08:50 GMT

BeerMonster Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell took the lead in this year’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship with a second place at Donington Park today which saw him move one point ahead of teammate Glenn Irwin who finished fifth in the 12-lap BikeSocial Sprint Race.

The duo had posted the same time on the BeerMonster F23-specification V4R Ducatis during yesterday’s free practice sessions, which put them joint fourth quickest on the leaderboard but qualifying took a different slant compared to previous rounds with the introduction of the one lap Omologato Superpole whereby each rider took to the track on their own in a bid for pole position.

It was Bridewell who was the quicker of the two Paul Bird Motorsport riders as he set the fourth fastest time with Glenn in sixth meaning the duo lined up on the second row for the race later in the day.

With a brand-new track surface providing the fastest ever laps around the Donington Park GP circuit and in almost perfect conditions, both riders consolidated their starting positions on the opening lap as they crossed the line in fourth and fifth with Bridewell the better placed of the two.

As the race progressed, it was Bridewell who had the better pace, breaking the lap record twice on successive laps, which elevated him to second place behind leader Kyle Ryde, as he fended Leon Haslam off in third.

However, Bridewell managed to hang on and take runner-up position for his fifth podium of the season as Ryde took the victory. Irwin, meanwhile, moved up to fourth on the fourth lap and ran on his own for much of the race but lost ground in the closing stages and he had to settle for fifth at the chequered flag. Nevertheless, the duo remains in first and second in the championship table.

Tommy Bridewell: “I’m happy enough with second as it was a good, solid ride. I was putting pressure on Kyle as much as I could whilst also being put under pressure by Leon all race. I made an average start and dropped back a bit and by the time I got up to second, Kyle had opened a bit of a gap which I was never able to pull back. Getting off the line is something I need to work on but fair play to Kyle, he never put a wheel wrong although I did feel I was stronger on some parts of the course than him. The bike was faultless, and the pace was good so full credit to the team although we’ll have to think about tomorrow’s races a bit more in terms of looking after the tyre but second is great and we’re consistently running at the front.”

Glenn Irwin: “The weekend started with a difficult FP1, but we improved steadily throughout practice and Superpole and I thought we could fight for a podium but right from the beginning of the race, there was something not quite right with the rear tyre. The grip was a little bit unpredictable but with the bike we had, it was the best I could do. It’s frustrating not to have been on the podium, at least, but at the same time, fifth is not too bad a result. It’s good points, we haven’t lost any ground to our main rivals and I’m still only a point behind Tommy so let’s see what we can do tomorrow.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “We’re happy enough with today’s results as it’s been more difficult than normal finding a set-up during practice and qualifying, but both sides of the garage worked hard to put themselves in a good position for the race. Superpole offered another challenge as you need to be so precise and smooth, but the front two rows were what we wanted so fair play to the boys for achieving that. Tommy got away well in the race and had good pace which enabled him to take a good podium and although Glenn had an issue with the rear, he still scored some good, solid points. Tomorrow’s longer races normally suit our bikes, but we’ll look at the data to ensure we’re as prepared as always.”

Tomorrow’s races, held over the longer distance of 20 laps, are scheduled to start at 13:15 and 16:30 respectively.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race One – BikeSocial Sprint (12 laps)
1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
2 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
3 Leon Haslam (BMW)
4 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)
5 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
6 Josh Brookes (BMW)

Championship Standings
1 Bridewell 103pts
2 Irwin 102
3 Brookes 97
4 Ryde 91
5 Haslam 90
6 Jackson 49

Images courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) in action at Donington Park.

Destination Donington for BSB Series Leaders BeerMonster Ducati

Wed, 17 May 2023 09:33:09 GMT

Round three of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Donington Park this forthcoming weekend with the BeerMonster Ducati team looking to consolidate their place at the head of the title race.

Leading the series for Paul Bird’s Lake District based eight-times BSB champions is Glenn Irwin following a victory at both Silverstone and Oulton Park. As a result, he enjoys a slender four-point advantage over teammate Tommy Bridewell, who is tied in second place with Josh Brookes, ahead of the three races on the GP circuit configuration.

Irwin, from Ballyclare in County Antrim, is fresh from a pair of wins in the Superbike races at the International North West 200 last week aboard the factory supported BeerMonster Ducati F23 so will be looking to continue that form at the track he’s scored three podiums at in recent years, including last season.

Meanwhile, Bridewell, from Devizes in Wiltshire, was in awesome form at the previous round at Oulton Park where he got his first victory of the season and added that to his four other podiums in 2023, so he will be aiming to close the gap to Irwin as he has four podiums at Donington GP to his name.

Glenn Irwin: “We arrive at Donington Park with the plan to continue the good early season form and my confidence is sky high after the two wins at the NW200. That’s that box ticked and now I aim to take this good feeling and maintain my challenge at the front for the rest of the season. The track has been resurfaced over winter so it’s difficult to make any predictions, but I’m confident that we have a great set up and the atmosphere in the team is brilliant so I can’t wait to get cracking.”

Tommy Bridewell: “I’m looking forward to going racing again this weekend and to try to build on the early season momentum. I’ve enjoyed some really strong results at Donington Park over the years so it will be interesting to see how we get on but I’m confident as we have a great package all round and the team and me are working very well. The target is to get another set of solid results again this weekend and as long as I’m fighting for the race wins in all three races, I’ll be happy.”

John Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “We’ve had a dream start to the season what with the three wins in the opening two BSB rounds and then the double at the NW200, so the plan is simple and that’s to keep the momentum flowing. Both Glenn and Tommy are in a good place and the general atmosphere in the garage is one of positivity, which perhaps has been missing in the recent past. As long as we are challenging for race wins and podiums, that’s all we can ask so hopefully we can keep this run of success going at Donington Park.”

Images courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) hope for more good results at Donington Park this weekend.

Double Podium For Frank Bird At Brands Hatch

Sun, 14 May 2023 07:21:50 GMT

Cumbrian racing driver Frank Bird made the most of home advantage when he came away from Brands Hatch with a double podium in the opening round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup.

Driving for the German-based Haupt Racing Team in the PBM-backed Mercedes-AMG GT3, Frank was racing at the Kent track where father Paul’s Superbike team has enjoyed so much success over the years, and was contesting the Silver Cup class with Australian teammate Jordan Love.

The pair qualified for the opening race in an impressive top ten position out of the 29 car entry and second in the Silver Cup class. From there, a great effort by both drivers saw them claim a fantastic third position and their first podium of the weekend.

However, things got better in the day’s second outing as a bumper crowd saw Frank and Jordan up the pace to cross the line in a close second position, just one second behind the class winners after 41 laps of the famous Brands Hatch GP circuit.

Frank Bird, #77Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “That’s the first weekend in the Sprint Cup done. Overall, I’m pretty happy, after not much track time, we made a good comeback in both races to finish P3 and P2 in the Silver Cup class. We definitely showed we had good pace fighting for overall places as well but a solid weekend on which to build for the rest of the season. Thanks to the team for a great car, my teammate Jordan for a great job and to our sponsors and my dad. I’m really looking forward to rest of the season.”

Pictures courtesy of www.gt-world-challenge-europe.com

Irwin Takes Double Victory At North West 200

Sat, 13 May 2023 21:26:47 GMT

Glenn Irwin and the BeerMonster Ducati team enjoyed a superb day of racing at the FonaCAB/Nicholl Oils International North West 200 today with the Carrickfergus rider claiming both of the Superbike races around the 8.9-mile circuit linking the Northern Ireland towns of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine.

It further consolidated Irwin’s tag as the best Superbike rider currently competing at the event as the victories made it eight in a row at the event and continued the Penrith-based PBM team’s excellent start to 2023.

But it wasn’t all-plain sailing as issues in qualifying on Tuesday led to the team switching to his BSB-specification BeerMonster Ducati F23 V4R for Thursday where he qualified in seventh place with a lap of 121.909mph after finding a much more comfortable set-up.

Race day saw dry, sunny conditions all around the course with the opening six-lap Superbike encounter seeing Glenn slot into third place on the opening lap. Locked in battle for the first three laps with Michael Dunlop, Alastair Seeley, Davey Todd and Dean Harrison, positions changed regularly but Glenn hit the front on lap three with a speed of 122.400mph helping him immediately open a 0.6 second advantage over Todd.

Continuing to lead on the fourth lap, Irwin extended his advantage over the chasing pack, but the race was red flagged after an incident as the riders came along the coast road. The result was ultimately declared a result at the end of lap three with Glenn getting the verdict over Todd by 0.634 seconds.

Conditions remained good for the feature NW200 Superbike race later in the day and the race followed a similar pattern with all but Todd battling for the win once more. Having led on the opening lap, Glenn was pushed back to third a lap later, but he again responded on the third lap after a lap of 124.362mph saw him open a gap of more than a second.

Shortly afterwards, the race was stopped once more due to an incident, but Glenn was again declared the winner, his winning margin over Seeley being 1.068s to claim a record-breaking eighth successive Superbike win on the Causeway Coast course.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s an amazing feeling to win two more Superbike races although winning under red flags is never ideal so I hope the riders involved are all OK. From a personal point of view, it’s been a tough week and we’ve had to turn things around. I knew what I wanted from the bike and it’s safe to say I didn’t have that on Tuesday. The team changed the bike for me though and it was faultless. It took me a while to understand everything, and I haven’t always been involved in such close battles around here in the Superbike races. That made the slipstream a bit tricky, and all the boys were riding fantastic, so I had to work hard. I tried to slow them up through Magherabuoy to get the jump on them on the way out and that allowed me to open a bit of gap, which obviously proved crucial. I’ve got to say a big thanks to Paul Bird and the team for giving me such a great package and it’s just great to win in front of my home crowd again.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “To come away with two wins after such limited track time

on Tuesday and Thursday is simply phenomenal. As Glenn says, you’d prefer to win a race which goes the distance, and our best wishes go to the injured riders, but he rode superbly and timed his moves to perfection. We had a few issues to begin with, but we got the bike sorted for Glenn and, after a long week, coming away with two wins ahead of such a strong field is just what we wanted. It continues the strong form we’ve shown in BSB at Silverstone and Oulton Park so let’s keep the ball rolling at Donington next weekend.”

Anchor Bar Superbike race (3 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Michael Dunlop (Honda)
3 Dean Harrison (Kawasaki)
4 Michael Rutter (Honda)
5 James Hillier (Yamaha)
6 John McGuinness (Honda)

Merrow Hotel & Spa Superbike race (3 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Alastair Seeley (BMW)
3 Dean Harrison (Kawasaki)
4 Michael Dunlop (Honda)
5 John McGuinness (Honda)
6 Michael Rutter (Honda)

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) at the North West 200

BeerMonster Ducati Double Up At Oulton Park

Mon, 01 May 2023 18:53:22 GMT

The BeerMonster Ducati team enjoyed a superb day’s racing at Oulton Park today with both Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell taking a Bennetts British Superbike Championship race win each to occupy the first two places in the standings.

After Irwin’s podium finish yesterday in the BikeSocial Sprint race, today’s opening race saw Bridewell head home Irwin for the PBM team’s first one-two in three seasons, before Irwin claimed victory in the day’s second outing meaning with three podiums out of a possible four this weekend, they’re now first and second in the championship with Irwin holding a four-point lead over Bridewell.

Yesterday’s results meant Bridewell started from pole position for bank holiday Monday’s opening 18-lap race around the Cheshire circuit with Irwin heading up the second row. Bridewell hit the front early on and for the first half of the race, there was little to choose between the front five riders, but Tommy continued to control proceedings from the front on the F23-specification V4R BeerMonster Ducati.

As the race entered its second half, he was able to up his pace to gradually edge away and take his maiden win for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team. His eventual winning margin was 1.5 seconds over teammate Irwin who took second, having steadily worked his way through the field.

Starting the final race of the weekend with Irwin on pole position and Bridewell in third, the first lap saw them running in second and fifth and it was again Glenn at the forefront. He took the lead on the third lap and despite a fierce challenge from a bunch of riders, he managed to hold on for his second win of the season which saw him take the championship lead.

Bridewell, meanwhile, ran in fifth in the early stages and moved up into third at half race distance, aided by the fastest lap of the race. He was unable to climb any higher and ultimately had to settle for fourth meaning he now sits in second place in the table, just four points behind his teammate.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s been a brilliant day for both myself and the whole PBM BeerMonster Ducati team and you can see the passion within the garage with everyone working really hard. I really struggled at the beginning of the first race and lost a position when Peter Hickman crashed in front of me, so I had to work hard to get going. I was really happy to come through to second and give PBM a 1-2 and fair play to Tommy, he rode faultlessly. We made some changes for the final race which helped in some areas, but I nearly lost the front at Shell whilst I also made a mistake when Leon came by. I got back in front to take victory so let’s keep this run going.”

Tommy Bridewell: “It’s been a slightly mixed day as whilst I’m delighted with the race win, I’m disappointed with fourth in the second race. We made a slight change to the chassis, but it wasn’t enough to have made the difference it did, and the bike felt very different in the two races. In the first race, it felt a lot more stable whilst in the second, there was a lot more stress and I was having to ride on the limit to be where I was. It’s helped me understand the bike more though and I believe we can make big improvements to it so it’s a shame we haven’t got another race to try it. Overall, it’s been a positive weekend and it’s been my best ever start to a championship so with further changes, I think we can be stronger still.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “With two wins today and our first 1-2 since 2020, it’s been a fantastic day for the team and it’s even sweeter with it being our local circuit and with the success coming in front of many of our sponsors. It would have been nice if we could have had Tommy on the podium in the final race as well but that would have perhaps been a bit greedy! The wins were good for different reasons, Tommy leading from start to finish in the first and then Glenn leading the final race, dropping back to third and then coming through again to win. We’ve been to two different circuits now and the bike’s proven itself at both which is testament to Ducati so let’s hope the run continues.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (18 laps)
1 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
3 Leon Haslam (BMW)
4 Andrew Irwin (Honda)
5 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
6 Josh Brookes (BMW)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (18 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Leon Haslam (BMW)
3 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
4 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
5 Josh Brookes (BMW)
6 Peter Hickman (BMW)

Championship positions (after six races)
1 Glenn Irwin 91
2 Bridewell 87
= Brookes 87
4 Haslam 76
5 Ryde 73
6 Andrew Irwin 44

Images courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) in action at Silverstone.

Irwin Romps To Oulton Park Podium, Bridewell Fifth

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 10:45:59 GMT

The BeerMonster Ducati team’s strong start to the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship continued at Oulton Park today with Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell finishing in third and fifth place respectively in the opening race of the weekend.

With yesterday’s opening free practice session seeing dry weather, the subsequent action today saw mixed conditions at the Cheshire track and with a damp track for this afternoon’s qualifying session, it was Glenn who fared best in fourth on the F23-specification V4R BeerMonster Ducati with Bridewell down the order in 15th on the fifth row.

Conditions had improved slightly for the 12-lap BikeSocial Sprint Race and a strong start to the race saw Glenn complete the first lap in third place as he immediately latched onto the back wheel of leaders Josh Brookes and Leon Haslam.

The trio quickly opened up a two-second gap over the rest of the field and although there was never more than half a second between them, overtaking opportunities were limited. Irwin went to overtake Haslam on the tenth of 12 laps, but he wouldn’t get another chance as rain began to fall with the race being stopped on the penultimate lap.

That meant Irwin was awarded third with the points putting him in joint second in the championship with Bridewell, who put in a storming ride from his lowly grid position, coming home in fifth. Aided by the fastest lap of the race, which will put him in pole position for tomorrow’s first race, Bridewell continually moved forward and took over fifth place just after half race distance. That was as high as he was able to climb but it puts him in a much stronger position for tomorrow’s races.

Glenn Irwin: “It’s good to get another podium but it’s also a bit frustrating as we had the potential to have done better than third. The three of us at the front had strengths and weaknesses in different areas so there was a bit of a yo-yo effect without any of us having an opportunity to overtake anywhere. I had a chance on the tenth lap, which, on hindsight, I should have taken with the red flag but that’s racing. The bike felt good and the longer races tomorrow should suit us more and whilst it’s good to have taken some points from Tommy today, I’ll be looking to take some off Josh tomorrow.”

Tommy Bridewell: “The result was OK and I’m happy and disappointed in equal measures. I’m happy to have fought my way through to fifth but that’s what I expected and to be honest, I thought I’d have been able to fight my way up to the podium battle. I needed the front three to be swapping positions as that would have allowed me to close up, but they were very much ‘follow my leader’. I’d also used a lot of the tyre to come through the field but pole position for tomorrow will make things a lot better for me.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “With sketchy conditions throughout qualifying and in the race, we are happy enough with a podium for Glenn and Tommy coming through to secure valuable points in fifth. We’ve got some changes to make overnight and hopefully the weather is a little more settled tomorrow so we can continue challenging for podiums and perhaps a win or two. We know the bike is good around Oulton Park, so we are confident going into the two remaining races at our local round.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship BikeSocial Sprint race (12 laps)
1 Josh Brookes (BMW)
2 Leon Haslam (BMW)
3 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
4 Peter Hickman (BMW)
5 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
6 Andrew Irwin (Honda)

Championship positions
1 Brookes 66
2 Bridewell 57
= Irwin 57
4 Ryde 48
5 Haslam 46
6 O’Halloran 35

Images courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) in action at Oulton Park.

BeerMonster Ducati Confident Ahead of Oulton Park

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 10:56:38 GMT

Following a successful opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Silverstone over Easter, BeerMonster Ducati riders Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell head for round two at Oulton Park this bank holiday weekend in confident mood.

Bridewell, from Devizes in Wiltshire, holds second place in the standings following his triple podium in round one where he backed up a pair of second place finishes in the opening two races with a third in race three to lie just two points behind early season leader Josh Brookes.

Meanwhile Irwin, from Ballyclare in County Antrim, is just three points adrift of his teammate after he followed up a podium finish in race two at Silverstone with victory in the final race meaning both of Paul Bird’s riders are looking to continue their great start to the season at his Lake District-based team’s local round.

The Cheshire track has been a particular favourite of Bridewell’s in recent years with three wins and an additional five podiums in his last dozen Oulton Park races, all aboard Ducati machinery, whereas Irwin scored a podium finish there for Honda last season on his way to runner-up in the title race.

Aboard the F23-specification BeerMonster Ducati V4R machines, both riders tested there recently but despite the poor weather, they got valuable data which will stand them in good stead this weekend as they look to continue their successful starts to the 2023 campaign.

Tommy Bridewell: “I really love riding at Oulton Park, it’s the circuit where I’ve enjoyed many of my successes in the past and I can’t tell you how excited I am at the prospect of racing the BeerMonster Ducati F23 around there this weekend. We had a good, productive test and I’m fairly strong round there so it’s all looking positive. I was happy enough to get off to a good start and score some solid points at Silverstone but now I need to transform that into wins and I’m confident we can do that. It’s not going to be easy, but we know we have a great base setting with the new bike and hopefully we can continue the good form from the opening round.”

Glenn Irwin: “I’m looking forward to the weekend and to get back on my BeerMonster Ducati F23. We had a good test at Oulton Park a couple of weeks ago and got some important information which will make us stronger this weekend. I always enjoy riding there and to end up just a tenth of a second on the Honda behind Tommy’s Ducati last year was really good, especially as I know how strong the Ducatis can be. There will be a lot of riders in the mix I suspect but I’m confident of the package I’ve got which I’m still learning from. The plan is to give it our best shot during practice and qualifying and be fighting for the victories in all three races.”

John Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “We had a brilliant start to the season at Silverstone with a win and four additional podiums which is just what we needed after the past couple of seasons, but that’s behind us now and we need to focus on the job in hand at Oulton Park. It’s our team's and sponsors’ local track so we are hoping to be challenging again at the front as both riders are good around there. We know the BeerMonster Ducati F23 will be a weapon in their hands, so the aim is to come away with a strong set of results again and to carry on the early season momentum.”

Images (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) hope for more good results at Oulton Park this bank holiday weekend.

Double Victory For Frank Bird In New Mercedes At Nurburgring

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 15:44:48 GMT

It proved to be a successful weekend for Cumbrian racing driver Frank Bird and his German-based Haupt Racing Team when they contested the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers in the new Mercedes-AMG GT2 and came away with a double class win on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit.

In preparation for the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Race Nürburgring later in the year, Penrith-born Frank and his German teammates Elia Erhart and Thomas Jäger firstly contested the two-hour race in the SPX class in the #46 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT entry.

Frank was entrusted to take the first stint in the brand new car and gave the team a great platform to cross the line in 26th overall but taking a remarkable win in the SPX class to set them up for the four hour race later in the weekend.

There, the trio were joined by a fourth driver, Jörg Viebahn also from Germany, and after a great start by Frank again, the team claimed a magnificent 14th overall whilst making it a double victory in the SPX class.

Frank Bird, #46 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “I’m very happy with the weekend overall and it was a privilege to make the global debut of the new Mercedes-AMG GT2 car. The car is still in its early days but has a huge potential so I can’t wait to see how it performs for the 24hrs of Nurburgring later in the season. From my perspective it was my first proper race weekend at the Nordschleife after gaining my permit. It was an eye-opening and huge learning experience but I’m very happy with how it went. Thanks to HRT, my sponsors and my family for the opportunity.”

Frank Bird To Debut New Mercedes At Nurburgring

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 08:35:06 GMT

Cumbrian racing driver Frank Bird and his German-based Haupt Racing Team will be in action this weekend when they contest the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers in the new Mercedes-AMG GT2.

In preparation for the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Race Nürburgring later in the year, and following an intensive development phase covering many test kilometres, HRT will bring the new car to the grid which boasts a power output of over 700bhp.

The event will see the #46 Mercedes-AMG GT2 contest the two qualifying races, over two and four hours respectively, in the SPX class under the Mercedes-AMG Team HRT entry. Penrith-born Frank Bird, German teammates Elia Erhart and Jörg Viebahn along with Mercedes-AMG test and development driver Thomas Jäger also from Germany will share the wheel for the Mercedes-AMG GT2's first official appearance on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

After the qualifying races, preparations for the HRT Mercedes-AMG GT2's next endurance test will begin as from 18/21 May, the GT2 team will also compete in the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h race at the Nürburgring..

Frank Bird, #46 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “I am super excited for this brand-new project with the GT2 machine. I have no expectations but it has huge potential so I’m just looking to gain as much valuable mileage and data for the car as I can. I’m really looking forward to seeing what it’s like round the challenging Nordschleife circuit. Thanks to AMG and HRT for this opportunity and to my own sponsors, and especially my dad Paul, for their support again this season.”

Ulrich Fritz, Chief Executing Officer Haupt Racing Team: "We are delighted with the trust placed in us by Mercedes-AMG to validate the final development of the new Mercedes-AMG GT2 together with the Haupt Racing Team at these important races on the world's most demanding racetrack at the Nürburgring. The whole team is highly motivated and looking forward to working with the drivers and the Mercedes-AMG development team at the two upcoming races."

Images: The Haupt Racing Team livery of Frank Bird’s Mercedes-AMG GT2 for the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers

Frank Bird And HRT Continue Racing In The GT World Challenge Europe

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 16:49:48 GMT

The Haupt Racing Team will be once again on the grid in the upcoming season of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS as Hubert Haupt's team will field a pair of Mercedes-AMG GT3s in the races throughout the season, one of which will be driven by Cumbrian driver Frank Bird.

The #79 Mercedes-AMG GT3 will see German team owner Hubert Haupt and Frenchman Sébastien Baud in action whereas Penrith-born Frank Bird and Australian teammate Jordan Love will race in the sister car #77. The Anglo-Aussie pair will contest selected rounds of the Endurance Sprint Cup season in the Silver Cup category and after the pair competed for HRT last season, they will now battle for championship points in the main Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe also.

The opening round of this year's Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe season will take place in Monza, Italy on April 22/23 with the first round of the Sprint Cup at Brands Hatch, UK on May 13/14. The final event is over the weekend of October 14/15 on the dune circuit at Zandvoort in the Netherlands.

Frank Bird, #77 Haupt Racing Team: "I think we have been able to assemble a goo combination. We want to compete as far up front as possible in both the Silver Cup and the overall standings. The Sprint Cup is a short championship where you can't afford to lose any points so I'm really looking forward to the first race in that series which is also my home race at Brands Hatch."

Images: The Haupt Racing Team livery of Frank Bird’s Mercedes-AMG GT3

GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS

*denotes Sprint Cup

Victory For Irwin As Bridewell On Silverstone Podium Again

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 19:10:09 GMT

The BeerMonster Ducati team’s superb start to the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship continued at Silverstone today with Glenn Irwin giving Paul Bird’s team their first win of the campaign in the final race, which followed on from his third place earlier in the day.

Teammate Tommy Bridewell added to the celebrations with second and third place finishes in the two races to add to his podium of yesterday meaning the duo now sit in second and third overall in the early season standings.

Lap times from the previous day’s race meant the duo started the first 30-lap race from second and seventh respectively but whilst Tommy consolidated second on the opening lap, Glenn dropped back to 12th which gave him plenty of work to do. At the head of the field, it soon developed into a similar situation to yesterday’s race and for much of the race, Tommy ran in second place whilst Glenn continued to work his way forward and by half race distance, he was up to fifth.

With five laps to go, Tommy was still running in second but right in the wheel tracks of race leader Josh Brookes and Glenn had moved into third. However, everyone was denied a grandstand finish when the red flag came out due to an incident with three laps to go but, nevertheless, it gave the Penrith-based team their first double podium of the season, and first since 2021.

Temperatures were a bit cooler later in the day and Bridewell had more work to do this time as he started from ninth on the grid which was where he remained for the early laps. Glenn, however, slotted into sixth and by one third race distance, he was beginning to look threatening. The Ulsterman continually moved forward and after taking second place on lap 15, he hit the front for the first time three laps later. From there, he was never headed and although it remained close, he duly took his first win of the season.

Bridewell, meanwhile, found it hard to gain places initially and was still in eighth place at half race distance but from there on in, he was able to make passes stick although it wasn’t until there were three laps remaining that he moved into the top three. He didn’t quite have enough to overhaul Brookes but finished in a strong third to make it three podiums from the first three races of the season.

Tommy Bridewell: “First and foremost, it’s been a great start to the season and to get three podiums for the team first time out, and at one of my bogey circuits, is full credit to them. I got caught up with Kyle Ryde in the first race and the Yamahas have always been good in the last sector which enabled him to continually make a move at turn one. I had to keep coming back on him as I could see Josh had opened a slight gap. With four to five laps to go, I knew it was time to go but whilst it would have been tough to get by him, the red flag brought the race to an early end. The final race was tough due to starting from ninth and I perhaps underestimated how hard it was going to be, but I got up to third, so it’s been a great start to my time at BeerMonster Ducati.”

Glenn Irwin: “Things didn’t go to plan at the start of either race today with distinctly average starts, especially in the first race, and I gave myself a lot of work to do but the boys worked hard to give me a great package and I was able to come through. We were able to look at Tommy’s settings from yesterday and translated some of that onto our bike but both races were tough as it was hard to manage the tyre whilst trying to make as many passes as what I did. It was a bit cooler in the final race and there wasn’t much tyre left at the end, but we were all in the same boat, so I got the job done. We know there are still areas where we can improve and there’s plenty for us to learn with the F23 BeerMonster Ducati, but it’s been a great start so full credit to the team and also to Tommy.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “There’s a massive sense of relief to get round one under our belts and out the way! We were looking a bit thin on the ground three to four weeks ago, but both riders stayed positive and rode way above our expectations so to come away with a win and four podiums with the F23 Ducati V4R for our new sponsors BeerMonster is simply superb. It’s been a fantastic effort by every single member of the team and whilst we know there’ll be challenges ahead, this gives us a tremendous platform to build on.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (27 laps)
1 Josh Brookes (BMW)
2 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
3 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
4 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
5 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)
6 Leon Haslam (BMW)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (30 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
2 Josh Brookes (BMW)
3 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
4 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)
5 Danny Kent (Honda)
6 Leon Haslam (BMW)

Championship points (after three races)
1 Brookes 48
2 Bridewell 46
3 Irwin 43
4 Ryde 39
5 O’Halloran 35
6 Haslam 30

Images courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) in action at Silverstone.

Podium Joy For Bridewell In Silverstone Opener

Sat, 08 Apr 2023 20:01:47 GMT

The BeerMonster Ducati team got their 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship campaign underway in fine style at Silverstone this afternoon with the opening race of the weekend seeing Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin claim second and fifth place finishes, respectively.

Both riders had run consistently in the top ten during the three practice sessions aboard the F23-specification BeerMonster Ducati V4R machines, but Bridewell really shone in qualifying to not only lap two tenths of a second inside the lap record but also give the Penrith-based team their first pole position since September 2021 as Irwin qualified in fifth.

That gave the duo plenty of confidence ahead of the 22-lap BikeSocial Sprint race around the 1.64-mile National circuit and it was Bridewell who led in the early stages with Irwin slotting into fifth, as it quickly became a six-rider battle for the lead.

Positions continually changed but Bridewell never dropped lower than fourth and in the closing laps, he dug deep to move back into second, crossing the line 0.444s behind race winner Kyle Ryde. Teammate Irwin, meanwhile, ran in sixth for the middle third of the race but overhauled Jack Kennedy for fifth in the closing stages to make it two BeerMonster Ducatis in the top five.

Tommy Bridewell: “It was a good race and I’m proud of the team after the hard times they’ve had so for me to come in and give them a pole position and a podium straightaway has ticked a lot of boxes. After qualifying we knew we had good pace but until you get into the race, you can never be quite sure, but I really enjoyed it. When I saw there were seven laps to go, I knew I needed to pull my finger out and I was able to put the bike where I wanted and make the passes where I wanted. I felt strong and translating pole position into a podium is really good, so it bodes well for tomorrow.”

Glenn Irwin: “It was a good first race for me back on the Ducati and it was most definitely a learning race, but we were in the mix throughout and know what changes we need to make for tomorrow. The power delivery is one thing we’ll alter, particularly for turn three but if we’d have been offered two top fives in the first race, we’d have bitten your hand off. The F23 V4R looks to be a good step forward from the previous model and hats off to Tommy for putting it on the podium so with longer races tomorrow, I’m confident of improving upon today’s result.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s been a great start to the season and after qualifying went well, both riders put in two strong rides. Tommy’s not known as an out and out qualifier but fair play to him for taking pole and you could see how settled he looked in the race. He picked his moments to pass and was able to push on in the closing stages so with an extra eight laps tomorrow, it looks good. For Glenn, it was a learning race as he gets used to the Ducati once more, but he wasn’t a million miles away and, again, the signs are very good. Full credit to the boys and to Ducati and the team. Ducati have given us a great package in the F23R and whilst the last few weeks have been challenging with some long hours, the team have pulled it out of the bag so it’s great to have started in the manner that we have.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one – BikeSocial Sprint (22 laps)
1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
2 Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
3 Josh Brookes (BMW)
4 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)
5 Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
6 Leon Haslam (BMW)

Images courtesy of Double Red: Tommy Bridewell (46) and Glenn Irwin (2) in action at Silverstone.

BeerMonster Ducati Conclude Testing Ahead of BSB Series Opener

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 07:21:36 GMT

BeerMonster Ducati riders Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell concluded their on-track preparations at Silverstone yesterday ahead of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship which kicks off there over the Easter weekend.

Aboard the F23-specification BeerMonster Ducati V4R machines, both riders spun some laps in the wet conditions which plagued the third of the official BSB tests around the 1.64-mile National Circuit and ruled out any meaningful lap times.

Buoyed by their successful test at Navarra in Spain earlier in the month, both Ulsterman Irwin and Wiltshire ace Bridewell recorded around 35 laps each on Wednesday at Silverstone after sitting out all of Tuesday’s action because of the weather but despite the inclement conditions, both riders are raring to go when the action starts in earnest on Good Friday.

Glenn won all three races at the season opener at Silverstone last season before going on to finish runner-up in the final standings whilst Tommy, who finished third in the title race in 2022, is looking to kick off the season with a debut Silverstone victory.

Glenn Irwin: “That’s pre-season testing done. We had an enjoyable time at Navarra and got great feeling with the bike with a clear understanding and then did a few laps in the wet at Silverstone. I’m reasonably happy as there are areas where the package is strong but there are some that we need to keep working on and to improve. Because of the weather in the UK, no one has had much dry track time so going into round one, everyone is unsure as to where they are at. Hopefully next Friday will be dry and we can all see where we are at so I’m looking for a strong start to the season.”

Tommy Bridewell: “I’ve got a really positive feeling ahead of the season and I’ve made a good transition to the PBM BeerMonster Ducati team. My priority has been to better understand the new Ducati V4R and the way it works. It’s a lot different to the previous model and a real breath of fresh air, it’s all that I’ve been missing. We’ve hardly changed the bike during the testing we did, we didn’t get too many laps in but it’s still been very productive. I’m glad we got some time in the wet conditions as that was a big positive for me too so I’m confident rolling into the opening round.”

John Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “The Silverstone test proved to be tough with difficult conditions on both days. The track temperature on Tuesday was too low for us to attempt any meaningful laps but although it was still wet, it warmed up sufficiently for us to get a few laps in on Wednesday. It was important track time for both Glenn and Tommy on the new F23 bikes and we gained some valuable data. Now we start our final preparations for the opening round at Silverstone over Easter which the whole team is looking forward to and we can’t wait to go racing again.”

The opening round of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Silverstone over the Easter weekend from 7/9 April.

Images (courtesy of Double Red): Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) finished pre-season testing in the wet conditions at Silverstone ahead of round one next weekend.

PBM Serve Up BeerMonster As New Title Sponsor For 2023

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 14:04:25 GMT

Eight-times British Superbike Champions Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM) have unveiled a striking new look ahead of the 2023 season, revealing new title sponsor BeerMonster at Silverstone today.

The brand is an online discounted beer store – BeerMonster.com – offering savings of up to 60% on popular beer and cider brands, with new deals added on a weekly basis and including free home delivery.

The team are entitled BeerMonster Ducati and are now set for the opening round of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Silverstone this Easter (7/8/9 April) as Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell begin their title campaign on the brand-new BeerMonster Ducati F23s.

Sam Higginson, Brand Director, BeerMonster: “We’re delighted to be involved with Paul Bird’s team again, we have had many successes via a long-standing association in the past and the new collaboration with BeerMonster, PBM and Ducati is an exciting prospect. Hopefully, the 2023 season is a successful one for both the team and us and we are looking forward to developing our product range through the medium of the British Superbike Championship whereby our new website will be rolled out prior to the opening BSB round at Silverstone.”

Paul Bird, Team Owner: “We’re thrilled to welcome BeerMonster as title sponsor for the 2023 British Superbike Championship season and it’s great to have the support of Martin and Sam Higginson again. We have always had a reputation of bringing new sponsors into the sport and this is the latest venture. We need to bounce back after a difficult season last year so this year, with a new bike, two new riders and an enthusiastic title sponsor, the plan is to win the title back which we last held three years ago.”

Image (courtesy of Double Red): The BeerMonster Ducati livery which will adorn the machines to be ridden by Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell in the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

Irwin And Bridewell Conclude Successful Spanish Test For PBM Ducati

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 23:13:11 GMT

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.

Frustration For Frank Bird In Abu Dhabi

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 11:49:53 GMT

Following on from two solid points scoring outings in the opening rounds of the 2023 Asian Le Mans Series in Dubai last weekend, young Cumbrian driver Frank Bird, after a great drive in race one, endured a disappointing final race in the final two rounds which took place at the YAS Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.

Once again driving for the German-based Haupt Racing Team, the Penrith-born driver was at the wheel of the team’s #6 Paul Bird Motorsport-backed Mercedes-AMG GT3 along with teammates Arjun Maini from India and Frenchman Michael Blanchemain for the pair of four-hour races.

The team got off to a good start by posting 12th fastest time in the opening Free Practice session which they bettered to tenth in FP2. Qualifying saw the team’s amateur driver Blanchemain place the car in 19th out of the 23 GT cars ready for Saturday’s opening four hour race.

Frank made a great start by setting fastest lap out of the three teammates, where they were challenging up the order when, after swapping drivers, the Frenchman damaged a wheel bearing meaning the team lost six laps in the pits. Despite the handicap, they crossed the line in 13th place, and had it not been for the delay in the pits, Bird and the team could have been challenging for a podium finish.

Starting Sunday’s race from a lowly 40th on the grid, Frank drove the first stint and courtesy of another fastest lap, he was soon up to second in class as the race progressed whereby he handed over to his teammates. Sadly, however, the team suffered a techical failure which led to them retiring after 79 laps.

Despite the disappointment, Frank finished the four-round series in a battling 15th place overall in the GT Drivers’ class.

Frank Bird: “Seeing the car retire was an unfortunate way to end the 2023 Asian Le Mans Series with a DNF. I had great fun at the start of the final race, going from 20th in the GT class up to second and finally showing what we could do. When swapping over to my teammate during the race, we encountered a technical problem which forced us to retire. It’s not how we had it planned out but nevertheless I loved my time out in the UAE so thanks to the team for a mega job over the two weeks and to my teammates and of course to our sponsors and my dad."

Frank will be back in rally action this forthcoming weekend in the PBM team’s Silkolene, Hager and Mac Tools-backed Ford Fiesta Rally 2 as he contests the Reed Group East Riding Stages Rally which comprises the opening round of the Protyre BTRDA Asphalt Rally Championship in association with Motorsport News.

Images: Frank Bird in action in the Asian Le Mans Series in Abu Dhabi

Solid Results For Bird In Opening ALMS Rounds In Dubai

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 09:32:52 GMT

Cumbrian racing driver Frank Bird was competing in the opening two rounds of the 2023

Asian Le Mans Series held at the Dubai Autodrome at the weekend and came away with a pair of solid results.

As part of the German-based Haupt Racing Team, the Penrith-born driver was at the wheel of the team’s #6 Mercedes-AMG GT3 along with teammates Arjun Maini from India and Frenchman Michael Blanchemain for the pair of four-hour races.

With backing from Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM), Frank set third fastest time in the GT class during Friday’s Free Practice session which they couldn’t improve upon during the afternoon session, before Saturday’s qualifier for the opening race saw them placed 13th on the grid for the race later on in the evening.

Completing a total of 111 laps, Bird was quickest of the three-man team during his 30 laps at the wheel as they brought the car home to a superb seventh place finish to set themselves up for the following day’s second round.

However, despite a good start, it didn’t work out as well as the opening race due to the team being hit with a couple of penalties, but despite the setback, Frank contributed 27 laps with the team eventually finishing in 15th place in Sunday’s round two.

Frank Bird, HRT #6: "That’s the first two rounds of the Asian Le Mans Series done with a seventh and 15th place finish in the races. Both races were super fun to be in with fights going on all over the track. HRT prepared a great car but unfortunately in race two, some penalties cost us a better result. I’m looking forward to Abu Dhabi next weekend where hopefully we can use our experience from the first weekend and score two more solid finishes."

The action now moves on to the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi for the two final rounds this weekend (17/19 February).

For further information, please visit https://media.hauptracingteam.de with the new Paul Bird Paul Bird Motorsport website due to be launched soon

Frank Bird And HRT To Compete In The Asian Le Mans Series In 2023

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 09:33:11 GMT

Haupt Racing Team will once again compete in the Asian Le Mans Series in the 2023 season in a team which will include promising young Cumbrian driver, Frank Bird.

The team from Meuspath in Germany will tackle all four rounds of the series, which will be held on two consecutive weekends, with two Mercedes-AMG GT3s and will rely on an experienced driver line-up.

The black #7 Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be driven by Al Faisal Al Zubair (OMA), Luca Stolz (GER) and Martin Konrad (AUT). The experienced driver trio will contest the races in the Asian Le Mans Series with the entry Al Manar Racing by HRT.

Arjun Maini (IND) and Michael Blanchemain (FRA) will be accompanied by Penrith-born Bird to compete in the yellow and blue sister car with the starting number #6 and the HRT entry, with backing from Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM).

The calendar of the compact Asian Le Mans Series comprises a total of four rounds. On the first race weekend (11-12 February 2023), the participating teams will compete in a pair of four-hour races in Dubai. One week later (18-19 February 2023), the series will make a guest appearance at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi for two more rounds, which will also run over a race duration of four hours each.

47 cars, 24 of them in the GT class, will fight for the championship in the Asian Le Mans Series. All class winners also receive a starting place for the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Frank Bird, HRT #6: "I did a few races in the GT World Challenge with HRT and Arjun last season and had a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to working with HRT again this year and sharing the cockpit with Arjun and Michael."

Sean Paul Breslin, Team Principal Haupt Racing Team: "It is our second participation in the Asian Le Mans Series and in the GT class we will be competing against strong competition. Nevertheless, we are going into the race with ambition, especially as we have already been able to achieve many successes at the Dubai Autodrome in the past. We will work very hard to ensure that we can build on this."

For further information, please visit https://media.hauptracingteam.de with the new Paul Bird Paul Bird Motorsport website due to be launched soon

PBM Ducati Plan For 2023 Season

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 14:09:31 GMT

Further to the recent announcements that Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin will contest the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship for Cumbrian-based Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM), the team wishes to advise that they have not renewed their partnership with former sponsors MCE for next season.

The eight-times British Superbike champions are currently in negotiation with a number of interested parties regarding title sponsorship which will see both riders contest the eleven-round BSB series on a pair of brand-new 2023 Ducati Panigale V4Rs.

Team Co-Ordinator John Mowatt: “We would like to place on record our thanks to MCE for their involvement last season, it was a single-year deal, and we enjoyed our association which benefited both parties. However, we are now moving into a new era for PBM. We have two hungry riders on brand-new, factory-supported Ducati V4Rs and it’s our intention to win back the crown we last held in 2020. There is still availability to join PBM as title, corporate and associate sponsors for 2023 and beyond and we’d be happy to discuss details with any interested parties. We look forward to starting our testing schedule next year and are confident that we will see PBM back at the sharp end.”

For further information, please contact John Mowatt via email at john.mowatt@pbm.uk.com or telephone +44 (0)1768 881184 .

Battling Bird Claims Second Place On Winter Stages Rally

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 08:33:26 GMT

Rallying made a welcome return to Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire today where a huge crowd witnessed a superb battle for the victory in the Swift Signs and Shirts Winter Stages Rally but for Cumbrian driver Frank Bird, he just missed out on retaining his title.

In their Dom Buckley Motorsport-prepared and Frank Bird Poultry-backed Ford Fiesta Rally 2 with assistance from Hager, Dragon Energy and Mac Tools, Penrith-born Frank and County Durham co-driver Jack Morton ended the eight stages just nine seconds adrift of winners David and Katie Henderson in a similar car.

With mild temperatures but a wet track because of overnight rain, Frank was three seconds down on Henderson on the opening stage but clawed a second back on SS2 and then a further two seconds on the following test meaning they could not be separated after SS3. With the track continuing to dry, Frank dropped four seconds on SS4 going into the lunch halt.

The gap increased to five seconds after SS5, but Bird gallantly set fastest time by a second on SS6 but as darkness fell, Henderson stretched his lead on the final two stages to win by nine seconds with Frank and Jack having to settle for runner-up spot.

Frank Bird: “We didn’t come to finish second but that’s the best we could manage today and well done to David and Katie on their win. I was disappointed not to be able to defend my title, but we struggled a bit in the changeable conditions as the grip levels varied. It was tricky at times, but it was great to see rallying back at Croft and to see the event supported so well. Thanks to my team for another great job, to Jack and to all our sponsors, we’ve had a great year.”

Results

Swift Signs & Shirts Winter Stages Rally
1 David Henderson/Katie Henderson, Ford Fiesta Rally2 - 51:43
2 Frank Bird/ Jack Morton, Ford Fiesta Rally2 - 51:52
3 Joe Cunningham/Joshua Beer, Ford Fiesta - 53:19
4 Kevin Procter/Tom Woodburn, Ford Fiesta - 53:29
5 Daniel Roskell/Sion Cunniff, Ford Fiesta R5 - 54:54
6 Paul Swift/Jessica Swift, Ford Escort Mk2 - 55:54
7 Martin Hodgson/Tony Jones, Ford Escort Mk2 - 56:22
8 Lyndon Barton/Dave France, Ford Fiesta R5 - 56:46
9 Joe McKeand/Charlotte McDowall, Subaru Impreza - 57:12
10 David McMullan/Marc Melhuish, Mitsubishi Evo 6 - 57:13

Frank Provides the Fireworks at Oulton Park

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 14:08:21 GMT

Following on from their victory on the same event last year last year, Cumbrian driver Frank Bird and Northumberland co-driver Jack Morton successfully defended their title by taking a comprehensive win on today’s Salford Van Hire Neil Howard Stages Rally held at Oulton Park.

With another top-quality entry, there was plenty of opposition for the Penrith-born driver and his Hexham navigator around the Cheshire racetrack but despite the tricky conditions, Frank led from start to finish in the Dom Buckley Motorsport-prepared Ford Fiesta Rally2.

The pair started the fireworks early after stopping the clocks 12 seconds faster than their nearest rival on the opening stage and upped the advantage to 21 seconds after SS2. By the halfway point of SS4. They had the Frank Bird Poultry-backed Ford Fiesta with assistance from Hager, MCE, Dragon Energy and Mac Tools some 33 seconds ahead.

The afternoon stages followed a similar pattern and Bird managed the lead to eventually cross the winning ramp 67 seconds ahead of triple winner Steve Simpson/Chris Williams in a similar car with another three-times winner of the event, Kevin Procter and co-driver Laura Connell claiming third in their Ford Fiesta S2000T, as Frank won six of the eight stages.

The victory followed Frank’s recent victory on his debut at the Roberts Garages Jersey Rally and his next outing is later this month when he hopes to defend another title, this one being the Swift Signs and Shirts Winter Stages Rally at Croft.

Frank Bird: “Another great day back at Oulton Park for the Neil Howard Stages which saw us come out on top and defend our title. Conditions were pretty tricky all day so once we got in the groove of things, we just kept it neat and tidy with no risk and brought it back for the win. The car felt great all day so thanks to the Dom Buckley team and to Jack for an excellent job as normal. As ever, a massive thanks to my dad and our sponsors, we look forward to continuing our good recent form at Croft in three weeks’ time.”

Images courtesy of Andy Ellis Photography.

Glenn Irwin Completes PBM Ducati Line Up For 2023

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 09:07:15 GMT

Following last week’s announcement that Tommy Bridewell will contest the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship for PBM Ducati, the team is delighted to confirm that Glenn Irwin will join him in Paul Bird’s two-rider squad.

32-year-old Irwin, from Carrickfergus in County Antrim, returns for a second stint with the Lake District-based team having raced for them from 2016 to 2018, winning two races in that time and finishing third overall in the 2018 standings.

Irwin, who won five races this season and finished runner-up in BSB 2022, will contest the 2023 series on a factory-supported Ducati Panigale V4R for the eight-times British Superbike champions.

The Ulsterman has also won on a PBM Ducati at the International North West 200 and Macau Grand Prix where he is hoping to return next season.

Glenn raced in the National Superstock 600 and British Supersport Championship, where he was a Supersport Cup champion, prior to his move into British Superbikes where he now has 178 career starts with a total of nine victories and 23 additional podiums.

As well as his two Macau Grand Prix wins, Glenn has a double Ulster Grand Prix podium to his credit and an incredible six successive North West 200 Superbike race wins. He became the fastest newcomer at the 2022 Isle of Man TT Races with a lap speed of 129.849mph but the PBM team have no plans to contest the 2023 event.

Glenn Irwin: “Re-joining PBM after four years apart is something I’m relishing as I feel I’ve improved as a rider and as a person during that time. The experience away has taught me a lot and to be coming back to the most successful team in the paddock is a fantastic opportunity. I’m in a stronger position now and we both know how each other works so the timing is perfect. I want to win, and Birdy wants to win and with Tommy as a very strong teammate, it will drive us all on. I’ve proved I can challenge for the title this year, so the plan is to go one better next season.”

Paul Bird, Team Owner: “With Glenn joining Tommy, I think we have an unbelievable line up for 2023 with the riders that finished second and third in this year’s championship. It’s great to have Glenn back as we have had a lot of success together in the past and he’s probably left what I would regard as one of the best, if not the best, team in the paddock to come to us. After a disappointing season for PBM, it will be good to be back at the sharp end.”

Image courtesy of Double Red: Glenn Irwin will race for PBM Ducati in 2023.

PBM Ducati Announce Tommy Bridewell For 2023

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 08:18:45 GMT

PBM Ducati is delighted to confirm that Tommy Bridewell will race for Paul Bird’s team in the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

34-year-old Bridewell, from Devizes in Wiltshire, will contest the series on a factory-supported Ducati Panigale V4R for the Cumbrian team which has won eight BSB titles, the most recent coming with Josh Brookes in 2020.

Bridewell finished third in this season’s title race to follow up his runner-up placing in 2021, both on Ducati machinery, and will be part of a two-rider team, with his teammate set to be announced shortly.

Tommy has an impressive record of 359 BSB starts with eight victories and a further 61 podiums and as well as his tenure in British Superbikes, has raced in the Italian Superbike Championship and FIM European Superstock Championship

He has also scored points in a number of World Superbike Championship rounds in both the UK and abroad and finished fourth in the 2018 Suzuka 8 Hours race.

Tommy Bridewell: “This is my best shot at winning the title with a team that knows all about winning British Championships. I’ve known the team for a long time and this represents a fantastic opportunity as I’ve strived for years to beat them. There was a consensus that we should work together and PBM can guide me towards our goal. I’m confident in my riding and the team can give me the technical support I need. The job comes with added pressure but it’s one I'm relishing.”

Paul Bird, Team Owner: “I’m delighted to have Tommy joining the team for 2023. He came up to me in the paddock as a 15-year-old when he was just starting out and told me he would ride for me one day and now it’s going to happen. He’s done a great job on a Ducati over these past couple of years and has been one of our toughest rivals so to have him on board with us is fantastic and we can’t wait to get started.”

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Tommy Bridewell will race for PBM Ducati in 2023.

Bird Ends ADAC GT Masters Season With Top Five Finish

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 08:23:54 GMT

Cumbrian racing driver Frank Bird contested the seventh and final round of the ADAC GT Masters Series which was held at Hockenheim in Germany this weekend but missed out on a podium despite another strong performance.

As usual, driving for MANN-FILTER Team LANDGRAF, Penrith-born Frank was in action as he once again teamed up with teenage Finnish driver Elias Seppanen for the two races in the Frank Bird Poultry Ltd-backed Mercedes AMG-GT3.

With the autumnal weather being a factor during practice and qualifying, the pair in the team’s green and yellow liveried ‘Junior Mamba’ car didn’t enjoy the best of times but managed a top five placing in the Junior class during the wet Free Practice session. Qualifying for the opening race saw Frank down in 14th overall meaning some work was required from down the grid.

In a traditional storming drive, Frank soon had the car up inside the top ten and crossed the line in tenth overall but fifth in the Junior class. However the second race didn’t go to plan and Frank retired the car with a puncture to end the season on a disappointing note after a solid first year in the competitive series.

Frank Bird: "That’s my rookie season finished in ADAC GT Masters. It didn’t finish the way I’d like it to with a DNF after a puncture caused by another car hitting me but that’s been typical of my luck at times. The race on Saturday was good as I made a strong comeback after a tricky qualifying to score a solid top five finish at a new track for me. It’s been a learning year with many new experiences for me but I’m happy with the progress made against the best factory drivers in the world and in one of the toughest GT series out there. Thanks to all the team for their hard work through the season and to our sponsors and my family. Also congratulations to my teammate Raffaele Marciello for winning the championship.”

Pictures (ADAC)

Season Concludes With Top Ten Finishes For MCE Ducati

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 16:43:57 GMT

The MCE Ducati team concluded their 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season at Brands Hatch this afternoon and they did so with three top ten finishes from a possible four, as Josh Brookes ended his year strongly with seventh and ninth place finishes whilst teammate Tom Sykes added another top ten finish to his haul.

The opening race of the day saw Tom and Josh line up beside each other on the fifth row in 13th and 14th respectively but both riders made good starts and as early as lap two they were running in ninth and 11th, Tom leading the way on the factory-supported MCE Insurance Ducati Panigale V4R.

That’s how it remained until lap seven when former double BSB champion Brookes moved up to tenth and the teammates then swapped positions on lap 10, half race distance. The duo were battling with Charlie Nesbitt and the Suzuki man managed to overhaul them both in the closing stages.

However, a last lap incident between Jason O’Halloran and Andrew Irwin, who were battling for a podium finish, saw O’Halloran crash out and Irwin penalised 20 seconds, the net result being Josh was classified in ninth place and Tom tenth.

Josh had the higher starting position for the final race of the year although it was Tom who completed the opening lap better placed in ninth, compared to Josh’s 12th. They were soon running in tenth and 11th but from mid-race onwards, Josh was the stronger of the two riders and whilst ex World Superbike champion Sykes was placed in an eventual 11th, Australian ace Brookes continually moved forward.

Maintaining a strong pace throughout the 20 laps, he overtook Christian Iddon and Kyle Ryde and then closed up to 2022 Champion Bradley Ray and Danny Kent in their battle for sixth. He overhauled Kent in the closing stages to end his four-year tenure with the team in a strong seventh place.

The results from the weekend meant Tom took 12th place overall in the final championship standings with Josh two places further back in 14th.

Josh Brookes: “It’s a sad day for me as I’ve grown to love the MCE Ducati and I’m going to miss riding the bike as I think anyone who rides a Ducati will say its infectious, like motorbikes are in general. I’ve enjoyed my time with the brand and the team as we’ve had a good time together but who knows what the future will bring. As for today, I’d say it’s been my best day on the bike this year so it’s nice to end on a positive note. Seventh is not the result I want but in terms of lap times and consistency, and staying strong right up until the end, I felt better than I have done all year. I kept pushing and was running close to the British Champion so that’s a good achievement in our final race together.”

Tom Sykes: “I can’t deny it’s been a disappointing season as I came to BSB and the PBM team to get involved and fight for the title. Unfortunately, we had some restrictions and whilst we showed what we could do at a big circuit like Donington we ultimately couldn’t do that often enough. I’m upset for myself and the team as the level of talent at PBM, in all areas of the garage, deserves a lot more. Sometimes you have difficult seasons and, unfortunately, 2022 has been one of those years. I’m obviously very grateful for the opportunity at PBM and they’ve been a pleasure to work with all year so would like to wish them all the best.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s nice to see Josh end the year, and his time with us, strongly in the final race of the year and no one can fault his commitment, dedication, or professionalism for the entire four years he’s been with us. The MCE Ducati PBM team have made some good friends in Josh and his wife Aimee, and we all wish him well for the future. Tom obviously hasn’t been with us as long but it’s been a pleasure to have an ex-World Champion riding for the team and he’ll be moving to pastures new in 2022 so, again, we wish him well. We’d also like to congratulate Bradley Ray and the Rich Energy OMG Racing Team on their title success and also thank all of our sponsors for their commitment and loyalty.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (20 laps)

1 Peter Hickman (BMW)

2 Danny Buchan (BMW) +0.622s

3 Glenn Irwin (Honda) +2.702s

4 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +13.381s

5 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati) +13.494s

6 Danny Kent (Suzuki) +13.902s

9 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati) +18.912s

10 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati) +20.511s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (20 laps)

1 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

2 Andrew Irwin (BMW) +0.672s

3 Danny Buchan (BMW) +1.956s

4 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati) +5.474s

5 Peter Hickman (BMW) +5.679s

6 Bradley Ray (Yamaha) +11.000s

7 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati) +11.334s

11 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati) +19.156s

Championship standings

1 Ray 1192pts

2 Irwin 1171

3 Bridewell 1141

4 Jackson 1095

5 O’Halloran 1087

6 Ryde 1077

12 Sykes 187
14 Brookes 161

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Top Ten For Sykes At Brands

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 17:33:40 GMT

The final round of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship got underway at Brands Hatch this afternoon, but it proved to be a mixed day for the MCE Ducati team with Tom Sykes taking a best result with a solid tenth for Paul Bird’s Cumbrian-based squad.

However, there was disappointment for teammate Josh Brookes as the former double BSB champion was hit by another rider at the first corner which left the bike too damaged to continue.

Both practice and qualifying saw a variety of conditions and although Sykes successfully progressed from Q1 on the factory-backed MCE Insurance Ducati Panigale V4R, both he and Brookes found their ultimate grid position compromised by a rain shower which fell just three minutes into Q2.

That meant they, along with several other riders, only managed one flying lap and the net result was that Australian ace Brookes qualified in ninth place and on the end of the third row with 2013 World Superbike Champion Sykes four places and two rows further back in 13th.

The 16-lap eBay Sprint Race got underway just after 4pm, by which time conditions at the Kent venue were fine once more but Brookes’ race was over before it began with several riders coming together at the first corner. The end result was that two riders crashed out with Josh pushed wide in the melee and heavy contact from another rider damaged the bike too much for Josh to be able to continue.

That just left Tom to fly the flag for the team with a strong start seeing him immediately move forward three places. Despite quickly closing up to the group of riders battling for eighth, none of them were able to make any passes on each other. That meant Tom had to settle for tenth place at the chequered flag, which consolidated his 12th place in the championship standings.

Tom Sykes: “I got unlucky in qualifying today as I was on a good lap when the rain came down at the far side of the circuit and that meant my starting position wasn’t as good as it could, and should, have been. I had a better feeling with the bike than what I did when we were here in July but was still finding it difficult in some areas. That was obviously frustrating as we had a couple of places where we were really strong, but we did what we could today and will look to make a few changes ahead of tomorrow’s races to end the season on a positive note.”

Josh Brookes: “The pace has been pretty good this weekend and things have been going well at a circuit I have a strong affinity with and although qualifying could have been better, the rain came at the wrong time. I didn’t string the lap together as well as I could but still had high hopes of a good result only to be victim of a first corner melee. People were being pushed wide and another rider ploughed into the side of me which damaged the bike with the gear lever bent right up against the motor. It was impossible to change gear and impossible to continue, which was obviously disappointing, so we’ll aim to end the year strongly tomorrow.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It wasn’t the best day for the team and the rain in qualifying prevented what could have been two really strong grid positions. With a great record at the circuit, Josh was understandably hopeful of a good result, but he was hit hard by another rider which damaged the bike considerably and to be forced out so early, through no fault of his own, was disappointing. Tom managed to avoid the trouble and salvaged a top ten result, but we’ll definitely be hoping for more tomorrow.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (16 laps)

1 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

2 Peter Hickman (BMW)

3 Andrew Irwin (BMW)

4 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

5 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

6 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

10 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

DNF Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

Championship standings

1 Ray 1182pts

2 Irwin 1130

3 Bridewell 1117

4 Jackson 1095

5 O’Halloran 1087

6 Ryde 1058

12 Sykes 176

14 Brookes 145

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Final Round Fling for Brookes and Sykes

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:49:41 GMT

Brands Hatch hosts the final round of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship this weekend with both MCE Riders Josh Brookes and Tom Sykes looking to end the season in style.

After a challenging season for Paul Bird’s eight times BSB champions, both Midlands-based Aussie Brookes and Yorkshire’s ex-World Superbike champion Sykes, are hoping to make amends for not making the championship-deciding Showdown with a good performance on their respective MCE Insurance-sponsored and factory supported Ducati Panigale V4Rs.

For Sykes, he’ll be hoping to continue the superb form from the last round at Donington Park where he romped to a double victory and was looking good to make it a treble when he was taken out by another rider when well placed in the third race.

Brookes, meanwhile, is one of the most successful riders around the Brands Hatch GP track where he has won an amazing 19 times in his long career, including claiming a double victory on his way to his second BSB title in 2020 for the PBM team.

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “It was great to get back to winning ways with Tom taking a double victory at Donington Park, after what has been a very tough season for us. It certainly boosted morale in the team so hopefully he can continue where he left off last time out. We have had lots of success with our riders over the years at Brands Hatch, including many wins with Josh, and he has worked so hard this season despite some issues, so hopefully he can be rewarded with a positive weekend. Both riders will be looking to end their season in style after a difficult season for us all. Meanwhile, our thoughts are with the friends, family, and team of Chrissy Rouse this weekend as we remember and pay tribute to one of the finest riders in the paddock, whom everyone at PBM knew and was proud to call a friend.”

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Sykes Wins Again At Donington But Denied Treble Victory

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 23:19:43 GMT

Tom Sykes and the MCE Ducati team added another Bennetts British Superbike Championship win to their collection at Donington Park today with victory in the opening race following swiftly on from the inaugural success for Paul Bird’s Cumbrian-based team yesterday. But hopes of a career first treble win were scuppered when he was the innocent victim of a collision in the third and final race.

Sykes’ first victory of the season yesterday on the factory-backed MCE Insurance Ducati Panigale V4R put him on the front row for the opening 20-lap race today whilst teammate Josh Brookes had a lot more work to do from the fifth row of the grid.

A sluggish start saw Sykes drop back to fourth going into the first corner but by the end of the lap, he was into second and on lap three he hit the front for the first time, slipping up the inside of race and championship leader Bradley Ray. The two remained close for the rest of the race, with Tom’s lead hovering around the half second mark.

However, in the final four laps, he began to edge away and, aided by a new lap record, the Yorkshireman took his second win of the weekend by 1.4 seconds once more. Brookes, meanwhile, gained two places on the opening lap and on lap three he moved up another place to 11th. Locked in battle with Danny Buchan and Ryan Vickers, the 2015 and 2020 BSB champion overhauled both riders to take over ninth place which is where he finished.

Starting the final race of the weekend from pole position, both Tom and the team were hopeful of completing the treble but a red flag on just the second lap brought a halt to proceedings. Restarted over 18 laps, the 2013 World Superbike champion was running in third place when another rider collided with him going into the Melbourne Hairpin on the sixth lap and although he stayed on, damage to the bike forced him to retire.

Teammate Brookes made a good getaway in the first start and was up to eighth, but the restart didn’t go in the same way. Changes to the bike after the race earlier in the day didn’t work as he planned and after holding 13th in the early stages, he dropped back as the race progressed and just missed out on the points in 16th.

Tom Sykes: “It’s been great to take another race win today and I’m more pleased for the team than I am myself as they’ve not stopped working all year and deserve the success. I was in third place in the initial stages of today’s first race, but the bike was fantastic and once I’d got the lead, I felt really comfortable and was able to control the race very nicely. We made some small alterations to the bike, nothing major, but with the red flag, the performance with edge grip on the tyre dropped off. I still thought a good podium was on the cards but, unfortunately, another rider made a mistake and hit the back of me, which was obviously not their intention. It’s a shame to end with a DNF but we’ve got to be happy with two wins and have some smiles back in the garage.”

Josh Brookes: “We made some minimal changes to the bike overnight with ninth place the outcome and I ended up letting the team take responsibility for what we did in race three to try and get us further up the field. Unfortunately, the changes, which were quite substantial, were in the wrong direction and whilst the intentions were good to make the bike shorter to try and improve the rear grip, they were counterproductive. The more I tried, the more it felt like I was going to come off, so it was another difficult day at the office.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “All in all, it’s been a very good weekend and with two wins, it’s been great to see the PBM MCE Ducati team back on the winner’s step. It was good to back up Saturday’s victory with another win and it was another, controlled ride from Tom. We were hopeful of making it a treble, but the restart didn’t work out for us with the drop in tyre performance, but a podium finish was a strong possibility. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as Tom was hit from behind by another rider with damage to the bike making it impossible to continue. Josh had a tough day, and it won’t have been easy for him to have seen his teammate take two wins, but he’ll evaluate everything with his team and look to end the year strongly at Brands Hatch, a circuit that’s been good for him in the past.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (19 laps)

1 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

2 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

3 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

4 Andrew Irwin (BMW)

5 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

6 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

9 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (18 laps)

1 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

2 Andrew Irwin (BMW)

3 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

4 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

5 Danny Buchan (BMW)

6 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)

16 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

DNF Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Championship Standings (after 10 rounds)

1 Ray 1171pts

2 Irwin 1105

3 Bridewell 1104

4 Jackson 1095

5 O’Halloran 1077

6 Ryde 1051

12 Sykes 170

13 Brookes 145

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Sykes Wins At Donington Park

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 13:31:42 GMT

Tom Sykes and the MCE Ducati team claimed their first Bennetts British Superbike Championship win of the season at Donington Park today with the 2013 World Superbike champion putting in a faultless ride for Paul Bird’s Cumbrian-based team.

Yorkshireman Sykes led from start to finish to take his first BSB victory since Brands Hatch in 2010 when he took the PBM Kawasaki to a hat-trick of victories whilst it was the team’s first win in the series since Christian Iddon took the win at Brands Hatch in July 2021.

Heavy rain yesterday had meant only one practice session was able to take place where Midlands-based Aussie Josh Brookes posted the tenth quickest time on the factory-backed and MCE Insurance-sponsored Ducati Panigale V4R with Tom further back in 19th. But with dry conditions today, albeit with a blustery wind, the duo were third and sixth in the final free practice session, with Sykes the quicker of the two teammates.

Sykes comfortably progressed from the opening Q1 session to join Brookes in Q2, and he continued with his good form, posting the third quickest time for his first front row start of the season. Brookes was slightly further back in tenth which was his first top ten qualifying position since Brands Hatch in July.

That put both riders in good stead for the afternoon’s 15-lap eBay Sprint Race and it was Sykes who grabbed the lead at the first corner, from where he never looked back and despite coming under pressure throughout, he controlled the race perfectly to eventually win by 1.4 seconds.

Teammate Brookes found the race a bit more difficult and although he held station in tenth for the first half of the race, the 2015 and 2020 BSB champion found himself back in 12th on lap eight. He regrouped in the closing stages to take 11th with the results seeing the two riders swap places in the championship table, Tom now in 12th overall and Josh 13th.

Tom Sykes: “I can’t thank the team enough and this win is for them. I was obviously hoping for more this season but Donington Park is more of a Superbike circuit than some of the others we’ve been to and although I still had a couple of limitations with the bike, I was able to ride round them and put the MCE Ducati where I wanted to, taking advantage of the strengths we had in other areas. I’ve a lot of experience around here and the two qualifying sessions was more beneficial as it enabled us to understand the bike a bit more. We made a slight change in between Q1 and Q2 and although I had to be conservative in some corners and lost a bit of time, it was good to be on the front row. I wanted a good, clean start and get away with the leaders and that is exactly what I did.”

Josh Brookes: “On the timesheets, it looks a bit better than where we’ve been of late but three leading riders were absent so it’s hard to see the real progress. I got away fine in the race, not losing any places, I just didn’t have the momentum to go forward. I lost two places mid-race eventually regaining one of them but with the limitations, I can’t perform. Tom and I have been pretty much glued together all year, in terms of pace and results, so I’m a bit mystified at his gains in performance this weekend although I’m obviously pleased for him and the team. I’d love to replicate what he’s doing here at Donington, so we’ll go again tomorrow.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “If Tom was going to win anywhere, it was going to be here at Donington given what he’s done previously in the World Superbike Championship and he rode a superb race, controlling it perfectly. Leading from start to finish is no easy task in BSB but that’s what he did despite the pressure he was under, and it was awesome to see and brilliant for the MCE Ducati team to be back on the top step. Behind the scenes, it’s been doom and gloom at times but, like all teams, we’ve continued to work hard, week in, week out and there’s been no shortage of effort. Congratulations to all the lads and to everyone that’s stuck by us through thick and thin.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (15 laps)

1 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

2 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

3 Peter Hickman (BMW)

4 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

5 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

6 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

11 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

Championship Standings

1 Ray 1126

2 Bridewell 1081

3 Jackson 1075

4 Irwin 1073

5 O’Halloran 1068

6 Ryde 1036

12 Sykes 145

13 Brookes 138

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Brookes And Sykes Focus On Donington Park

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 07:54:59 GMT

The penultimate round of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Donington Park this weekend with MCE Ducati riders aiming to continue their good form from Oulton Park.

After a challenging season for Paul Bird’s eight times BSB champions, both Midlands-based Aussie Brookes and Yorkshire’s ex-World Superbike champion Sykes, are hoping to atone for not making the championship-deciding Showdown with another good performance on their respective MCE Insurance-sponsored and factory supported Ducati Panigale V4Rs.

In a dramatic round at Oulton Park last weekend, both Brookes and Sykes weighed in with some positive results which saw Sykes claim his best result of the season in sixth place and double BSB champion Brookes record a pair of top eight finishes.

That late season form, combined with the pair’s record around the Donington Park Grand Prix circuit in the past, give optimism that the Lake District-based team from Penrith can challenge for that elusive podium.

Sykes won nine consecutive World Superbike Championship races around Donington Park between 2013 and 2017 and can claim another six podiums and eight pole positions which earned him the nickname ‘Mr Donington Park’. Brookes, meanwhile, took victory on a Stiggy Honda in the World Supersport Championship race at Donington Park in 2008 and has three BSB wins around the GP configuration also.

Josh Brookes: “I’m actually optimistic going into Donington as we were within touching distance of the lead group at Oulton which was a big confidence boost. The full GP track at Donington is more suitable as our bike is strong on the brakes and the power is a strong point too so that should make us more competitive. I’m quietly confident that we can get a set-up to suit us, and the nature of the track will help us. It's a smooth surface too so maybe we can use it to our advantage with a harder setting and get the grip we need. The weather is changeable at this time of year which may be a factor also, but I’ll keep pushing on until the end of the season like I always do.”

Tom Sykes: “If there’s been one track I’ve been looking forward to racing at this year, it’s the Donington Park GP track which has been so kind to me in the past. I’ve enjoyed much success in World Superbikes there so after a relatively good meeting at Oulton Park last weekend, I’m hopeful we can get some good results. It snowed when we were due to test here earlier in the year but hopefully it won’t do that again, but the weather could play a part. We still need to work hard to release the potential but there were encouraging signs at Oulton so let’s see what we can do this weekend.”

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Fourth For Frank In Sachsenring

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 08:44:43 GMT

Cumbrian racing driver Frank Bird was back in action for round six of the ADAC GT Masters Series which was held at Sachsenring this weekend where he just missed out on a podium finish.

As usual, driving for MANN-FILTER Team LANDGRAF, Penrith-born Frank was hoping for another good showing as he once again teamed up with teenage Finnish driver Elias Seppanen for the two races in the Frank Bird Poultry Ltd-backed Mercedes AMG-GT3.

Unusually, the track near Chemnitz in Saxony region of Germany was one which Frank hadn’t raced at before so he faced an additional challenge of learning the circuit as he planned to make amends for the disappointments of the previous round at the Lausitzring.

Resplendent in the team’s green and yellow liveried ‘Junior Mamba’ car, Free Practice 1 saw them claim second fastest time before placing in sixth in the Free Practice Trophy. Qualifying 1 saw Bird end up in eighth overall, but fifth in the Junior class, from where the team posted seventh overall in the race and fourth in class, just missing the podium.

Frank and the team couldn’t quite replicate the result in the second race after qualifying in a lowly 15th overall and ninth in class, they improved to finish tenth overall and battled to sixth in class to record a pair of solid finishes.

Frank Bird: "Round six of the championship was at Sachsenring which was a brand new track for me which was cool and I really enjoyed getting to grips with it. It was a bit of a tough weekend but we managed to grind out a couple of decent finishes with P7 in race one and P10 in race two, despite a drive-through penalty. It was nice to bounce back with some decent results after a bad weekend last time in Lausitzring and hope to carry this form into the last round in

Hockenheim next month. Thanks as always to the team for their hard work, and our sponsors, and of course my dad for making it possible.”

Round seven of the series visits Hockenheim, again in Germany over the weekend of 21/23 October 2022.

Pictures (ADAC)

Top Six For Sykes, Top Eight For Brookes At Oulton

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 19:13:25 GMT

The MCE Ducati team enjoyed one of their best days of the season in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park today with both Tom Sykes and Josh Brookes taking a brace of top ten finishes.

Indeed, Sykes was able to record his best set of results to date for Paul Bird’s Cumbrian-based team with sixth in the second race today being his best result of the year on the factory-backed MCE Insurance Ducati Panigale V4R.

Lap times from yesterday’s eBay Sprint race meant the two riders had a tough job on their hands for today’s opening 18-lap race with Josh starting from 16th place and the head of the sixth row and Tom three places and one row further back.

However, it proved to be a race of attrition with two red flags bringing a halt to proceedings and at the third attempt, it was eventually run over just seven laps, Tom getting the better start to complete the opening lap in tenth with Josh one place behind in 11th.

It was Yorkshireman Sykes who was able to make the most overtaking moves in the short race and he crossed the line in a strong seventh, equalling his best result of the season so far. Australian double BSB champion Brookes regrouped as the race wore on and was in eighth place at the chequered flag to make it a strong race for both riders and the PBM MCE Insurance Ducati team.

The results gave the two riders their best starting positions of the weekend for the final race with former World Superbike Champion Sykes in sixth and on the second row with Brookes in ninth and they both made it count, running with the leading pack throughout.

Both riders ran inside the top nine for the entire 15 laps and, at one stage, just two seconds covered the leading nine riders. Tom again had the better result as he finished sixth, which was so nearly fifth, whilst Brookes also had a strong ride into eighth.

Tom Sykes: “Today has been a better day in terms of the results achieved with sixth and seventh being my two best finishes so far this season but it’s still frustrating not being in a position to show my true potential. Fair play to the team, they made a number of slight changes to try and help with the feel of the bike I was getting so I was able to pull some average results out of the bag. If we could get a better package, we’d be able to show much better but getting closer to the leaders was a small step forward whilst starting from the second row also made things a lot easier. It’s Donington Park next, a circuit I love, so let’s hope we can make further improvements there.”

Josh Brookes: “In some respects, we’ve had a better day than some others, but today’s races were still hard, and I felt I could have visited the scenery myself on more than one occasion. I was glad I didn’t, but the weekend has again shown just how sensitive the bike is to the changes made. We’ve made some really minor changes to the bike this weekend, all of them in what we believed were in the right direction, but it was amazing how much they changed the characteristics of the bike. We went back to what we had in qualifying today, which was better than what we’ve had recently, and I felt like I was competitive again today, especially in the last race. They are small positives, but we’ll take every one we can.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “Today has proven what a difference it makes when you start on the first three rows and how critical it is for your race position. The riders are able to do the competitive lap times consistently as they’re running with the riders they should be, knowing when to brake, when to accelerate and not riding tense. We were only a couple of seconds off the race win in that final race and whilst we go racing to get wins and podiums, it’s nice to have both riders finish in the top ten in all their races and good to see Tom get his best result of the year. We’re still lacking in a few small areas so will keep looking to improve at the final two rounds whilst I’d like to wish all the injured riders a speedy recovery.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (7 laps)

1 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

3 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

4 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

5 Danny Buchan (BMW)

6 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

7 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

8 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (15 laps)

1 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

2 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

3 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

4 Danny Buchan (BMW)

5 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

6 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

8 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

Championship Standings

1 Ray 1113pts

2 Bridewell 1073

3 Jackson 1065

4 Irwin 1062

5 O’Halloran 1048

6 Mackenzie 1031

12 Brookes 133

13 Sykes 120

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Solid Points For Brookes And Sykes At Oulton

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 14:20:24 GMT

The MCE Ducati team were in action at Oulton Park today for round nine of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship with Josh Brookes and Tom Sykes taking tenth and 11th place respectively in the 14-lap eBay Sprint race for Paul Bird’s Cumbrian-based team.

Lap times from yesterday meant Australian Brookes had to go in the opening Q1 qualifying session but he comfortably topped that with a lap of 1.34.291 to progress into Q2 and although he went quicker on the factory-backed MCE Insurance Ducati Panigale V4R with a lap of 1.34.175, which was his quickest of the weekend, it was only good enough for 13th overall and the fifth row of the grid.

However, his lap time was only four tenths of a second adrift of a front row start whilst Yorkshireman Sykes was only three tenths of a second slower. That put him three places and one row further back with the former World Superbike Champion having to settle for 16th after losing some time in the pits at the beginning of the session whilst changes were made to the MCE Insurance Ducati.

In the race which got underway under threatening skies, both riders made steady starts, Josh in 14th and Tom in 15th but there was little change for the first half of the 14 laps and it wasn’t until lap 11 that both riders were able to gain a position. However, there was plenty of drama in the closing laps, which included Jason O’Halloran and Tarran Mackenzie crashing out, and the net result was that Josh took the chequered flag in 11th place with Tom one further place back in 12th.

However, Peter Hickman, who’d crossed the line in fourth, was excluded for his part in O’Halloran’s crash and that promoted Josh and Tom up to tenth and 11th respectively to add to their points tallies.

Josh Brookes: “Qualifying went well but the lap times we were doing were wearing out the tyre after six laps, so we softened the suspension and power for the race in order to extend the tyre life in the 14-lap race. The consequence was that we lost quite a bit of pace and it might have been better to leave the set-up as it was, lap at a strong pace in the first six laps and then hang on as best we could in the second half. The conservative option we took didn’t work out but we’re trying to adapt all the time and maybe focusing on our speed is the way forward tomorrow. They’re longer races so we're going to have a good think overnight about what our best strategy should be.”

Tom Sykes: “I was pleasantly happy with the way things were going in free practice with some good lap times and I was hoping to climb higher up the order with a new tyre in qualifying. Unfortunately, fitting a new tyre didn’t seem to agree with the bike and I wasn’t able to push on like I wanted. That meant the starting position wasn’t that good and although I got a good launch, I found myself blocked in and unable to move forward. It’s obviously disappointing and frustrating to come 12th.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “Both riders in the points is a positive result but we aren’t happy to be on the fringes of the top ten, we know we should be fighting much higher up the order. But it’s proving difficult right now so as we always do at PBM, we’ll work on how we can make things better and hopefully we can give both riders what they need after we’ve studied the data. The two races tomorrow should suit us better so hopefully we can make the changes which we need so we can challenge further up the field.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship eBay Sprint race (14 laps)

1 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

3 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

4 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

5 Danny Buchan (BMW)

6 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

10 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

11 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Championship Standings

1 Ray 1086pts

2 O’Halloran 1048

3 Mackenzie 1031

4 Irwin 1029

5 Bridewell 1028

6 Jackson 1024

13 Brookes 117

15 Sykes 10 1

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Brookes And Sykes Aiming High at Oulton

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 15:40:02 GMT

MCE Ducati riders Josh Brookes and Tom Sykes are hoping for better fortunes when the ninth round of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads for Oulton Park this weekend.

The event sees the opening round of the Showdown but sadly for both of Paul Bird’s riders, they have failed to make the cut but despite not being able to win the title this year, they want to make up for disappointing seasons aboard the factory-supported and MCE Insurance-backed Ducati Panigale V4Rs.

There is added incentive this weekend as it’s the Lake District-based PBM teams’ local track where traditionally the Ducatis have a record of working well and also both double BSB champion Brookes and ex-World Superbike champion Sykes have a good record.

Bedfordshire-based Aussie Brookes has eight wins to his name around the 2.6920-mile international track as well as a record 21 podiums, two of which came in last September’s corresponding meeting. Meanwhile Warwickshire-based Yorkshireman Sykes returns to the track which saw him achieve his first wins in BSB when he romped to a double back in 2008.

Valuable data was gained at the earlier visit in the season to the Cheshire track, so confidence is high going into the weekend as both aim to end the season in positive fashion. Brookes scored his best result of the season so far of fourth place back in May and Sykes was just outside the top ten.

Josh Brookes: “We go to Oulton Park with the best intentions of doing well and being able to perform well against my rivals. Whether that’s possible has yet to be seen but of course the objective is always the same and that doesn’t change. At the meeting earlier in the year, it proved to be one of our stronger rounds, where in one of the races I just missed out on a podium, so I’m taking some positives that we can replicate that sort of form. But we’ll just wait and see, I’ll be doing my best and see where we end up.”

Tom Sykes: “I’m excited to be heading back to Oulton Park as it’s a circuit I always enjoy, and I’ve had some success at in the past. It’s helpful that we raced there earlier in the season, and we have some data to work with. I’m going with an open mind and hope we can find a race set up to allow us to run closer to the front with some consistent lap times. We made some progress for the final race at Snetterton but didn’t get to explore the potential as I was taken out on lap two. Hopefully, we can have a strong weekend and we can get the results we need.”

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Sykes Salvages Top Ten At Snetterton

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 18:45:07 GMT

With two Bennetts British Superbike Championship races at round eight at Snetterton today, it proved to be a challenging day for the Penrith-based MCE Ducati team and riders Tom Sykes and Josh Brookes with tenth and 11th place finishes respectively their best results of the day.

Yesterday’s race result meant Sykes and Brookes started today’s opening race, held over 16 laps, from tenth and 15th on the grid respectively but both riders had cause for optimism after a strong morning warm-up. Brookes, in particular, showed great pace on the factory-backed MCE Insurance Ducati Panigale V4R as he recorded the third fastest lap in the session, which was comfortably his best lap of the weekend.

Both riders were able to move forward on the opening lap from their starting positions, with former World Superbike champion Sykes up to eighth and double BSB champion Brookes slotting into 13th.

Two laps later and Sykes was up to sixth but as the race progressed, he slipped back as a big group of riders disputed the positions and he had to settle for tenth at the chequered flag. Brookes, meanwhile, was unable to improve and after a relatively lonely ride, he crossed the line in 12th place.

The final race of the weekend saw Tom and Josh start from 12th and 14th respectively on the grid but, unfortunately, Tom’s race only lasted two and a half laps as he was taken out by another rider on lap three, fortunately suffering no injuries.

For Josh, a solid start saw him gain three places on the opening lap and moved up to tenth on lap three after his teammate’s demise. Here he remained until half race distance when he was pushed back to 11th and it was there where he finished to consolidate his 12th place in the championship table.

Tom Sykes: “The weekend got off to a good start, but I suffered a big crash in qualifying which set us back a bit. I felt good on the bike in the races but tenth was the best I could manage in the opening race. Any hopes of a good result in race two disappeared when I was crashed into by another rider which was very disappointing but that about sums up our luck. We’ll dust ourselves down and regroup for the next round at Oulton Park.”

Josh Brookes: “We had a good morning warm up, but it proved to be false hope as I don’t think a few of the other riders were trying that hard in the misty conditions and we ended up having two more challenging races. The final race of the weekend was marginally better as although I didn’t feel that fast, the lap times were quicker than what they had been all weekend. It’s not an improvement to get excited about but I’m an eternal optimist and am determined to make things better. I’m as motivated as ever and although the championship isn’t possible, we have a lot of personal pride to fight for both as a rider and team in the remaining seven races, so we won’t give up.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “Not for the first time this season, there was a lot of desperation out on track this weekend especially in the first couple of laps and Tom was a victim of that in the final race. Luckily, he’s OK but I don’t know why riders aren’t bedding themselves in the first couple of laps. Overall, though, it’s been another disappointing weekend and whilst Tom had a couple of top ten places, and Josh scored points in all three races, we’re not a top ten team at present so we need to keep giving our all to get back to that position. Tom has got form at Donington Park which is coming up soon, with Josh having the same form at Brands Hatch and Oulton Park so we’ll look to end the season on a positive note.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (16 laps)

1 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

2 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

3 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

4 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

5 Peter Hickman (BMW)

6 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)

10 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

12 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (16 laps)

1 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

2 Peter Hickman (BMW)

3 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

4 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

5 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

6 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

11 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)
DNF Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Championship standings (after eight rounds)

1 Ray 447pts

2 O’Halloran 381

3 Jackson 249

4 Irwin 247

5 Skinner 246

6 Mackenzie 242

12 Brookes 111
15 Sykes 96

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Solid Points For Sykes And Brookes At Snetterton

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 10:43:59 GMT

After mixed conditions during practice and qualifying, the MCE Ducati pairing of Tom Sykes and Josh Brookes both scored solid points in the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race at Snetterton this afternoon with Sykes equalling his best result of the season in seventh.

Having enjoyed a good test at the 2.99-mile circuit in pre-season, Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team had high hopes coming into the event, but the fine weather then was replaced by damp conditions earlier today with both riders suffering albeit in different ways during qualifying.

Former World Superbike champion Sykes soon went quickest in the wet session on the factory-backed MCE Insurance Ducati Panigale V4R only to have a nasty crash on his next lap, whilst Brookes struggled with the bike in the tricky conditions. As a result of his crash, Tom ended up eighth overall, for a third row start, with Brookes four places further back and at the end of the fourth row.

Fortunately, conditions had dried up by the time the 12-lap eBay Sprint race came under starters orders and Sykes made a good start to complete the opening lap in sixth place, with 2015 and 2020 BSB Champion Brookes in 14th.

The safety car was soon deployed due to an early incident with racing resuming on lap four and Tom had his hands full as he tried to keep Leon Haslam and Andrew Irwin behind him. Slipping back to eighth, a late crash for Irwin promoted Tom back up to seventh and this was where he finished to match the result he’d taken earlier in the season at Donington Park.

For Brookes, it proved to be a more challenging race and he dropped back to 15th at one point although the Australian ace regrouped in the second half of the race and took the chequered flag in 13th place for three hard-earned points.

Tom Sykes: “Physically, I wasn’t in the best position after the crash in qualifying, but I was a little bit disappointed with the race as I made a really good start to give myself good track position. In some areas, the bike felt really strong, trail braking being an example, but I wasn’t able to carry the corner speed in the way I wanted and I lost momentum coming out of the corners. That made it hard to move forward and stay ahead of the riders behind me, but I was able to bring the bike home for seventh and we’ll look to move forward a bit more tomorrow.”

Josh Brookes: “I’m obviously not happy with the result and it wasn’t helped by getting a poor start, something we’ve been quite good at lately. For some reason, changes we’ve made to the bike have affected the acceleration from a standing start although, initially, I felt quite comfortable with the position I was in. The pace was quite slow, so I felt confident of moving forward but as the laps unwound, no-one got any quicker. No one was really able to improve or make passes, so it almost felt like we were riding rather than racing. It was the first real run of fine weather, so it felt a bit like a learning race and, hopefully, we’ll be able to make some changes for tomorrow and get some better results.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s been a difficult couple of days with the constantly changing weather and we’ve ended today disappointed with our results, given how well we tested here in pre-season. Josh wasn’t able to get confidence with the bike in the wet and as we’ve seen a number of times this year, if you qualify down in the pack, it’s very difficult to advance forward in the race; you have to be on the first two rows. Tom, on the other hand, was very confident in the wet although the crash obviously set him back a bit. All things considered, he did well to bring the bike home in seventh but, obviously, we’ll be looking for better results tomorrow.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship eBay Sprint race (12 laps)

1 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

2 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

3 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)

4 Christian Iddon (Suzuki)

5 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

6 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

7 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

13 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

Championship standings

1 Ray 397pts

2 O’Halloran 363

3 Skinner 241

4 Jackson 235

5 Irwin 221

6 Mackenzie 206

13 Brookes 102

15 Sykes 90

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Tough Time at Cadwell for MCE Ducati

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 21:33:47 GMT

The MCE Ducati team continued their difficult season at the seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship which took place at Cadwell Park this weekend.

After yesterday’s promising start with Tom Sykes qualifying the MCE Insurance-sponsored and factory-supported Ducati Panigale V4R inside the top six, his crash when taken out by another rider in the sprint race set the precedent for what was to follow today.

The ex-World Superbike champion battled to a tenth place in today’s opening race before crossing the line in a disappointing 20th in the third and final race after losing time early in the race.

The challenging Lincolnshire track didn’t favour teammate Josh Brookes either whereby the Aussie was hoping to improve on his top ten position of yesterday for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team.

The double BSB champion crashed out over the Mountain in today’s opening race with a couple of laps to go, luckily without injury, but battled back to record an 11th place finish in the final race of the day.

The team’s disappointment was compounded by the fact that neither rider can now qualify for the title-deciding Showdown later in the season.

Josh Brookes: “Again it’s difficult to put a positive spin on things. We continued to make changes to the bike in the hope of improving it but today, that compromised us getting it off the line. And whilst the set-up was better for the races, I was hampered by getting bad starts. I got stuck in a battle with Tom both times and tried to pass him but crashed on the Mountain and in the final race, it took a long time to pass him, by which time I’d no chance of catching the riders in front. It’s been a painful weekend in more ways than one but that’s the situation unfortunately.”

Tom Sykes: “I don’t really have a lot to say. It’s been another very tough weekend for us and I’m disappointed with the results after a promising start in Superpole yesterday. We’ll regroup and hope for better luck next time out at Snetterton.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “It’s a very disappoining day as for the first time since it came into play, PBM haven’t made the Showdown which is a significant factor for us. There were some positives, especially as Tom showed his mettle in Superpole, which is where he made his mark in World Superbikes. Josh was lucky to get away without injury after his big crash which was a relief too. We move on to Snetterton where we enjoyed a good pre-season test earlier in the year so hopefully, we can replicate that sort of form.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two

1 Danny Buchan (BMW)

2 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

3 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

4 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

5 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)

6 Andrew Irwin (BMW)

10 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

DNF Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three

1 Danny Buchan (BMW)

2 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

3 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

4 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

5 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)

6 Peter Hickman (BMW)

11 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

20 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Championship Standings (after seven rounds)

1 Ray 372pts

2 O’Halloran 359

3 Skinner 241

4 Jackson 225

5 Irwin 214

6 Bridewell 201

12 Brookes 99

15 Sykes 81

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Top Ten For Brookes As Sykes Lucks Out

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 22:43:58 GMT

A day which promised so much for the MCE Ducati British Superbike Championship Team ended with Josh Brookes scoring a battling tenth place finish in today’s opening eBay sprint race at round seven of the series at Cadwell Park.

The Aussie double BSB champion continued his battle with set up issues on the MCE Insurance and factory-supported Ducati Panigale V4R and started the race from row six of the grid. But the race wasn’t to last long as an accident at The Mountain brought out the red flags on lap two.

In the restart, Brookes battled with a host of riders on the fringe of the top ten and in the end, was rewarded with a tenth-place finish to keep his slim hopes of making the Showdown just about alive.

For teammate Tom Sykes, it was a day of frustration having shown his best form of the season so far for Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team. The Yorkshireman, making a return after 14 years to Cadwell Park, worked his way into the Omologato Superpole competition and ended up setting sixth fastest time on the MCE Insurance Ducati to give him his best start of the season on row two.

The ex-World Superbike champion was circulating towards the front when a rash move from rival Danny Buchan had them both on the grass at the Hairpin but not long after, the race was stopped due to the accident.

The restart saw Sykes again towards the front and showing good pace when he was taken down at Mansfield Corner by Christian Iddon with just two laps to go, ending his promising race.

Josh Brookes: “After the difficulties we had in qualifying, a top ten position is an improvement but, understandably, there are no hurrahs in the team. We still have a load of work to do, and we need to find some further improvements to get us to where we need to be. It was good to be racing with riders who have had wins and podiums, and I enjoyed jumping the Mountain, but I’ll keep working and feed as much information back to the team as I can so we can try to improve tomorrow.”

Tom Sykes: “It turned out to be a very frustrating day as I seemed to have a target on my back. Firstly, I got taken wide at the Hairpin and then in the restart, I got sideswiped by another rider so the least said about it the better as he’s since been penalised. People need to remember it’s Cadwell Park but it’s so frustrating as we had a reasonable set up for most of the lap, I was just losing out in the last sector. But we’ll dust ourselves down and go again tomorrow.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Sprint race (15 laps)

1 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

2 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)

3 Danny Buchan (BMW)

4 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

5 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

6 Peter Hickman (BMW)

10 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

DNF Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Championship Standings

1 O’Halloran 344

2 Ray 332

3 Jackson 219

4 Skinner 219

5 G Irwin 199

6 K Ryde 177

12 Brookes 94

14 Sykes 75

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Sykes Salvages Another Top Ten At Thruxton

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 09:42:30 GMT

It was another challenging day at Thruxton on Sunday for the Lake District-based MCE Ducati team with the two Bennetts British Superbike Championship races seeing Tom Sykes claim tenth and 12th place finishes whilst teammate Josh Brookes scored a single point for 15th in the opening race of the day.

With another hot day in the Hampshire sunshine, Yorkshireman Sykes started the first race from eighth position and a superb start on the factory-supported and MCE Insurance-sponsored PBM Ducati Panigale V4R enabled him to complete the opening lap in fifth place. By lap ten, half race distance, he’d slipped back to seventh but hopes remained high of a top six finish. However, in the final third of the race, his pace dropped, and he eventually took the chequered flag in 12th place.

Starting the final race of the weekend back in 13th, another good start meant the former World Superbike champion advanced four places forward on the opening lap and, continually moving forward, he was up to sixth by half race distance. The second half of the race was a lot more challenging and for the final third of the race, his pace again dropped, and the end result was tenth place.

For Australian teammate Brookes, it was another challenging day, but he dug deep in the opening race and, after starting from 24th on the grid, he moved forward throughout the race and was rewarded for his efforts with 15th and a hard-earned championship point.

After his best showing of the weekend, the 2015 and 2020 BSB champion lined up for the final race of the weekend from 18th on the grid and again looked more competitive than earlier in the weekend. He was soon up inside the points and looking good to climb up into the top ten, but all hopes were dashed when the bike slowed on the fourth lap and he was, unfortunately, forced to retire.

Tom Sykes: “It’s disappointing to finish tenth and 12th as that’s not what I came to BSB for but I’m not able to do any better than that at present. It was obviously nice to be at the sharp end and run in the top six for most of each race but there was little grip left at the end in either race. I rode conservative at the beginning and waited before making my move but when the time came, there wasn’t the grip to allow me to make that move. I know both my own and the team’s capabilities, so we’ll keep working hard as it’s not in our ethic to do anything but that.”

Josh Brookes: “To come away today with just a single 15th place finish is massively disappointing but we made progress in each race and whilst it’s obviously come a bit too late, I was really happy with the bike in the last race. It was chaotic in the first few laps, like BSB often is, but I out drove some riders at the back of the track which was a real thrill as I hadn’t been able to do that all weekend. The changes to the set-up worked and the bike was working really well but all of a sudden, it stopped, like the ignition had been turned off or something. It’s frustrating that we couldn’t show the improvements in an end result, but I never give up and my spirits have improved so I’ll come out fighting at Cadwell.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “After a top ten finish yesterday, hopes were high for Tom improving upon that today but although he ran as high as the top six in each race, he had no grip for the last five laps, and he dropped back. It’s a shame as it was the best form he’d shown all season. For Josh, he ended the weekend a lot more optimistic as the changes he and the team made for the final race worked as they’d hoped. He was definitely on course for his best result of the weekend, but it wasn’t to be, and we’ll need to check the bike and data to find out what happened. He never stopped trying, which is typical of Josh but, unfortunately, we haven’t given him the tools for the job and one point from the last five races means getting into the Showdown will be a mammoth task.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (20 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

3 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

4 Peter Hickman (BMW)

5 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

6 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

12 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

15 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (20 laps)

1 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

2 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

3 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

4 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

5 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

6 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

10 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

DNF Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

Championship standings (after six rounds)

1 O’Halloran 331pts

2 Ray 307

3 Jackson 219

4 Skinner 199

5 Irwin 192

6 Ryde 173

13 Brookes 88

14 Sykes 75

Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66)

Top Ten For Sykes At Thruxton

Sat, 13 Aug 2022 17:04:21 GMT

Punishing heat greeted the MCE Ducati team at Thruxton, venue for round six of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, but although both Tom Sykes and Josh Brookes found themselves with plenty of work to do, Sykes gave the team a top ten finish in today’s opening eBay Sprint Race with a solid ninth place.

It was Sykes who had the strongest day on Friday with the fourth fastest time sealing him a direct entry to Q2 but although he improved his time in this afternoon’s qualifying session by a tenth of a second, a number of other riders improved by a greater margin and the 2013 World Superbike Champion found himself back in 14 ^th for the 15-lap race.

With an air temperature of 33 degrees and a track temperature of almost 44 degrees, the race was going to be challenging affair, but the Huddersfield rider made a good start and immediately moved forward three places. Second time around, he moved up inside the top ten and although progress after that was limited, he only just missed out on eighth place at the chequered flag.

Crucially, he also set the eighth fastest lap of the race which will see him start tomorrow’s opening race, held over the longer distance of 20 laps, from six places and two rows further forward.

For teammate Brookes, it’s been a tough weekend to date and, just like 2021, he’s suffered with a lack of grip on the MCE Insurance-sponsored and factory-supported Ducati Panigale V4R. Unable to lap at the pace required, both he and the team have worked tirelessly over the first two days and after qualifying in a disappointing 26th place, he was only able to take 20th at the chequered flag.

Tom Sykes: “It’s been 14 years since I’ve raced at Thruxton but practice on Friday went to plan, and everything immediately fell into place on the MCE Ducati. Expectations were a lot higher but the clear limitations we’re working under haven’t gone away and, unfortunately, qualifying saw me fall back down the order. That made today’s race that bit harder, but I was able to move forward and gain a few places which will put me two rows higher up for tomorrow’s first race. Hopefully, we can improve again tomorrow and get a result I feel we deserve.”

Josh Brookes: “After the problems I had at Thruxton last year, it’s the round I’ve been looking forward to the least but after good progress shown at Donington, Knockhill and Brands, I was holding onto that hope and that trend continuing when we got underway. It was clear straightaway though that the same problems existed, and it doesn’t matter what we try, I’m still suffering with a major lack of grip. No matter what we change, we don’t go forward, we just stay stagnant which is incredibly frustrating. You want to scream and throw things but that doesn’t change anything so it’s a question of staying composed and professional and just keep trying as hard as you can.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “Tom’s made good progress this weekend and although the qualifying position didn’t reflect that, he was able to lap consistently and moved forward throughout the race. He only just missed out on eighth and whilst we know the issues he’s been experiencing haven’t gone away, the nature of the circuit puts us in a better position. Unfortunately for Josh, he’s suffering the same issues as 2021 with a lack of grip preventing him from steering the bike. With a different engine spec from last year, we were obviously hoping for a lot better so all we can do is keep working hard to try and turn it around tomorrow.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Sprint race (15 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

3 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

4 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

5 Peter Hickman (BMW)

6 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

9 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

20 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

Championship standings

1 O’Halloran 290pts

2 Ray 271

3 Jackson 197

4 Skinner 181

5 Ryde 175

6 Irwin 169

12 Brookes 87

14 Sykes 65

Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66)

Double Podium For Bird At Nurburgring

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:31:48 GMT

Following on from his top five finish in the previous round at Zandvoort in The Netherlands, Cumbrian racing driver Frank Bird was on top form in round four of the ADAC GT Masters Series where he came away with a double podium from the Nurburgring in Germany.

Driving for MANN-FILTER Team LANDGRAF, Penrith-born Frank once again teamed up with 18-year-old Finnish driver Elias Seppanen for the two races in the Frank Bird Poultry Ltd-backed Mercedes AMG-GT3.

Throughout the weekend, they were continually towards the front and claimed an impressive top five position in the Free Practice Trophy which preceeded the main action. Qualifying in fourth overall and second Junior car for the opening race, Frank drove a calculated race to end up in sixth overall, but third in the Junior class he is contesting in the green and yellow liveried ‘Junior Mamba’ car.

However, better was to come in the second outing where they had qualified in fourth place on the grid. Another brilliant performance from Bird and the rest of the team saw them come home in a fantastic fourth overall and once again claimed third in the Junior class to seal their second podium of the weekend. However, had it not been for a minor technical infringement during the pitstop, for which they were penalised, it could have been a podium outright for Frank and the team.

Frank Bird: "Sixth and fourth places overall meant the best weekend so far for Elias and me in the ADAC GT Masters, so I am very satisfied. We are improving from race to race and have now been able to climb onto the Junior podium twice. In race one I had some great duels on the track and in qualifying for Sunday's race, I expected a place in the top ten. To start from third on the grid was terrific, and after the start of the race, I was even directly behind my teammate Maro Engel in second place for some corners. After that, however, I could not hold the line and took the third position. Without the penalty, we would certainly have reached the overall podium. I hope that we can maintain this performance in the next races."

Round five of the series visits the Lausitsring, again in Germany over the weekend of 19/21 August 2022.

For further information, please visit www.adac-motorsport.de

Frank Bird Set To Contest The TotalEnergies 24 Hours Of Spa

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 09:33:26 GMT

The legendary Belgian venue of Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps will see the 74th running of the famous TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa this forthcoming weekend with Cumbrian driver Frank Bird set to contest the event for the Haupt Racing Team.

Penrith-born Frank will contest the Silver Cup category as part of a three-car entry for the German team and will be at the wheel of the #4 Haupt Racing Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 with three other drivers sharing the stints over the 24 hours.

Bird will be joined by German Jannes Fittje, Jordan Love from Australia and Swiss driver Alain Valente. Frank has already seen action for the Haupt Racing Team this year as together with Love, he made a guest appearance at the International GT Open weekend in Spa, where they finished runner-up.

Frank Bird: “I’m relishing the challenge of the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa this weekend and hopeful we can have a good run without too many problems. I’ve got some good experience around Spa so that should be a benefit and there’s no reason why we can’t be challenging up front in the Silver Cup class.”

Sean Paul Breslin, Team Principal HRT: "The team already proved in the first two endurance races of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe that we can fight for top positions, both in the Silver and Gold Cup. HRT made a strong showing at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring and celebrated a well-deserved class win. This makes us optimistic that we will do our best to finish at the front in both classifications at Spa."

Further details can be found at www.hauptracingteam.de

Sykes Salvages Eighth For MCE Ducati

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 10:04:42 GMT

The Lake District-based MCE Ducati team endured a challenging day at Brands Hatch today with Tom Sykes’ eighth place the only result they had to show for their efforts in the two Bennetts British Superbike Championship races which comprised round five of the series.

Results, and lap times, from the previous day meant that double BSB champion Josh Brookes and former World Superbike Champion Sykes started the opening 20-lap race around the 2.43-mile venue in eighth and 16th place respectively and although Josh dropped back one place on the opening lap, Tom overhauled four of his fellow competitors.

With hot conditions once more, several riders fell victim in the early laps and Brookes was unfortunately one of them, coming to grief at Stirling’s on just the sixth lap.

That left Sykes as the sole PBM teamster in the field and, up into the top ten as early as lap three, he found himself locked in battle all race with fellow former World Champion Danny Kent.

The duo both moved forward as the race wore on, but Tom always had the edge and took a solid eighth place for his second-best result of the season so far aboard Paul Bird’s factory-supported and MCE Insurance-backed Ducati Panigale V4R.

Unfortunately, that was as good as the day got with Tom unable to take his place on the grid for the final race of the weekend when a technical problem ruled him out before the start. Brookes started from seventh and the third row, but his race was only half a lap old when he felt contact from another rider and crashed out at Westfield.

Josh Brookes: "Today has clearly been disappointing and whilst I thought yesterday was tough, today has topped that. In the first race, I felt like I was riding well and hanging with the front group so I was waiting to see how the longer race would affect people but, sadly, I never got far as the front went with no warning. I’ve never crashed there before and never even had any moments so I can only assume I was going too quick, carrying too much lean angle or too much front brake.

Something caused it. In the second race, there was a lot of jostling in the first few corners and a bit of desperation by some riders which was a bit strange as it was going to be another long race. It’s been a damaging day so all we can do is dust ourselves down, quite literally, and look ahead to the next round.”

Tom Sykes: “It has been a difficult weekend for us, and it was a frustrating end to the weekend when we couldn’t take our place on the grid for the final race. We had a technical issue in the first race today which we thought was sorted as all the various settings were checked but it reappeared on the sighting lap of the final race, and we couldn’t take part. It’s such a shame as we had made some progress in the opening race, and we couldn’t put into effect the changes we had planned so that was doubly disappointing. But we’ll come back stronger and hopefully have some better fortune next time out.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Manager: “It’s been a tough day at the office and what could go wrong, did go wrong. Tom’s still struggling a bit with the same issues he’s had all year, essentially steering the bike on the throttle, but we need to address them if we’re to move forward and we have a few things in the pipeline for the next round. Tom had a technical issue on the sighting lap of the last race, so we had to pull the bike off the grid on safety grounds whilst Josh had two uncharacteristic crashes, the first when he lost the front and the second when he felt he’d been nudged by another rider. There is only one way we can go from this weekend so roll on Thruxton.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (20 laps)

1 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

2 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

3 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

4 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

5 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

6 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)

8 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

DNF Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (20 laps)

1 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

2 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

3 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

4 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

5 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

6 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

DNF Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

DNS Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Championship Standings (after five rounds)

1 O’Halloran 265pts

2 Ray 255

3 Jackson 187

4 Skinner 174

5 Ryde 170

6 Irwin 156

11 Brookes 87

14 Sykes 58

Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66)

Top Six For Brookes At Brands

Sat, 23 Jul 2022 10:45:37 GMT

MCE Ducati’s Josh Brookes enjoyed one of his strongest rides of the season in the opening race of round five of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship season at Brands Hatch this afternoon, coming home in sixth place and just 5.5 seconds behind race winner Jason O’Halloran.

After three solid free practice sessions which saw Brookes and teammate Tom Sykes sit in eighth and 14th respectively, both riders were able to improve their lap times and positions in this qualifying session, with Josh moving up to a fine sixth which was good enough for a second row start and Tom up to 12th.

The 15-lap race got underway in perfect conditions at the Kent venue and Josh maintained his sixth place on the opening lap around the undulating 2.4-mile circuit although Tom slipped back two places from his starting position.

Josh was overhauled two laps later by Kawasaki’s Rory Skinner and the duo found themselves locked in battle until two thirds race distance when former double BSB champion Brookes worked his way by on the factory supported and MCE Insurance-backed PBM Ducati. He was able to keep the young Scot at bay and duly took a strong sixth place which enabled him to move up to eighth in the championship standings and into one of the Showdown positions.

Further back, 2013 World Superbike Champion Sykes got pushed back to 15th on lap four. But gained a place back when Ryan Vickers crashed out at half race distance. With two laps to go, he overhauled Andrew Irwin to move up to 13th, a position he held until the chequered flag.

Josh Brookes: “Starting from the second row was a bit more like it but just before the start, the bike temperature went up to 120 degrees. I thought it was from the heat of the day and although it dropped, it only went to 110 rather than the 90 it usually runs at. It distracted me in the early laps and allowed the front five riders to get away but when I realised it wasn’t going to get any worse, I concentrated on getting into a decent rhythm. It was a bit frustrating as we’re so close to the front group now but we’re making progress all the time and to now be in the top eight is something. We’ll hope to make another step tomorrow.”

Tom Sykes: “It didn’t take me too long to get into the 1:25’s on Friday, which is a very respectable time around the Brands GP circuit, and I hoped to progress from there, but I haven’t been able to do what I’d like with the bike. Corner entry is fine but, in the middle and on the exit, it’s not doing what I’d expect and I’m losing a lot of time which is really disappointing. We’ll keep working and will hopefully find something for tomorrow.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “The progress we’ve been making with Josh in the last couple of rounds has continued here at Brands Hatch and to only be 3.5 seconds off the podium is something we could only dream of at the beginning of the season. There hasn’t been a miracle fix but we’ve kept chipping away and with a good grid position putting us in the mix, he was able to convert it into a strong result. Tom’s still struggling and with him not having the experience on the bike like Josh, it’s taking longer to get to where he wants to be but, again, we’ll keep chipping away.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Sprint race (15 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

3 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

4 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

5 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)

6 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

13 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Championship Standings

1 Ray 229pts

2 O’Halloran 225

3 Jackson 181

4 Skinner 157

5 Ryde 152

6 Irwin 134

8 Brookes 87

15 Sykes 50

Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66)

Top Five For Frank At Zandvoort

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 08:53:31 GMT

Zandvoort in The Netherlands was the desitination for round three of the ADAC GT Masters Series where once again Cumbrian racing driver Frank Bird was in action and came away with a top five placing.

Driving for MANN-FILTER Team LANDGRAF, Penrith-born Frank once again teamed up with 18-year-old Finnish driver Elias Seppanen for the two races in the Frank Bird Poultry Ltd-backed Mercedes AMG-GT3.

Having raced at the circuit on the North Sea coast previously, Frank, who was a two-times winner in the GT World Challenge Europe last year, was hopeful of improving on his results at the previous rounds at Oschersleben in Germany and the Red Bull Ring in Austria earlier in the season.

However, in their new green and yellow livery, the ‘Junior Mamba’ drivers had to contend with the notorious Dutch weather during the weekend which started with using the first Free Practice session as acclimatisation on old tyres before setting fastest time in the second Free Practice session.

Rain affected their opening qualifying session to end up in P20 on the grid for the first race, which was a fragmented affair because of the weather and resulted in Bird and Seppanen having to make two pit stops to change tyres, rather than just the one planned. As a result, the pair brought the car home in 17th overall and 11th in the Junior class.

The pair started race two from P18 on the grid but Frank was soon carving his way through the field and with a mature drive to keep out of trouble, he crossed the line in ninth overall but claimed fifth in the Junior class to round off a successful weekend.

Frank Bird: “It was my second time racing at Zandvoort which is a difficult track with some banked corners and usually the weather plays its part. This weekend was no exception and we got caught out by using wets in the opening race, only for it to dry up and it meant we had to make an extra pitstop to change tyres again. Race two was much better, we had a good, clean race and brought the car home safely inside the top ten and fifth place in the Junior class is a good result. Our pace was good, and I hope we can back that up at the Nürburgring so thanks to the team and our sponsors.”

Round four of the series visits the Nurburgring in Germany over the weekend of 5/7 August 2022.

Podium Success For Bird At Spa

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 14:49:20 GMT

Haupt Racing Team were in action at the weekend with Frank Bird and teammate Jordan Love contesting the International GT Open at the iconic Circuit de Spa-Franchorchamps where they came away with a superb podium finish .

The German team were making their first appearance in the International GT Open with Cumbrian-born Bird and Australian Love at the wheel of the BILSTEIN Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Contesting the PRO class for the two hour and twenty-minute race at the iconic Belgian track, the pair qualified in P6 on Saturday to secure a good grid position for the following day. The race itself was shaped by several lengthy safety car phases, which repeatedly brought the field back together and produced a lot of action and battles for position around the 7.004-kilometre track.

Running third as the race entered its final stages, Penrith’s Bird was embroiled in a thrilling three-way battle for several laps with the two cars ahead of him, eventually, finishing in an impressive second place, less than five seconds behind the winners.

Ultimately, only the fact that all guest starters in the GT Open are required to spend an extra ten seconds stationary during the second pit stop prevented Haupt Racing Team from taking the overall victory.

Frank Bird: “A good GT Open debut for both Jordan and I and great to be part of HRT this weekend. It was a good race overall, but we didn’t quite have the pace to keep with the Lamborghinis. The team did a good job on the pit stops so thanks to them and thanks to Jordan also, so hopefully I can be back for another race soon.”

Jordan Love: "Many thanks to Frank and the team. I had a lot of fun over the weekend. Racing in a different series is very valuable. It's a bit of a shame we finished in P2, but I am happy."

Sean Paul Breslin, HRT Team Principal: "Strong result for the team in the first race of the GT Open. The crew worked very hard, we had a good strategy, and the drivers made a fantastic job to bring the car home safely. Overall, a very enjoyable weekend in Spa."

Brookes And Sykes Battle Hard At Knockhill

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 14:42:21 GMT

The MCE Ducati pairing of Josh Brookes and Tom Sykes had an encouraging day at Knockhill today with three top ten finishes recorded in the two Bennetts British Superbike Championship races, with former champion Brookes recording a best result of sixth place to move within one place of the Showdown.

With the strong winds of yesterday having subsided, Brookes and Sykes started the opening 30-lap race from 12th and 15th respectively on the grid, but both were able to make good strides forward on the factory-supported and MCE Insurance-backed Ducati Panigale V4Rs and put in a number of overtaking manoeuvres.

Indeed, a great start by double BSB champion Brookes saw him immediately up inside the top ten and he was rewarded at the chequered flag with a fine sixth place, his second highest finish of the season to date. Yorkshireman Sykes, meanwhile, was up into the top ten by half race distance, but ultimately had to settle for 11th.

With a second row start for the final race of the weekend, Australian ace Brookes was hopeful of improving upon his sixth place and it looked like he’d do just that when he moved into third on lap 11. However, a slight mistake at the chicane a lap later dropped him back to fifth and in the second half of the race, he found himself shuffled back to an eventual seventh. Teammate Sykes, the 2013 World Superbike champion, ended his weekend with a solid tenth place.

The day’s results moved Brookes up to ninth overall in the championship table, just seven points off the all-important top eight Showdown places heading into the next round at Brands Hatch next month with Sykes in 14th.

Josh Brookes: “We’ve shown some promise this weekend and although the results don’t show it, we’ve been a lot closer to the front and closer to fighting where we should be. We brought the progress made at Donington here to Knockhill, not a circuit I’ve enjoyed the best results in the past, and we’ve made constant steps in the right direction. We had a bit of a lull in qualifying but other than that, we’ve moved forward and whilst I was disappointed to have made a mistake in the final race, the fact we were in third place at the time is positive. It’s been a better showing all round and we can be optimistic heading into the next round.”

Tom Sykes: “The weekend started off well and despite not riding here for so long, I felt at home in the wet conditions on Friday. I was fastest for the most part and I felt really comfortable but despite me doing a rain dance, it was dry conditions that prevailed and that’s where we are struggling. There are lots of areas that the MCE Ducati is really good in, but in a couple of crucial ones, we have a lot of work to do. It's tough and I’m finding I’m not able to perform to my best ability but hopefully we can find an improvement soon.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It was a positive day for us to be fair and although the first race results were compromised again by our grid positions, the changes we’d made overnight certainly helped and Josh was able to lap quicker than what he’d done in qualifying. Row two for the final race was a million miles better and put him in a better position to be in the fight. It was nice to be at the sharp end again and it was a shame that he had one small mistake as the rest of the pack pounced on that and he went from third to an eventual seventh. He was fighting for a podium finish, and we’ll look to build on that. For Tom, he’s still trying to understand the parameters of the bike and its limitations whilst not having been to Knockhill for 14 years was always going to be tough. We’re still trying to get him comfortable on the bike and understand the changes that are being made so it was a bit of a test session, and we’ll look to re-group over the break. There are positives to take away and we go to Brands Hatch next where both riders have good memories.”

The next round takes place at Brands Hatch on July 22-24.

Bennetts British Superbike race two (30 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

3 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)

4 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

5 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

6 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

11 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike race three (30 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

3 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

4 Danny Buchan (BMW)

5 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

6 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

7 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

10 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Championship standings (after four rounds)

1 Ray 216 pts

2 O’Halloran 200

3 Jackson 174

4 Skinner 148

5 Ryde 141

6 Irwin 134

9 Brookes 77

14 Sykes 47

Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

More Points For MCE Ducati At Knockhill

Sat, 18 Jun 2022 14:27:41 GMT

MCE Ducati riders Josh Brookes and Tom Sykes added to their points tally in the opening race of the fourth round of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at a breezy Knockhill in Scotland today.

Double BSB champion Brookes and ex-World Superbike champion Sykes showed good speed during Friday’s damp action to make it inside the top 12 of the Superpicks Free Practice with Brookes in fifth and Sykes in tenth for Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team.

However, the pair couldn’t replicate that today and in the qualifying session, held in very strong winds, Brookes qualified in tenth to start from row four with Sykes three places and one row further back on the MCE Insurance-sponsored and factory-supported MCE Ducati Panigale V4Rs

Conditions remained tricky for the opening race of the weekend, the eBay sprint race over 22 laps of the short

Fife circuit, which saw the pair battle throughout with a group of riders inside the top ten. At the flag, Brookes managed to score tenth place with Sykes just a second behind in 12th.

As a result, Brookes occupies 11th in the standings on 58 points with Sykes in 14th on 36 points going into tomorrow’s two races.

Josh Brookes: “The race was a bit frustrating as I lost a few places in the early stages and that meant I was in a battle with my teammate which is always difficult as we are on the same machinery. I didn’t want to make any dodgy passes and take us both down, but the lap times were nowhere near what we needed to do to get on the podium. So, I’m a bit disappointed but I knew after qualifying we may struggle but I’m always optimistic. We’ve looked at what we can change for tomorrow’s two races and hopefully we can improve.”

Tom Sykes: “It’s been a bit frustrating to be honest, I felt good on the bike yesterday but today, we just couldn’t improve. Not being here for 14 years didn’t help, especially when many of the other riders have been every year but my lap times were OK. We tried different settings and all of the Ducatis were on a similar pace in qualifying, and in the race, I ended up in a scrap with Josh. I’m not happy and we just need to keep working hard to find what we need to progress from our limitations.”

eBay Sprint Race (22 laps)

1 B Ray (Yamaha)

2 J O’Halloran (Yamaha)

3 R Skinner (Kawasaki)

4 L Jackson (Kawasaki)

5 D Buchan (BMW)

6 K Ryde (Yamaha)

10 J Brookes (MCE Ducati)
12 T Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Championship Positions (after 10 races)

1 B Ray 183pts

2 J O’Halloran 150

3 L Johnson 138

4 R Skinner 132

5 K Ryde 127

6 G Irwin 116

11 J Brookes 58
14 T Sykes 36

Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Bird’s Barbados Bid Scuppered

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 14:07:06 GMT

Following on from his superb podium place on last weekend’s First Citizens King of the Hill, Cumbrian driver Frank Bird’s hopes of victory on 2022 Sol Rally Barbados were dashed when he crossed the finish ramp in second place but was declared Outside Total Lateness (OTL).

Along with co-driver Jack Morton, the Penrith-born ace was making his debut on the Caribbean island where his dad Paul had so much success over the years, including winning Rally Barbados twice.

In the Frank Bird Poultry-backed Ford Fiesta R5 with support from MCE Insurance, Hager, Vodiac, PBM, MAC Tools and Dragon Energy, and prepared as always by Dom Buckley Motorsport, Frank and Lake District-based co-driver Jack Morton got off to a solid start on Saturday’s opening leg but it wasn’t long before the gremlins struck.

A couple of driveshaft issues along with an intermittent electrical fault, coupled with Morton suffering from heat exhaustion in the 67° cockpit temperatures, meant the pair languished outside the top 20 at one point, despite Bird putting in some awesome drives on the stages they didn’t encounter problems on.

A fightback was planned for Sunday whereby Bird set a string of fastest times in his bid to climb up the order from ninth. Such was his pace that he soon was challenging for a podium place but he ended up breaking a rear wheel on the Dark Hole stage, although he still set fastest time!

Frank continued his charge and snatched second place on the penultimate stage, but despite his best efforts, wasn’t classified in the overall results as he was found to have gone OTL following the time it took to repair the damage on the earlier stage.

Frank Bird: “What an experience to compete in SOL Rally Barbados! The rally throws everything at you with very challenging stages and crazy temperatures in the car so I was happy to get to the finish, although it was frustrating to have been classified as OTL. We had a tough day on Saturday with two driveshaft failures and some electrical issues as well as Jack being ill. After lying 23rd on the first loop to get back to second overall is a big achievement. A massive thanks to all the team for their hard work over the two weeks, Jack for a top job on the notes and of course my dad and our sponsors.”

For further information, please visit https://rallybarbados.net

Image: Image Vault/Nicholas Bhajan

Barbados King Of The Hill Podium For Bird

Mon, 30 May 2022 14:13:44 GMT

Cumbrian driver Frank Bird retured to rally action this weekend with a superb performance to claim third place on the First Citizens King of the Hill which marked the opening action of 2022 Sol Rally Barbados festival.

The Penrith-born ace was making his debut on the Caribbean island where his dad Paul had so much success over the years, including winning the King of the Hill twice, and constituted the first event back since 2019 whereby 87 international crews had assembled to tackle four runs of the course around Vaucluse Raceway in the south east of the island.

In the Frank Bird Poultry-backed Ford Fiesta R5 with support from MCE Insurance, Hager, Vodiac, PBM, MAC Tools and Dragon Energy, and prepared as always by Dom Buckley Motorsport, Frank and Lake District-based co-driver Jack Morton were up against crews with plenty of experience of the event.

Not to be outdone, Frank made a great start, despite rain showers making the roads slippery, and by the halfway point, was up to second place behind fellow British driver Rob Swann, but it was in the afternoon when he had to pull out all the stops. Bird edged ahead of Swann when he suffered problems but couldn’t manage to keep locals Zane Maloney and his uncle Stuart Maloney at bay so had to settle for an impressive third place, ahead of double winner Dane Skeet.

More importantly, the results determine the seeding for Sol Rally Barbados which gets underway on Friday and continues over the weekend.

Frank Bird: “What a great start to Sol Rally Barbados by claiming third in the King of the Hill competition which is a quality event. That means we will be third on the road for next weekend which is a good position. I was very happy with the day, it’s the first time I’ve seen the stages and felt comfortable straight away, and I think that showed in the times we set. It’s going to be a great battle next weekend so I’m really looking forward to it. Thanks to Jack on the notes and the team for doing a great job as well as a massive thanks to my dad and all our sponsors.”

For further information, please visit https://rallybarbados.net

Image: Vault/Nicholas Bhajan

Solid Points For Brookes And Sykes At Donington

Sun, 22 May 2022 21:12:53 GMT

The MCE Ducati team ended round three of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park today in a positive fashion with Tom Sykes and Josh Brookes racking up solid points in both races inside the top eight.

The results from yesterday’s eBay Sprint race meant that the duo lined up in 12th and 13th on the grid for today’s opening 26-lap race with ex World Superbike champion Sykes the higher placed of the two riders and with good conditions all around the 1.97-mile National circuit, they both gained a place on the opening lap.

Positions remained static for much of the race although Sykes did get as high as ninth on the factory-supported and MCE Insurance-backed Ducati Panigale V4R but by half race distance, the PBM pairing were running close together around the fringes of the top ten. In the closing stages, former double BSB champion Brookes managed to overhaul his teammate and so it was the Australian who claimed tenth with Yorkshireman Sykes taking his second successive 11th place of the weekend.

The final race saw the two riders start alongside each other on the fourth row and although they slipped back in the early stages, a safety car period allowed them to close back up to the group ahead and from lap ten onwards they steadily moved forward.

A couple of laps later, they were both running inside the top ten with Brookes moving up to seventh on lap 18. It looked like he’d secure the position, but Huddersfield’s Sykes had other ideas and he took over the position in the closing stages of the race to take his best result of the season. Brookes took the chequered flag right behind in eighth which moved him up into the top ten of the championship standings at this early stage of the season.

Tom Sykes: “We’re continually making changes to understand the bike more and find solutions so a big thanks to the team and whilst we know we’re not where we want to be, everyone’s staying patient. The final race of the weekend was obviously the best and, in some sectors, I was quicker than some of the other riders and able to make some clean passes. With a clear track, I was able to ride more naturally with strong lap times right up until the end of the race. We’ve two strong riders in the team and there’s no doubting the capabilities of anything, anywhere so we’ll keep improving as I’m very keen to taste the champagne again!”

Josh Brookes: “We’ve made marginal progress today, but it’s been progress nonetheless and the bike felt better in the final race. The grip was better and for the first time in a while, I was able to battle with other riders, so it was nice to pass people and race people again! We know we’ve several issues that still need to be resolved and whilst it’s hard to be excited with eighth and 11th, it’s still nice to make a step forward and close the gaps. There’s a long way to go so we’ll keep trying as we all want to be back at the sharp end.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s been a positive end to the weekend and nice to see the riders end their weekend on a bit of a high. We’ve a few fundamental limitations with the bike at present so can’t be happy with the results and whilst the way Tom and Josh ride is totally different, their lap times are ultimately similar. We need to get to the bottom of the issues and address them fully whilst we also need to be stronger in qualifying as grid position is really hindering us.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (26 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

3 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

4 Peter Hickman (BMW)

5 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

6 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

10 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

11 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (26 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

3 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

4 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)

5 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)

6 Christian Iddon (Suzuki)

7 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

8 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

Current standings

1 Ray 158pts

2 O’Halloran 130

3 Jackson 125

4 Ryde 117

5 Skinner 116

6 Irwin 107

10 Brookes 52

14 Sykes 32

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Tough Day At Donington For MCE Ducati

Sat, 21 May 2022 10:30:03 GMT

The MCE Ducati team endured a challenging opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race at Donington Park today with Tom Sykes finishing in 11th place and former double BSB champion Josh Brookes ending up in 13th position.

The duo enjoyed mixed fortunes across the free practice sessions and that meant both riders had to take part in the opening Q1 session although both duly lapped quicker than what they had done all weekend, finishing the session first and second to comfortably progress to the main Q2 session to set the grid for the opening eBay sprint race.

It was Huddersfield-born Sykes who was the quicker in Q2, briefly running in third place, and although he ultimately had to settle for seventh, it was by far his best qualifying performance of the season on the factory-supported MCE Insurance Ducati Panigale V4R. For Australian Brookes though, it was a more challenging session and he finished in 16th which meant a sixth-row start.

Conditions remained good for the 20-lap race although a strong wind remained, and the first lap saw Tom and Josh slot into sixth and 16th respectively. The race proved to be a battle for both riders and although Tom held on to a top ten position for the first half of the race, he took the chequered flag in 11th. Josh, meanwhile, fought his way up to 13th for three hard-earned points.

Tom Sykes: “We are making improvements in certain areas, which could be seen in qualifying and had it not been for a yellow flag costing me three tenths we could have been on the front row. The limitations we’ve had in previous rounds are still there and are ultimately holding me back. It’s really frustrating as I could see the leaders ahead of me but couldn’t go with them whilst having had previous success in the past at this circuit, it gives us more of a reference. We’re not able to show the potential of either myself, the bike, or the team at the moment but we’ll keep working hard to get to where we want to be.”

Josh Brookes: “Certain aspects of today have been promising but others not so and after going well in Q1, I didn’t string the laps together in Q2 which ultimately compromised my grid position. I also suffered in the early stages of the race as there was something on my visor which was really distracting. I hadn’t done the helmet prep myself so removing the tear-offs didn’t alter the issue and I dropped back in the early laps. I got going a bit in the second half of the race but am still struggling for rear grip. We’ve been putting more weight on the rear to get better grip but have exhausted all those options now so need to maybe go the other way to see if we can improve and get a better feeling.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “Qualifying went well for Tom and it was nice to see him higher up the grid and closer to where we need to be whilst Josh also strung some good laps together in Q1. However, the starting positions are still hurting us and whilst I’ve said it before, when you’re starting down the pack, you get mired in battles and can’t ride the bike the way it needs to be ridden. That, in turn, allows the quick guys at the front to get away so we need to improve. It’s disappointing to only score a handful of points but we’ll look to make changes for tomorrow’s races and get the boys higher up.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship eBay Sprint race 1 (20 laps)

1 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)

2 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

3 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

4 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

5 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

6 Christian Iddon (Suzuki)

11 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

13 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

Current standings

1 Ray 118pts

2 Irwin 107

3 Ryde 106

4 Skinner 95

5 Jackson 93

6 O’Halloran 80

12 Brookes 38

14 Sykes 18

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Destination Donington For MCE Ducati

Thu, 19 May 2022 08:11:17 GMT

Round three of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads for the Donington Park National circuit this forthcoming weekend with MCE Ducati riders Josh Brookes and Tom Sykes hoping to continue the recent momentum.

After a disappointing opening round at Silverstone over Easter, the pair bounced back at Oulton Park earlier this month where double BSB champion Brookes posted a battling fourth place finish and former World Superbike champion Sykes scoring a season best so far of 11th on the MCE Insurance sponsored and factory-supported Ducati Panigale V4Rs.

Since then, Bedfordshire-based Australian Brookes has finished on the podium at last week’s International North West 200 for Paul Bird’s Lake District team, and Yorkshireman Sykes has undertaken some more development work with Ducati Corse, both of which sees them arrive at Donington Park in a confident mood.

I ndeed, both riders have celebrated a number of World Championship victories around the GP version of the Midlands track with Brookes taking victory in the World Supersport race there in 2008 and Sykes winning an amazing nine World Superbike Championship races in succession from 2013 to 2017.

Josh Brookes: “Last year, both rounds at Donington Park were affected by the weather so hopefully that won’t be too much of a factor this weekend. I’m gaining in confidence with the bike all the time and last week’s results at the NW200 have helped us. It’s just a case of getting stuck in and I’m hopeful of achieving some good results. Also, Tom has a fantastic record at the track so that can help the team too.”

Tom Sykes: “I’m really looking forward to Donington Park this weekend, it’s a circuit I really enjoy and have had a lot of success there in the past so hope we can continue with that. The target is to work on the limitations which have affected us in the early part of the season and try to improve the set up, so I feel more comfortable on the bike and with the package in general.”

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

North West 200 Podium Joy For Brookes

Sat, 14 May 2022 08:04:05 GMT

MCE Ducati rider Josh Brookes defied the eight-year gap since he was last there to record a superb podium finish in the feature Superbike race at this year’s Fona Cab and Nicholl Oils International North West 200.

Aboard the factory-supported MCE Insurance-backed Ducati Panigale V4R, the Australian double BSB champion topped the opening practice session before qualifying in seventh place for Paul Bird’s Lake District based team.

With the mixed weather from during the week clearing to give way to glorious sunshine today around the 8.9-mile Portrush-Portstewart-Coleraine closed roads triangle in Northern Ireland, Brookes dialled himself back into racing at over 200mph with a battling fourth place in the opening six-lap Anchor Bar Superbike race.

But better was to follow in the final event of the day, the seven-lap Merrow Hotel NW200 Superbike race, where Brookes was circulating with the leaders in the early stages and battling for a win.

However, pushing too hard, he overshot University Corner as the race progressed but battled back to claim a fine third place to add to the double podiums he scored when he last competed at the event in 2014 and also setting a personal fastest lap time of 123.141mph.

Josh Brookes: “After a few years away from the roads, the first few laps were quite breathtaking and intense, but I was soon at ease again. It was just a case of getting on with the job and whilst I was quickly up to speed in Tuesday’s qualifying session, I knew the pace would quicken on Thursday. We only made small improvements compared to other riders and with a relative lack of track time, especially with not riding in any other classes, we weren’t able to fully try all the changes we made. That meant we went into race day still working on set-up but the changes we made for the two races definitely worked and I ended up setting a new personal best lap. It was certainly pleasing to end the week with a podium finish and after eight years away from the event I think, realistically, that’s the best we could have hoped for. The pace at the front was red hot but we got quicker and quicker and we can be pleased with our efforts this week.”

Brookes now concentrates on carrying this good form into the third round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park next weekend. Details of the event and full results are at www.northwest200.org . Sponsor’s details are at: www.mceinsurance.com

Pictures courtesy of Double Red

Brookes Confident Ahead of North West 200

Sun, 08 May 2022 10:24:22 GMT

Following the recent announcement that Josh Brookes will contest this year’s Fona Cab and Nicholl Oils International North West 200 aboard a factory-supported MCE Ducati Panigale V4R, all plans are in place for Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team to take on the challenge.

The 39-year-old Australian returns to the 8.9-mile Portrush-Portstewart-Coleraine closed roads triangle for the first time since 2014, hot on the heels of a fourth-place finish at the most recent round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park last week, where he just missed out on a podium, after qualifying on the front row of the grid.

The Bedfordshire-based double BSB champion made his debut at the North West 200 in 2013 where he was the fastest newcomer before setting a new outright Superbike lap record the following year on his way to second place on a Yamaha. Brookes also scored a Supersport podium the same year too.

Paul Bird’s team has a good record at the event which includes Glenn Irwin winning three of his last four Superbike races on a PBM Ducati so Brookes will be hoping to add another piece of silverware to Britain’s most successful motorcycle racing team’s trophy cabinet.

Josh Brookes: “We didn’t have any plans to contest the North West 200 originally as part of my deal with PBM and the MCE Ducati Racing Team this year, but it came as a pleasant, last-minute surprise when the opportunity arose. The question everyone is asking is just how competitive the MCE Ducati will be around the NW200 track and that’s a question I can’t answer until I’ve ridden it. But I have no reasons to believe we can’t do well, or really well in fact. The Ducati is known to be fast and although we are missing a couple of tenths in BSB, I don’t think that will be a problem with the very nature of the event. I’ve every confidence in the bike and the team, and although I’ve not ridden there since 2014, remember I nearly won the Superbike race and set a new lap record at the time. So, our expectations are high and I’m really looking forward to it and seeing the fans back after the past couple of years. I spent a lot of years living over in Northern Ireland so it will be good to see some familiar faces and hopefully the weather will be kind and we can get all the planned track time in.”

Brookes will only be contesting the North West 200, there are no plans for him or the MCE Ducati Racing Team to compete at this year’s Isle of Man TT Races.

The Fona Cab and Nicholl Oils 2022 International North West 200 commences Tuesday 10th May. Details of the event are at www.northwest200.org

Images courtesy of Double Red

Brookes And Sykes Rack Up Points At Oulton Park

Tue, 03 May 2022 07:19:42 GMT

MCE Ducati’s Josh Brookes took two hard-fought top ten finishes in the second round of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship races at Oulton Park today with eighth and tenth seeing him maintain his 12th position in the early season championship table.

Teammate Tom Sykes took a best finish of 11th in the final race where he also posted his quickest lap time of the weekend for Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team.

With good conditions all day at the Cheshire venue, the opening 18-lap race saw Josh start from the third row of the grid with Tom four rows further back with the duo completing the opening lap in sixth and 16th respectively.

The pairing soon found themselves locked in their own respective battles but when the safety car was deployed on lap seven after a crash, Australian double BSB champion Brookes found himself shuffled back to tenth with ex-WSBK champion Sykes fighting his way up to 14th.

When racing resumed three laps later, Josh was unable to do anything about the riders ahead of him and crossed the line in tenth whilst Yorkshire-born Sykes moved up another spot to take 13th at the chequered flag.

The results meant they started from the fifth row of the grid for the final race of the weekend, where both riders made early progress and by lap six, they were both running inside the top ten.

Brookes elevated himself to a battling eighth place at the chequered flag with Sykes putting in his strongest ride of the weekend in terms of both lap times and position to claim 11th.

Josh Brookes: “The first race today was disappointing as we made the wrong changes to the bike, and it just didn’t work out. I went backwards and faded pretty much from the start, so it was disappointing for all concerned. We put the bike closer to how it had been yesterday and had the information to make only a small change and the bike worked better albeit not with the lap times to compete for the podium. It was obviously difficult starting a long way back on the grid too, but I was happy to recover some form at the end. We definitely need to make improvements with the bike as we’re running a similar pace to 2019 and 2020 but things have obviously moved on since then.”

Tom Sykes: “It’s been a little bit challenging this weekend but at least we now understand some of the parameters much clearer, so we have a good idea of what changes we need to make to the MCE Ducati. The laps in qualifying were the very first ones I’ve done on the bike in the wet and we had a great feeling, but with the information we’ve gained at both the test and in the three races, we have a positive direction in which to go. I’m expecting we can find a big improvement for the next round at Donington Park.”

John Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “After fourth in Sunday’s race, we were looking to make a further challenge for the podium positions with Josh today but, unfortunately, it didn’t pan out that way. The lap times stayed the same and we again paid for starting on the fourth and fifth rows. I’ve said it before but if you’re not on the front three rows, you’re up against it. He fought hard until the end of each race though and picked up points and we all know how valuable they are, however big or small. For Tom, today was a lot better day and he continually improved so much so that his best time of the three days came in the final race of the weekend. It’s testament to him that he kept going like he did, and it will certainly help him when we return to Oulton Park later in the year. The next round is at Donington Park, a circuit he knows well and what’s required from a bike to go quick round there so I’m sure we’ll see him a lot closer to the front there.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (18 laps)

1 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

2 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

3 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

4 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)

5 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)

6 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

10 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)
13 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (18 laps)

1 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

3 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

4 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)

5 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

6 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

8 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)
11 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Championship standings

1 Ray 102pts

2 Glenn Irwin 96

3 Skinner 86

4 Ryde 81

5 Jackson 80

6 O’Halloran 60

12 Brookes 35
14 Sykes 13

Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Brookes Just Misses Oulton Park Podium

Sun, 01 May 2022 08:14:18 GMT

After a difficult opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship round two weeks ago at Silverstone, Josh Brookes put a smile back on the faces of the MCE Ducati team this afternoon as he posted a fine fourth place finish in the opening race of round two at Oulton Park.

The result saw the Australian former double champion pick up a confidence-boosting 13 points whilst teammate Tom Sykes battled to 15th place for the Penrith-based team after a challenging race saw him lose ground in the early laps.

Dry conditions yesterday gave way to rain for qualifying this afternoon but both Brookes and Yorkshireman Sykes benefitted with strong pace in the wet around the 2.69-mile circuit and the two riders looked strong as they advanced into the crucial Q2 session which determined the grid for the afternoon’s race.

Indeed, both riders ran in the top six for the majority of the 12-minute session and it was Brookes who shone the most on the factory-supported MCE Ducati Panigale V4R to take second place and a front row position. Former WSBK champion Sykes ran similar pace for much of the session but was unlucky to get shuffled back to 11th after a late flurry of quick laps from other riders.

Three hours later, the conditions were again dry for the race and although Josh slipped back to fourth on the opening lap, he was well in contention for a podium position as he battled with Rory Skinner, Kyle Ryde, and Peter Hickman for second place.

The battle looked like it would go all the way to the chequered flag, but the race was stopped early, on the 12th of the scheduled 14 laps, after a crash meaning Josh, who was getting stronger as the race wore on, had to settle for fourth place.

Sykes, meanwhile, suffered in the early stages when he dropped back to 16th and he was unable to recover any ground; by the time he moved up to 15th, the group ahead of him had pulled clear and he missed out on fighting for a potential top ten finish.

Josh Brookes: “We made a good step forward in FP3 and the lap times were both a lot quicker and more consistent meaning I was closer to where I need to be. I’m still a few tenths down on being able to fight for the win and we need to get dialled in earlier in the weekend as you can’t afford to be way back in the pack on the opening day. But we made good improvements and I was getting stronger and getting myself into a position to attack with a podium on the cards, but the red flag ended the race early. Fourth is a lot more like it so we’ll look to improve again tomorrow and get on the podium.”

Tom Sykes: “We’re running with a few limitations at the moment with the main issue being not being able to get on the gas like we need to. The bike’s a bit unstable and if you can’t use the gas when and how you need to, it means you lose ground each lap and in the dry that equates to quite a lot of time. I was strong in the wet and felt comfortable on the bike and felt unlucky not to be higher up the grid, but I didn’t make the greatest of starts and it’s hard to claw the gap back. Some of the boys are a bit special round here but the team are working hard, and we’ll aim to be a lot stronger tomorrow.”

John Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s been a bit more promising so far this weekend and Josh got a good result and some good points on the board. A strong performance in the wet qualifying session was a good boost and, again, it emphasised the importance of being on at least the front three rows. He lost a bit of time in the first half of the race, but he rode well to close the gap to the second and third placed riders and going into the final laps, he was definitely in with a shout of the podium. For Tom, he was unlucky to drop down to 11th in qualifying when he could have been on the front row with Josh and a bad start didn’t help his race. That meant the pack got away and instead of fighting it out with the group in sixth to tenth, he was instead in 15th. We’ll make a few changes overnight though to try and improve the lap times further and help him get higher up the leaderboard.”

Sunday’s races, held over the longer distance of 18 laps, are scheduled to get underway at 13:30 and 16:30.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (11 laps)

1 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

2 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)

3 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)

4 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

5 Peter Hickman (BMW)

6 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

15 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Championship standings

1 Glenn Irwin 80pts

2 Ryde 62

= Skinner 62

4 Ray 61

5 Andrew Irwin 41

6 O’Halloran 40

12 Brookes 21

17 Sykes 5

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Josh Brookes To Race MCE Ducati At NW200

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 16:09:16 GMT

Further to recent speculation, Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM) wishes to confirm that Josh Brookes will contest this year’s Fona Cab and Nicholl Oils International North West 200 aboard a factory-supported MCE Ducati Panigale V4R.

The Australian, who turns 39 tomorrow, will add the event to his Bennetts British Superbike Championship commitments for the Penrith-based team and return to the 8.9-mile Portrush-Portstewart-Coleraine closed roads triangle for the first time since 2014.

The double BSB champion from Bringelly, New South Wales made his debut at the event in 2013 where he was the fastest newcomer before setting a new outright Superbike lap record the following year on his way to second place on a Yamaha. Brookes also scored a Supersport podium the same year too.

Paul Bird’s team has a good record at the event which includes Glenn Irwin winning three of his last four Superbike races on a PBM Ducati so Brookes will be hoping to add another plaudit to Britain’s most successful motorcycle racing team’s trophy cabinet.

Josh Brookes: “Firstly, I’d like to make it clear that I’m not taking anyone else’s ride, I’d never do that, but an opportunity has arisen to race at this year’s North West 200 and it’s one I’m very much looking forward to. Every year, I’d have seriously considered doing the roads if the opportunity arose, whether it be the North West 200 or the TT, but it all comes down to finance as there’s a big cost. The MCE Ducati Racing Team had already put the logistics in place so when I was asked if I’d be interested, of course I said yes. It was a while ago since I was there in 2014 and as well as setting a new lap record, I felt I should have won that race, so I think I’ve got as good a chance as anyone lining up on the grid so I’m hopeful of winning some races.”

Brookes will only be contesting the North West 200, there are no plans for him or the MCE Ducati Racing Team to compete at this year’s Isle of Man TT Races as the priority is to win back the BSB title both he and the PBM team last won in 2020.

The Fona Cab and Nicholl Oils 2022 International North West 200 commences Tuesday 10th May. Details of the event are at www.northwest200.org

Pictures courtesy of Double Red

MCE Ducati Aiming High At Oulton

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 10:20:45 GMT

MCE Ducati riders Josh Brookes and Tom Sykes are hoping for better fortunes when the second round of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads for Oulton Park this bank holiday weekend.

Both riders were disappointed with their results from the opening round at Silverstone and are looking to kick-start their season for Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team at their local track where traditionally the Ducatis have a record of working well.

Valuable data was gained at last week’s official test at the Cheshire track, so confidence is high going into the weekend, especially as Oulton Park is a track with good memories for double BSB champion Brookes and former WSBK champion Sykes.

Bedfordshire-based Aussie Brookes has eight wins to his name around the 2.6920-mile International track as well as a record 21 podiums, two of which came on the team’s last visit in September last year. Brookes also set pole position and was well to the fore at last week’s test so is feeling confident ahead of the three races.

Meanwhile Warwickshire-based Yorkshireman Sykes returns to the track which saw him achieve his first wins in BSB when he romped to a double back in 2008 so will be hoping he can add some serious points to his tally and ignite his challenge for the team’s ninth BSB crown aboard the factory-supported MCE Ducati Panigale V4R.

Josh Brookes: “I’m definitely looking forward to Oulton Park after a really positive test there last week. We have a lot more encouragement moving forwards, especially as we always knew Silverstone would be a difficult round for us. The pace has increased so much this year but the times at the test proved we are in the competitive range. We have some good settings to work with, but the weather could be a factor as is sometimes the case, so we’ll see how we get on. My confidence is good, and we have a decent record around Oulton, so the plan is to continue with those results.”

Tom Sykes: “To say round one was a disappointment is a massive under-statement, so we need to turn things around this weekend at Oulton. I spent a lot of time working on various settings at the recent test, so I wasn’t chasing a lap time like the other riders. Hopefully we now have a set-up to allow us to run at the front as Oulton will suit the MCE Ducati so much better than Silverstone. I have great memories of the place and it’s a fantastic track so hopefully we can get the results we need this weekend.”

Pictures attached courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Battling Bird Overcomes Oschersleben Odds

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 07:25:04 GMT

Cumbrian driver Frank Bird was back in race action this weekend when he contested the opening round of the ADAC GT Masters series held at Oschersleben in Germany.

Driving for the MANN-FILTER Team LANDGRAF organisation, Penrith-born Frank teamed up with 18-year-old Finnish driver Elias Seppanen for the first two races in the seriers in the Mercedes AMG-GT3.

Making his debut at the track, Frank, who was a two-times winner in the 2021 GT World Challenge Europe, sensibly familiarisied himself with the circuit, his new team and the car before gradually climbing the order during practice and qualifying, placing themselves 12th out of the 22 cars.

Sadly, an incident towards the end of qualifying for Saturday’s race meant the team couldn’t get the car ready

for the opening race so a frustrated Frank had to sit that one out whilst hoping for better luck in Sunday’s race two.

But it wasn’t plain sailing as Seppanen was involved in a collision in the early stages of race two which left Frank a more difficult job to do when he took over but despite the setback, he battled through to see the chequered flag in 18th position.

Frank Bird: “I’d never been to the track before and it was my first proper go in the car in a series I’d never raced in before so I didn’t underestimate the challenge. Unfortunately, we had an off in qualifying and couldn’t get out in the first race and then in race two, my teammate got hit by a Porsche and left us to battle back from the middle of the pack. The track was very technical and it was a hard race with a high fuel load and old tyres but I’m pelased to get a finish and look forward to the next round.”

Difficult Day For MCE Ducati At Silverstone

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 09:59:47 GMT

The MCE Ducati pairing of Tom Sykes and Josh Brookes had a challenging day at Silverstone today with Brookes’ 11th place finish their best result in the two Bennetts British Superbike Championship races which comprised the opening round.

With conditions again perfect and following yesterday’s points scoring rides by both riders, the opening 30-lap race around the 1.64-mile National circuit saw Australian double BSB champion Brookes start from 14th on the grid with Sykes one row further back, which meant both riders had plenty of work to do to battle their way through the field on the factory-supported MCE Ducati Panigale V4Rs.

Unfortunately, the race ended early for Yorkshireman Sykes as the former World Superbike champion spectacularly crashed from the action on just the fourth lap, fortunately escaping injury, which left Brookes to fly the flag for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team.

A good start saw him move up to 11th early on but although he dropped back at one stage, Brookes quickly regrouped and, lapping quicker than what he had done the day before, fought his way back up to 11th at the chequered flag for five more hard-earned points.

Brookes again started from the fifth row for the third and final race of the weekend with a battered and bruised Sykes again a row behind. The duo were immediately running inside the points and in the top 15 and by lap six it was Sykes who was the better placed in 12th, one place ahead of his teammate.

But as the race wore on, the duo were unable to move forward and, instead, slipped back through the field, the eventual result at the end of the 30 laps seeing Tom outside the points in 16th and Josh two places behind in 18th.

Josh Brookes: “We came here with high expectations particularly as we took two podiums last year but whilst we’ve been able to match our times from 2021, the pace has obviously moved on. We had a few issues in the last race so can’t really use that as a reference but we need to try a few things at the Oulton Park test next week to try and improve both the grip and the lap times. We tried a few settings this weekend and did make progress but not enough clearly, so we’ve got work to do. The test obviously has more importance now but it’s a circuit I like and suits the Ducati, so we’ll be working hard to get back to where we need to be.”

Tom Sykes: “The results certainly weren’t what we were expecting but it’s a unique circuit and in a lot of places the bike was working really well so I’m not panicking yet. The first race today was far from ideal and left me a bit battered, but the team made a few changes for the final race which helped. I got held up a by another rider and was losing about 0.4s in one sector so by the time I’d got by, the group ahead had gone. We definitely found something with the bike though so, all things considered, a top ten could have been possible so it’s something to take away. We’re playing catch up, but it gives us something to build on so let’s see what Oulton Park has to offer.”

Johnny Mowatt. Team Co-ordinator: “We’ve clearly struggled this weekend and, it has to be said, more than we thought. It’s never been our greatest of tracks, but we didn’t think we’d be out of the points so fair play to the lads at the front, they set a terrific pace all weekend. They’ve moved on whereas we’ve stayed stagnant so it’s back to the drawing board and, hopefully, the Oulton test will show we’re not as far away as we think. We’ll put this one behind us and start again at the next round.”

Round two of the series takes place at Oulton Park on April 30-May 2.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (30 laps)

1 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

2 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +0.079s

3 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki) +0.994s

4 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki) +4.032s

5 Andrew Irwin (BMW) +4.321s

6 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha) +4.979s

11 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati) +11.748s

DNF Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (30 laps)

1 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

2 Bradley Ray (Yamaha) +0.864s

3 Andrew Irwin (BMW) +2.487s

4 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki) +2.550s

5 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha) +2.693s

6 Danny Buchan (BMW) +2.969s

16 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati) +14.388s

18 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati) +17.386s

Championship Standings (after round one)

1 Glenn Irwin 75pts

2 Ryde 46

3 Skinner 42

4 Andrew Irwin 37

5 Ray 36

6 O’Halloran 32

12 Brookes 8

16 Sykes 4

Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Sykes And Brookes Score Solid Points In Opening Race

Sat, 16 Apr 2022 09:59:03 GMT

The MCE Ducati pairing of Tom Sykes and Josh Brookes got their 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship underway at Silverstone this afternoon with the duo taking hard fought 12th and 13th place finishes respectively to get points immediately on the board.

With the competition fiercer than ever, both practice and qualifying was hectic around the 1.64-mile National circuit and although the duo were well on the pace, it was Tom, who was one of 12 riders to lap inside the existing lap record, who had to be content with 12th on the grid with Australian Brookes two places further back in 14th.

Held over 24 laps, Yorkshireman Sykes, who was the 2013 World Superbike champion, held station in the initial stages with 2015 and 2020 BSB champion Brookes dropping back a place to 15th although by lap six both riders started to move forward on their respective factory-supported MCE Ducati Panigale V4Rs.

However, with many of the riders on a similar pace and with overtaking difficult, they were unable to make up further ground with the chequered flag seeing Tom get four points on the board for 12th and Josh take three points for finishing one spot and just 0.083s further back.

Josh Brookes: “It’s been a difficult start to the season, and I’m obviously not pleased with the result, but we made a small change for the race which was possibly the wrong way. We’d been improving steadily in practice and qualifying so the change, although not big, wasn’t helpful either and when I caught Tom it got quite difficult. Although we’re on the same bike, we’ve got different styles of riding and I didn’t want to do anything desperate trying to get by him so consolidated the position. It’s a bitter pill to swallow but it’s only race one, so we won’t get too downhearted.”

Tom Sykes: “Today has been a bit of a mixed bag to be honest. It was good to get the first race out of the way and get some points on the board but frustrating not to be closer to the sharp end. I made a good start and made some passes on the brakes with the bike turning really well but we’re suffering when we open the throttle as we haven’t got the traction we need. Many aspects of the bike are in the ballpark and it’s just that one area that’s holding us back this weekend so there’s a bit of work to do in that respect. I’ve got a good feeling with the bike though and there’s a great team spirit, so we’ll look to move forward tomorrow.”

Johnny Mowatt. Team Co-ordinator: “The results today, both in qualifying and in the race, highlight the difficulties we have at this circuit, and we need to make a few changes for tomorrow to get both riders further up the field. To be fair, in sectors one, two and three we can hold our own but in sector four, both riders are struggling to get the bike to work under acceleration. We had a decent run last year but haven’t been able to replicate that so far and although we’ve gone quicker, the rest of the field have gone that bit quicker still so there’s work to be done.”

Tomorrow will see the two 30-lap races get underway at 13.30 and 16.30.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (24 laps)

1 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

2 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +0.139s

3 Bradley Ray (Yamaha) +0.327s

4 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki) +2.019s

5 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha) +3.533s

6 Andrew Irwin (BMW) +5.436s

12 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati) +13.066s

13 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati) +13.149s

Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

MCE Ducati All Set For Silverstone

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 08:16:51 GMT

The 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season kicks off this Easter weekend at Silverstone with eight times champions MCE Ducati raring to go in a bid to win back their crown.

Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team won back-to-back titles in 2019 with Scott Redding and then again in 2020 with Josh Brookes but lost out last year so with Brookes back for a fourth term with the team, the Australian is back to try for his third crown.

Joining him is 2013 World Superbike Champion Tom Sykes who returns to the UK following a 13-year stint in WSBK. The chirpy Yorkshireman re-joins the team for whom he has ridden twice before, this time aboard a factory-supported MCE Ducati Panigale V4R.

Both Brookes and Sykes have undertaken a rigorous pre-season testing programme which saw both of them under the existing lap record at Snetterton recently and arriving at Silverstone for the first of the 11-round series, both riders are feeling confident of a good result.

Josh Brookes: “I’m eager to get the season started and looking forward to the first round. We’ve made significant progress in the tests, but Silverstone is the type of track which may not highlight that work. However, after the difficulties I had last year, this was one of my better tracks so I’m highly optimistic. Of course, everyone wants to win but the plan is to come away with some good points and keep out of trouble so let’s see what happens.”

Tom Sykes: “It feels like it’s been a long time coming but we’re all sorted and ready for round one. We have spun some good laps in the tests, and we have a setup which I’m very happy with. We just need to make a few tweaks as the weather at the Silverstone test wasn’t great, so we have a few things up our sleeve to try still. The weather is looking good for the weekend, so the plan is to get some solid points on the board.”

John Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “Both Josh and Tom have worked hard during testing and as a result, we are in a good position ahead of the opening round. Silverstone is a tough track for the MCE Ducati, but we are confident that we have what it takes to mount a serious title bid from the off. Hopefully, the weather is looking good, and we can get three solid races in for each rider to get our season started in style.”

The opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship commences on Good Friday with a race Saturday and two on Easter Sunday.

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

MCE Ducati Conclude Testing In Positive Mood

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 20:22:41 GMT

Eight times champions, the MCE Ducati British Superbike Championship Team completed their preparation for the upcoming 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship with a successful final test at Silverstone this week.

With last Thursday’s planned outing at Donington Park eventually aborted due to the bad weather, hopes were higher for both Josh Brookes and Tom Sykes to get some good laps in aboard the Lake District team’s factory supported PBM Ducati Panigale V4Rs.

However, cool temperatures interspersed with rain showers once again affected their progress over the two days and didn’t allow as much track time as they would have liked leaving Australian double BSB champion Brookes in 14th place and Yorkshireman Sykes, who won the World Superbike Championship in 2013, down in 19th overall.

Brookes was consistently inside the top six for most of the sessions with Sykes returning to a track he’s not raced on for many years, gathering important data in readiness for next weekend’s opening round at Silverstone which gets underway on Good Friday.

Josh Brookes: “It was a fairly productive test despite the weather being difficult with rain and gusty winds at times. But it’s been the same for everyone and from our side, we’ve done a lot of work with various settings and combinations. Silverstone has always been tricky for our bike, but last year, Silverstone was a good round for us. We’ve struggled in the last sector of the track in the past so that’s an area we’ve concentrated on this week and now the bike is working as good as it ever has. So everything is positive going into the race weekend over Easter, it’s just a case of seeing what the weather will do but I’m ready to rock.”

Tom Sykes: “I came here in good spirits after a positive test at Snetterton and found how the Ducati works so came here excited to continue that work. The start of yesterday didn’t go to plan, but I was going about my business and finding where the bike was working and where we needed to improve. The guys have made some small tweaks to the bike with the information since Snetterton, so everything is definitely heading in the right direction. The cold temperatures and really gusty wind meant I didn’t take the best from the bike or myself today but found some more information in preparation for next week.”

John Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “Traditionally, Silverstone isn’t our best track, but we knew which areas we needed to improve on, and we are confident that we now have what we need to be competitive next weekend. Josh chipped away in all the sessions and was only a fraction off the lap record whereas Tom, despite a slip off, methodically worked his way through lots of stuff to get a good load of data which will be important come the races. We will go back to the workshop and analyse the information and we fully expect to come out of the blocks fighting as it’s our intention to win back the title we lost after two years last season.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Silverstone, Official Test, combined times:

1. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 53.627s

2. Rory Skinner (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +0.103s

3. Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.168s

4. Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.172s

5. Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +0.202s

14. Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati) +0.656s
19. Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati) +0.802s

The opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Silverstone over the Easter weekend of 15/17 April.

Pictures courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Sykes And Brookes On Record Pace At Snetterton Test

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 09:25:16 GMT

The MCE Ducati British Superbike Championship Team successfully concluded the three-day official test in great conditions at Snetterton with 2022 riders Tom Sykes and Josh Brookes both inside the top four and bettering the existing lap record.

Yorkshireman Sykes, who won the World Superbike Championship in 2013, was making his debut at the Norfolk track’s 300 configuration and gradually upped the pace for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team to record his best time on Saturday afternoon with a 1:46.643, over half a second inside Shane Byrne’s five-year-old lap record set on a PBM Ducati.

Double BSB champion Brookes was also on lap record pace, topping the second session on Saturday with a best lap of 1:46.686 on the factory-supported MCE Ducati V4R, to put the Australian in fourth overall at the conclusion of today’s sessions, two of which both PBM riders sat out.

Tom Sykes: “Day three at Snetterton saw the weather start out a bit tricky so we missed the first session this morning, but we’d only planned on doing one anyway today. We used it just to try a few things and understand the package a little bit more, but overall, it has been a really positive three-day test. We got lucky with the weather, everything seems to have gone to plan, and now I understand quite a lot more. Now we need to look where we need to improve and keep working. We have the next test at Donington Park on Thursday but looking at the forecast it doesn’t look like we are going to get as many blessings there, but the season is getting closer and after these three days I definitely feel more prepared. The main thing was to get an understanding on where we need to improve. The Ducati has a lot of strong areas and I know there are areas also to work on and so it has been a positive start at this test in that respect.”

Josh Brookes: “We’ve had a great test at Snetterton, the weather has been unbelievable for the time of year, and we’ve managed to work through some key points. Today was critical to finish the circle of changes. The session we did wasn’t particularly important for the lap time that we could achieve, but more the feeling that I was getting from the bike. Yesterday’s bike I was happy with, we were under the lap record, and I was able to do competitive times, today’s bike was more difficult to ride, so that gives everyone in the team a clear direction of which way to go, and I think moving forward now we can make some good progress. A big thanks to the team and my crew who put a big shift in this weekend, and we are looking forward to seeing what Donington brings us next week.”

John Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “We have had a solid test at Snetterton, and the team and riders have made excellent progress. We had everything dialled in by Saturday evening, but we just wanted to try one more thing which we did today in the one session we competed in. We have a good direction and it’s great to see both riders with smiles on their faces. Josh has some good chassis and engine settings he’s happy with and it’s as if Tom has never been away from the team. He has slotted right in and when you consider it’s his first time on the new track at Snetterton on a bike with different electronics to what he’s used to, he’s done a fantastic job. We will see what the weather is like for Donington on Thursday and hope we can get some more positive testing in there.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, R&G Official Test, Snetterton, combined session result:

1. Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 1m:46.571s

2. Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati) +0.072s

3. Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.098s

4. Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati) +0.115s

5. Rory Skinner (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +0.164s

6. Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW) +0.540s

7. Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) +0.585s

8. Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) +0.743s

9. Danny Kent (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.746s

10. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +0.821s

The opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Silverstone over the Easter weekend of 15/17 April.

Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

Top Five For Bird On North West Stages Debut

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 09:18:14 GMT

Two months after sweeping to victory on the MGJ Engineering Brands Hatch Winter Stages Rally and following a successful ALMS GT campaign in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Cumbrian driver Frank Bird was back in action when he contested the Legend Fires North West Stages Rally and came away with an impressive top five finish.

Making his debut on the event which dad Paul won on three occasions, Frank, from Penrith and Lake District-based co-driver Jack Morton were hoping for another strong showing in the Dom Buckley Motorsport-prepared and Frank Bird Poultry-backed Ford Fiesta Rally2 with assistance from Hager, MCE, Dragon Energy and Vodiac.

The unique event ran over fourteen stages of closed roads around Preston and Garstang and up against the cream of British and indeed World rallying, and with it being the first event of its kind for Frank, he sensibly played himself in and ran inside the top ten for the opening loop of stages held in dry conditions.

Climbing to seventh at first service, the team made some adjustments to the car and the improvements saw the pair climb to fifth following the second loop of stages and continuing to set top four times, by the finish ramp, Frank had climbed to fifth place overall.

Frank Bird: A good day overall on my debut on the Legend Fires North West Stages. The stages were extremely fast and demanding which kept us very much on our toes. We had a little mishap on the first stage with a half spin but then after that made some changes to the car and the pace improved a lot, so I was very happy about that. Big thanks to Jack alongside me who had his work cut out with some stages, but he did a fantastic job and also thanks to the team for the work on the car. P5 at the finish after lying 14th on the first stage was a decent result so a great recovery and I thoroughly enjoyed the day. Thanks to all the organisers for a mega event and finally to all the sponsors and my dad for making it happen.”

Images courtesy of James Ward/ www.chicanemedia.co.uk

Legend Fires North West Stages Rally 2022

Frank Bird - Leipert Motorsport - Announcement

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 22:03:57 GMT

Further to the announcement earlier this week that Cumbrian racing driver Frank Bird would be contesting the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup in 2022 after signing for German team Leipert Motorsport.

After further discussions with the team, and due consideration of all the factors, it has now been decided by Paul Bird Motorsport Ltd (PBM) that Frank will not be joining Leipert Motorsport and is now looking at other options.

Paul Bird, Team Owner, PBM Ltd: “We have decided to pursue other opportunities for this season. Things just didn’t fall into place as we’d hoped and expected and despite some assurances, we feel we cannot commit to this project at this time. It is vitally important we make the correct decisions at this stage of Frank’s career so we will now consider which options to take this season.”

Michael Dunlop To Race PBM Ducati At NW200 And TT

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 15:29:11 GMT

Following on the agreement made in 2020 only for plans to be scuppered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM) is delighted to confirm 19-times TT winner Michael Dunlop will race one of the team’s formidable Ducati Panigale V4 RRs at the 2022 International North West 200 and 2022 Isle of Man TT Races.

The 32-year-old from Ballymoney in County Antrim will see the deal with the eight-times British Superbike champions and multiple NW200 and TT winners eventually come to fruition to race a factory-supported PBM Ducati in both the Superbike and Senior races at this year’s festival.

The last time the TT races ran in 2019, Dunlop won the Lightweight TT to add to his tally as the third most successful rider around the 37.73-mile course. He will race his own machines in the Supersport and Superstock events, but PBM will field the Ulsterman in the two main races as they look to add to their illustrious TT history.

The last time the Penrith-based team contested the Isle of Man TT Races was in 2015 when Ian Hutchinson scored a second in the Superbike TT and a third in the Senior TT as well as winning the Superstock TT race, all aboard PBM Kawasakis, to celebrate the team’s first major foray onto the Isle of Man for 12 years.

That success came after PBM previously contested the event with Ducati in 2003 when John McGuinness took second in the TT Formula 1 race and third in the Senior TT riding the MonsterMob-sponsored bikes.

Prior to that, Joey Dunlop – Michael’s uncle - famously won his last big bike TT for Paul Bird when he took victory in the 2000 TT Formula 1 race onboard a Demon Vimto Honda SP1, just a month before he was tragically killed in a race in Estonia.

PBM and Michael have worked together before when they prepared a Kawasaki ZX-10R for him to win the 2011 Superstock TT. Ducati's current quickest lap at the TT is 128.717mph by Michael Rutter in 2011.

Michael will also race the PBM-prepared Ducati at the 2022 International North West 200 in Northern Ireland during the week commencing Monday 8th May.

John Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “We are delighted to be able to fulfil our promise and commitment to Michael albeit two years later than we had hoped. We are thrilled to be contesting the major road races with Michael onboard the PBM Ducati and are hopeful of adding to both his and our considerable list of successes.”

Podium For Frank Bird In Abu Dhabi

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 15:25:09 GMT

After last weekend’s solid performance in the opening two rounds of the four-race Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS) held at the Dubai Autodrome, Cumbrian driver Frank Bird impressed as he secured a podium in the fourth and final race which took place at the YAS Marina Circuit in neighbouring Abu Dhabi today.

The Penrith starlet was contesting the second pair of four-hour races in the Middle East driving a McLaren 720S in the GT class for the UK-based Garage 59 team along with teammates Alexander West from Sweden and German driver Marvin Kirchhofer.

The #88 team of Bird and his teammates qualified in mid-pack for the first of the weekend’s races but another superb drive by Frank saw them climb the leaderboard to end up in twelfth place at the chequered flag.

However, they saved the best until last and with Bird once again impressing in his stint, whereby from twelfth on the grid, he had the car up to second at one point, but in the end, had to settle for third place to record the debut podium in a McLaren for the Garage 59 squad.

After the four-round series, Frank claimed an impressive sixth place overall in the GT drivers’ class.

Frank Bird: ‘That’s the Asian Le Mans series done. We finally got the podium we had been chasing in that last race and it’s been a great two weeks out here in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We made some great steps with the car, especially as this was the team’s first event in a McLaren, and to get a podium in the final race made it even better. It was a great experience to do this championship so thanks to all the mechanics and engineers for their hard work, also to my teammates Marvin and Alex for the brilliant jobs they did. Finally, thanks to the sponsors and my dad for making this happen.”

For further information please visit www.asianlemansseries.com and www.garage59.co.uk

Top Five For Impressive Bird In Dubai

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 09:51:43 GMT

Cumbrian driver Frank Bird kicked off his 2022 circuit racing season is style with a superb performance at the opening two rounds of the Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS) held at the Dubai Autodrome over the weekend.

The 22-year-old from Penrith was contesting the pair of four-hour races in the United Arab Emirates driving a McLaren 720S in the GT class for the UK-based Garage 59 team along with teammates Alexander West from Sweden and German driver Marvin Kirchhofer as part of a 23-car field in the GT class and 36 cars in total.

Having qualified for Saturday’s opening race in fifth position, Bird and his team were able to drive into darkness to maintain their position to the flag and in doing so, gained valuable time in the McLaren in readiness for Sunday’s race.

Despite starting further down the grid for the second of the four-hour encounters, Frank and the rest of the #88 team battled through the field before a full course yellow (FCY) halted their progress and as a result, had to settle for a top eight position at the chequered flag.

The third and fourth rounds of the ALMS takes place this forthcoming weekend at the YAS Marina Circuit in neighbouring Abu Dhabi where Frank and the team hope to build on a solid opening weekend.

Frank Bird: ‘I’m very happy to make a solid start to the Asian Le Mans Series with a fifth and eighth place finish in

the two races. Both races went to plan really apart from being unlucky in the second race with the timing of a full course yellow where we lost some time. But overall, I’m delighted with the weekend, and we showed great pace in both races. This weekend was always about learning the car and new team then to see where we are at for next weekend’s two races in Abu Dhabi. Thanks to the team, our sponsors, and my teammates for a doing a brilliant job and I’m looking forward to the next two races.”

For further information please visit www.asianlemansseries.com , www.garage59.co.uk

Frank Bird Heads For Sol Rally Barbados 2022

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 09:04:25 GMT

Rising British star Frank Bird will this year realise his long-held ambition to compete in Sol Rally Barbados this June, the event won twice in a Ford Focus WRC07 by his father Paul.

Having started the season with victory in the MGJ Engineering Brands Hatch Winter Stages Rally earlier this month, the team confirmed that Penrith-born Bird and Cumbrian-based co-driver Jack Morton, who sat with Paul Bird when he finished third in Sol RB18, will enter the FIA R5 class in a Frank Bird Poultry-sponsored and Dom Buckley Motorsport-prepared Ford Fiesta Rally2 with assistance from Hager, Fuchs Titan Oils and Aico.

Bird is looking forward to his first chance to compete in Barbados, having twice missed the opportunity in recent years because of clashes with his racing programme, but for 2022, there are no planned clashes so the Cumbrian is free to make his debut on the event.

Frank Bird: “The first time I was there, I was just 10 years old. It was great going out doing pace notes and the recce. And finally, I get my chance to drive, and I can’t wait. I just wish we could have taken the Focus, that is such a special car and I know how popular it is out there.”

Former National Rally champion Paul Bird is comfortably the most successful of the Caribbean event’s international visitors, with only one DNF in his nine visits between 2008 and 2018. After four podium finishes, he finally won in 2012 and repeated the feat again in 2013 and latterly he scored another pair of podiums, the last one coming in 2018.

Sol Rally Barbados which takes place on June 4/5th 2022 is a tarmac rally, with around twenty special stages run on the island’s intricate network of public roads, under road closure orders granted by the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Maintenance. The previous Sunday’s King of the Hill ‘shakedown’, run under a similar arrangement, features four timed runs on a four-kilometre stage, the results of which are used to seed the running order for the main event.

Sol Rally Barbados and King of the Hill are organised by the Barbados Rally Club, which celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2022; Sol RB22 marks the 15th year of title sponsorship by the Sol Group, the Caribbean’s largest independent oil company.

For further media information: e-mail - robin@bradfax.com or www.rallybarbados.net and www.barbadosrallyclub.com .

Bird Kicks Off 2022 In Style With Brands Hatch Victory

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 09:04:02 GMT

Cumbrian driver Frank Bird continued where he left off last month by once again dominating the latest round of the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship with MSVR which took place with the MGJ Engineering Brands Hatch Winter Stages Rally yesterday.

The event formed the fourth qualifying round of the series and following his victory on the opening round at Oulton Park in November and round three at Donington Park last month, 22-year-old Frank, from Penrith, along with Lake District-based co-driver Jack Morton once again weren’t headed and took the win by over a minute.

In the Dom Buckley Motorsport-prepared and Frank Bird Poultry-backed Ford Fiesta Rally2 with assistance from Hager, Fuchs Titan Oils and Aico, despite a misty and icy start, the pair led from the off and comfortably won all eight stages around various roads at the famous Kent venue.

In doing so, Bird retained his MGJ Engineering Brands Hatch Winter Stages Rally crown after victory on the event last time it

was run in 2020 and along with Hexham-born Morton, the pair's winning tally now stands at fourteen outright victories and three MSN rounds in a row.

Frank Bird: “What a fantastic way to start the year. I spent most of the morning blowing the cobwebs off as I’ve not driven in over a month but once we got into the groove, it all came together, and I felt comfortable in the car. It was very slippery all day, so I didn’t take too many risks and came out with the win. The car never missed a beat and as ever, thanks to Jack on the maps, the whole team headed by Neil Buckley and of course my dad and our loyal sponsors.”

Results – The MGJ Engineering Brands Hatch Winter Stages Rally

Frank Bird/Jack Morton (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
John Stone/Tom Woodburn (VW Polo R5) +1 min 17 secs
Neil Roskell/Andrew Roughead (Ford Fiesta R5) +1:22
John Griffiths/Tom Rogers (Ford Fiesta R5) +1:46
Andy Scott/ Laura Connell (Ford Fiesta) +1:48
Joshua Davey/Tamsyn Davey (Darrian T90) +2.26

Images courtesy of Russ Otway and SMJ Photography.

Bird Crushes Opposition To Win Dukeries Rally

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 08:45:27 GMT

Cumbrian driver Frank Bird was in scintillating form once again as he romped to his third outright rally win in as many months by dominating today’s MAXUS Dukeries Rally at Donington Park.

The event formed the third qualifying round of the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship with MSVR and following his victory on the opening round at Oulton Park last month, 22-year-old Frank, from Penrith, along with Lake District-based co-driver Jack Morton decimated the opposition to win by over two and a half minutes.

In the Dom Buckley Motorsport-prepared and Frank Bird Poultry-backed Ford Fiesta Rally2 with assistance from Hager, Fuchs Titan Oils, Aico and Yuasa, the pair led from the start and comfortably won all six stages around various roads of the Leicestershire racetrack in changeable conditions.

In doing so, Bird retained his Dukeries Rally title which he won in 2019 on his rally debut with Hexham-born Morton and in between, the pair have taken thirteen outright victories and currently hold second place in the series, despite missing the previous round at Cadwell Park when they were on World Rally Championship duty in Italy.

Frank Bird: “Apart from it being quite slippery, we had no problems. The car ran like a dream and once we set the marker down on the opening stage, it was just a case of controlling things. The car was faultless so thanks as ever to the team, Jack on the notes, and my dad and our loyal sponsors for making it happen. It’s good to have won two rounds of the series but I’m not sure what other rounds I can do due to my racing commitments, so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Results – The MAXUS Dukeries Rally, Donington Park

Frank Bird/Jack Morton (Ford Fiesta Rally2) 53 mins 55 secs
Neil Roskell/Andrew Roughead (Ford Fiesta R5) +2:37
Barry Morris/Tom Hutchings (Darrian T90 GTR) +2:39
Ollie O’Donovan/Ashleigh Morris (Hyundai R5) +2.49
Alistair Inglis/Colin Inglis (Ford Fiesta R5) +2.54
Robert Hughes/Sion Cunniff (Ford Fiesta R5) +2.58

Images courtesy of Kevin Money Photography.

Disappointed Bird Makes His Mark At Monza

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 13:40:38 GMT

Cumbrian driver Frank Bird’s hopes of an impressive result on his World Rally Championship debut were dashed on the penultimate stage of the second day of the FORUM8 ACI Rally Monza when suspension damage forced him out.

Along with Lake District-based co-driver Jack Morton, Bird, from Penrith, was contesting the final round of the 2021 FIA World Rally Championship in the WRC3 class on the Italian event in the Dom Buckley Motorsport-prepared and Frank Bird Poultry-backed Ford Fiesta Rally2 with assistance from Hager, Fuchs Titan Oils, Aico and Yuasa.

26th fastest out of the eighty crews on Thursday’s Shakedown stage, Bird continued his great start on Friday with a string of top thirty placings on the opening seven stages of the Alpine closed roads around Bergamo as well as at the legendary Autodromo Nazionale de Monza race circuit near Milan.

The pair held 27th place overall and ninth in the WRC3 class overnight before Saturday’s loop took in another six stages in the north of the country and once again, they were holding their own whilst gaining experience at the very highest level and consolidating their position when they tackled the 12th stage around the Monza race track late in the afternoon.

Sadly, they clipped a concrete block after braking for a chicane, which damaged the suspension and the resulting investigation in the service area revealed some structural damage to the chassis and meant they couldn’t continue for the final three stages on Sunday.

Frank Bird: “It was a tough end to the rally for us as a small mistake had huge consequences. It would have been great to finish the rally, but these things happen, it was definitely an eye-opening experience, but I learnt a hell of a lot. My pace was getting quicker and quicker the more I settled in, and I loved every second of it. Thanks to the team, my dad, and our loyal sponsors for this wonderful opportunity, and I’m sorry we never made it to the end. Hopefully, we’ll be able to contest another WRC event in the future.”

Frank Bird To Make World Rally Championship Debut

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 17:18:58 GMT

Cumbrian driver Frank Bird is heading for Italy where he will make his World Rally Championship debut in this forthcoming weekend’s FORUM8 ACI Rally Monza which hosts the spectacular finale to the 2021 FIA World Rally Championship.

The asphalt event will take place from Thursday to Sunday and will be based at the famous Autodromo Nazionale de Monza race circuit near Milan, in the north of the country, where it will form the 12th and final round of the year.

22-year-old Bird from Penrith, along with Maryport-based co-driver Jack Morton will contest the WRC3 class on the event in the Dom Buckley Motorsport-prepared and Frank Bird Poultry-backed Ford Fiesta Rally2 with assistance from Hager, Fuchs Titan Oils, Aico and Yuasa, in which they have won their last two rallies in the UK.

Frank is no stranger to Monza having raced there earlier this season in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup when he powered the Team WRT Audi R8 LMS to a fine fourth position in the Silver Cup class.

Having begun in 1978, the rally will include stages at the ‘Temple of Speed’ circuit featuring famous Monza corners such as Michele Alboreto, Lesmo and Curva Grande. There will also be a number of demanding closed public road stages in the Bergamo Alpine mountains to the north of the circuit with the event totalling 16 Special Stages and featuring 82 crews.

Frank Bird: “I’m excited to be making my debut in the World Rally Championship and where better than a rally based at the wonderful and historic Monza circuit. It’s going to be a massive challenge all round with the format of the event and things like a recce and making pacenotes, but it’s all part of the fun. We’ve had a couple of good results in the UK recently so I’m grateful to my team, my dad, and our sponsors for giving me this opportunity to compete against the world’s best rally drivers.”

Pictures courtesy of Russ Otway Photography and James Ward, www.chicanemedia.co.uk .

Bird Rockets To Oulton Park Victory

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 12:34:43 GMT

Just two weeks after conquering the fast roads of the Otterburn military ranges, Cumbrian rally driver Frank Bird was back in rally action this weekend where he rocketed to another comprehensive victory on the Neil Howard Memorial Stages Rally, sponsored by Graham Coffey & Co. Solicitors, at Oulton Park in Cheshire.

The 22 year old caused fireworks of his own making by sweeping aside the opposition on the opening round of the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship with MSVR with ease to take maximum points in his quest for the title.

Frank, from Penrith, along with Lake District-based co-driver Jack Morton were having only their second outing in the Dom Buckley Motorsport-prepared and Frank Bird Poultry-backed Ford Fiesta Rally2 with assistance from Hager, Fuchs Titan Oils, Aico and Yuasa, as the pair took on the established stars of the series whilst leading from start to finish once again.

Quickest on the opening stage by six seconds, the pair steadily built their lead throughout the eight stages to emerge victorious by over a minute at the finish after setting fastest time on all stages.

Frank has done very little rallying this year due to his commitments in the Fanatec GT World Cup Europe Sprint and Endurance Championships at the wheel of the Team WRT Audi R8 LMS and this was only the second time competing in an asphalt rally since May, whereby he has won both of them.

Frank Bird: “We had a good run with no problems to report at all. I was using the Michelin tyres as stipulated by the championship for the first time, so they were new to me, but the car ran faultlessly, and Jack as ever did a great job on the notes. I can’t do all the rounds of the series so it’s important to get maximum points in the ones we do so this is a great start. Thanks to the team, our sponsors and of course my dad for these opportunities.”

Results – Neil Howard Memorial Stages Rally, Oulton Park

Frank Bird/Jack Morton (Ford Fiesta Rally2) 50 mins 47 secs
Joe Cunningham/Josh Beer (Ford Fiesta) +1:06
Neil Roskell/Shaun Layland (Ford Fiesta R5) +1:40
Barry Morris/Marc Fowler (Darrian T90 GTR) +2:45
Darrell Taylor/Dylan Thomas (Ford Fiesta Rally2) +3:08
Graham Coffey/Matt Daniels (Ford Fiesta S2000T) +3:12

Pictures courtesy of James Ward, Chicane Media Photography ( www.chicanemedia.co.uk )

Bird Conquers Otterburn To Win Cheviot Rally

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 17:34:05 GMT

Cumbrian driver Frank Bird was back in rally action this weekend where he once again took on some of the best drivers in the country as he swept to victory on the Ford Parts Cheviot Stages Rally.

Utilising the sealed roads of the Otterburn military range in Northumberland and comprising the final round of the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship, the 22-year-old from Penrith led from start to finish to emerge over half a minute clear of his nearest rival after 60 miles of stages.

Frank has done very little rallying this year due to his commitments in the Fanatec GT World Cup Europe Sprint and Endurance Championships at the wheel of the Team WRT Audi R8 LMS and this was the first time competing in an asphalt rally since May.

Along with Lake District-based co-driver Jack Morton, the pair were having their first outing in the recently acquired Dom

Buckley Motorsport-prepared and Frank Bird Poultry-backed Ford Fiesta Rally2 as the pair took on the sport’s established stars whilst leading from start to finish.

The opening stage saw Bird quickest by three seconds whereby he maintained the lead after SS2 despite dropping time and the advantage was increased on the next two stages to hold a 17 second lead after four stages.

The pair continued to build their advantage and after eight stages, it stood at 22 seconds and just for good measure, Bird was quickest on the remaining four tests to emerge victorious by 31 seconds over Scottish crew Gordon Morrison and co-driver Hannah McKillop (Ford Fiesta R5) who were two seconds ahead of Jason Pritchard/Phil Clarke (Ford Focus WRC).

Frank Bird: “I’d have been happy with a podium all things considered so I’m a little bit surprised to take the win, especially given the quality of the opposition. It was our first time out in the car, and it ran faultlessly so thanks to the team for another great job. The only problem we had was a half spin on SS7 where we dropped around ten seconds on a chicane but apart from that, we had a great run. Thanks to Jack for a great job on the notes and of course my dad and our sponsors. It was good to be back out again in the rally car and look forward to our next event at Oulton Park next month.”

Results – Ford Parts Cheviot Stages Rally, Otterburn

Frank Bird/Jack Morton (Ford Fiesta Rally2) 52 mins 38 secs
Gordon Morrison/ Hannah McKillop (Ford Fiesta R5) + 31 seconds
Jason Pritchard/Phil Clarke (Ford Focus WRC) + 33 seconds
Neil Roskell/John Cope (Ford Fiesta R5) + 44 seconds
John Stone/Tom Woodburn (VW Polo GTI R5) + 1 min 14 secs
Stephen Simpson/Patrick Walsh (Ford Fiesta R5) + 2 mins 16 secs
Kevin Procter/Peter Gibson (Ford Fiesta) + 2 mins 37 secs
Joe Cunningham/Josh Beer (Ford Fiesta) + 2 mins 40 secs
Mark McCulloch/Michael Hendry (Ford Escort Mk2) + 2 mins 41 secs
Richard Clews/Carl Williamson (Subaru Impreza STI) + 2 mins 28 secs

Pictures attached copyright free, courtesy of James Ward, Chicane Media Photography ( www.chicanemedia.co.uk )

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

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 21:39:12 GMT

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).

Brands Podium Keeps Iddon’s Title Hopes Alive

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 11:04:24 GMT

A fighting third place in today’s opening race of the final round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch saw VisionTrack Ducati rider Christian Iddon keep his hopes of landing the 2021 title well and truly alive.

A front row start secured in difficult damp conditions during qualifying gave Iddon a great chance in this afternoon’s BikeSocial sprint race over 16 laps by which time conditions had dried up at the Kent track.

Aboard the factory-supported VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4 RR, the Tyneside-based rider made a great start to lead for the opening laps before a safety car intervention closed the field up.

Upon the green flag to recommence the race, Iddon continued to lead but it wasn’t long before he had to succumb to the advances of title rivals Tarran Mackenzie and Tommy Bridewell.

Circulating in a safe third place, Iddon couldn’t get back on terms with the pair in front and had to settle for third place to record his 14th podium of the season. In doing so, he maintained his third place in the standings and now lies 24 points off leader Mackenzie with tomorrow’s two races of 20 laps each set to determine the outcome of the series.

With 50 points up for grabs still, if Iddon can land the crown, it would be a third successive year that Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team has been declared champions making it a record-breaking nine BSB titles in total.

Sadly, for outgoing champion Josh Brookes, he couldn’t take points off Iddon’s main rivals and finished in seventh place. The Bedfordshire-based Aussie qualified the VisionTrack Ducati in 12th place on the grid and although he made good progress in the early part of the race, he had to settle for a top seven placing so couldn’t add to his impressive record at Brands Hatch which has seen him win 19 times in the past.

Iddon, who won at Brands Hatch earlier this year, will start tomorrow’s opening race from the front row with Brookes, who celebrated his 300th BSB start in today’s race, again on row four prior to the 33rd and final race of the season later in the afternoon.

Christian Iddon: “The race started off perfectly with a great start and I felt more than comfortable setting the pace at the head of the field. Just like a previous race though, when the safety car came out, the tyres cooled down and when racing got underway again, the grip levels had dropped off considerably. The tyres never came back to me after that, and I didn’t have the pace to go with Tarran and Tommy. It’s frustrating as I need to win races this weekend, but the gap is still only 24 points and I’ll come out swinging tomorrow.”

Josh Brookes: “It was a difficult race and although the qualifying position wasn’t great, I won’t use that as an excuse as I’ve come through from lowly grid positions before. I made quite a poor start but settled into a nice rhythm only for the safety car to come out and when racing resumed, I got pushed back a few places. I made a couple of places back, but I just didn’t have the strong enough lap times to move forward. I tried to as hard as ever to do what was needed but I couldn’t do that. We get two more bites tomorrow so let’s try and end as positively as we can.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “Christian pulled a real good lap out of the bag in qualifying and you could see with all the sliding that he was using his Supermoto experience to the full! He really took the fight to Tarran and Tommy in the race but was just lacking two or three tenths in the final few laps to take it all the way. He’s still in there fighting so hopefully Josh can get involved tomorrow. He was hindered today with his qualifying position and when you’re that far back, whilst you can make up some places, it’s hard to make it to the front. You get stuck with the group you’re with which is what happened, but he’ll be keen to get back at the sharp end tomorrow and help the team to finish as strong as possible.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship BikeSocial race one (16 laps)

1 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

3 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

4 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

5 Peter Hickman (BMW)

6 Andrew Irwin (BMW)

7 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

Championship Points

1 T Mackenzie 1152

2 J O’Halloran 1130

3 C Iddon 1128

4 T Bridewell 1126

5 P Hickman 1070

6 D Buchan 1066

7 J Brookes 1056

8 G Irwin 1048

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

Iddon And Brookes Head For Title Decider At Brands Hatch

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 08:16:24 GMT

The final round of the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads for Brands Hatch this week with VisionTrack Ducati rider Christian Iddon still very much in with a shout of the title.

After a brilliant triple podium performance at Donington Park last weekend, Iddon has moved to within 15 points of the series leader Tarran Mackenzie to arrive at the final round as one of four riders realistically in contention.

The Tyneside-based rider won at Brands Hatch earlier in the year so is feeling confident ahead of the triple-race finale where if he wins, it will be a third straight Bennetts BSB crown for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team after the successes of Scott Redding in 2019 and Josh Brookes last year.

Iddon, who finished third in last year’s title race in his debut season for PBM, has scored a podium at each of the past three rounds so is one of the form riders coming into the season finale where 75 points are up for grabs over the weekend’s three races.

Teammate Josh Brookes will be handing over the crown he won last year as he can no longer retain it after a disappointing season. The recently-married 38-year-old Aussie couldn’t maintain his recent good form and after a disappointing weekend at Donington Park, is now 80 points adrift of the series lead.

But Bedfordshire-based Brookes will be aiming to end the season in style as he celebrates his 300th start in BSB at a track where he has enjoyed much success in the past including winning 19 races at the Kent track over the years.

Christian Iddon: “It’s hard to believe we are at the final round already; it’s come around really quickly. We are in a good position just 15 points off the lead and after outscoring our rivals in the past few races, that’s what I need to do again this weekend. I’m fully aware of what I have to do, and I need to get a really strong result in Saturday’s race to take the fight to my rivals on Sunday. Brands is a track I seem to go well at, and the Ducati works well around there. There are lots of things that can happen, but I’ll just do my best to control what I can and see what happens come Sunday night.”

Josh Brookes: “After the disappointment at Donington, things can only improve for Brands. We can only hope to finish the season on a high, but it’s been tough to get the results we’ve been looking for all season. I know this weekend won’t be any easier. We had a good feeling with the bike there earlier in the year and I love the place so a combination of those factors could mean we have a good chance. It would be great to end the season well and we’ll have a better idea after we get started. The weather may also play a part as it’s that time of year so I’m feeling pretty positive.”

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

Podium For Bird In Barcelona

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 22:09:35 GMT

Penrith driver Frank Bird rounded off a fantastic season in great style when he scored a podium finish in today’s fifth and final round of the Fanatec GT World Cup Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup in Barcelona.

The 22-year-old Cumbrian along with Japanese teammate Ryuichiro Tomita and Danish driver Valdemar Eriksen overcame a clash with some other drivers early on in the three-hour race followed by a slow puncture to bring the Team WRT Audi R8 LMS home in second place in the Silver Cup.

The result meant Bird finished fifth in the standings but importantly, it helped the Belgian team to second place overall in the Team’s Silver Cup to round off a very successful season.

Frank Bird: “It was a mega race for the last race of the season. I had a good start, but I was hit by several cars, then had a slow puncture in the rear left, it was a difficult stint for me, but then Valdemar and Ryu did a great job and kept P2. It’s the best reward for all the hard work throughout the season, thank you to the entire team and our sponsors.”

Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS - Endurance Cup Round 5

Barcelona 3 Hours, 8-10 October 2021

Race Result

Bird-Eriksen-Tomita (Audi R8 LMS) 2nd Silver Cup

For further info, please contact Vincent Vosse vincent.vosse@w-racingteam.com or

Daria Marina (Media) daria.marina@w-racingteam.com . Mob: +41 76 405 90 52

Frank Bird Goes In Search Of Barcelona Podium

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 07:18:29 GMT

The Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS comes to an end this weekend with the fifth and final round of the Endurance Cup at Barcelona where Cumbrian driver Frank Bird will be in action.

22-year-old Frank, from Penrith, will again be at the wheel of the Team WRT Audi R8 LMS in which he’ll partner Japanese ace Ryuichiro Tomita and Danish driver Valdemar Eriksen.

Despite success in the Sprint Cup, the team will be battling for honours in the Silver Cup class of the Endurance Cup where they go in search of their first podium.

At Monza in the opening round, they finished in a fine fourth place before damage ruled them out of the Paul Ricard race. A battling seventh place at the tough 24 Hours of Spa was followed by a sixth-place last time out at Nürburgring.

Bird and his teammates occupy fourth in the Silver Cup standings, just four points off second place, so the trio hope a podium is on the cards in this weekend’s three-hour race to elevate themselves up the order.

Frank Bird: “I can’t believe it’s the final round of the season already. The last round we had in Valencia for the Sprint Cup proved to be a tough one for the whole team, so we are looking to bounce right back in Barcelona. I have never been there in a GT car so it will be a bit new but I’m looking forward to the challenge and finish the season on a good note.”

Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS - Endurance Cup Round 5

Barcelona, Spain – 8-10 October 2021

Timetable (CET)

Friday 8 October 2021

09:00-10:00 Test session 1

13:10-14:10 Test session 2

17:00-18:00 Bronze test (bronze drivers only)

Saturday 9 October 2021

09:00-10:30 Free Practice

13:40-15:10 Pre-qualifying

18:20-19:20 Fanatec Esports GT Pro-Series Race

Sunday 10 October 2021

09:00-09:15 Qualifying 1

09:22-09:37 Qualifying 2

09:45-10:00 Qualifying 3

15:00-18:00 Race (3 Hours)

For further info, please contact Vincent Vosse vincent.vosse@w-racingteam.com or

Daria Marina (Media) daria.marina@w-racingteam.com . Mob: +41 76 405 90 52

Triple Podium Success At Donington For Title-Hunter Iddon

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 22:47:58 GMT

VisionTrack Ducati rider Christian Iddon thrust himself firmly into contention for the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike Championship crown following a superb hat-trick of podiums at Donington Park this weekend.

After a superb third place in yesterday’s wet race at the penultimate round of the series, Iddon followed that up with another third place in today’s opening race held in dry conditions before producing his best result of the weekend with a scintillating ride into second place in the wet third race of the weekend.

The result is that with just one round and three races remaining, Iddon has moved up to third place in the standings but importantly, has reduced the gap to the leader to just 15 points ahead of the final round in two weeks’ time at Brands Hatch.

However, it was another tough day though for teammate Josh Brookes with just an 11th place finish to his name meaning he can no longer retain the title he won twelve months ago.

After the difficult conditions of yesterday, the weather was thankfully dry and sunny, albeit still cool for today’s first race, with the opening race seeing Josh and Christian line up in third and fourth on the grid respectively.

Both riders made good starts with Tyneside-based Iddon slotting into fourth and Bedfordshire-based Brookes holding station in fourth aboard their respective factory-backed VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4RRs.

By half race distance, Iddon had made his way up to second place, but Brookes struggled with a technical issue and dropped down the order and at the flag, Iddon secured third place with Aussie Brookes a disappointing 11th.

Iddon had the better starting position for the third and final race of the weekend, starting on the second row with Josh a further row back but after a heavy rain shower, conditions were again tricky with the race cut down to 15 laps.

An excellent start saw Iddon slot into second place behind Saturday’s race winner Gino Rea, but he was soon flying the flag single handedly for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team after Brookes crashed out at Craner Curves, fortunately without injury.

As the race wore on, Iddon and Rea were comfortably the quickest two riders on track but in the closing stages the Suzuki rider was able to up his pace and take the win. However, Christian took an excellent second and with series leader Tarran Mackenzie retiring early, he closed to within 15 points of his Yamaha rival with all to play for at the final round.

Christian Iddon: “It’s been a good day and with second and third place finishes today, it’s been fantastic for the championship. I went with the hard tyre for the first race as I wasn’t sure if the softer tyre would last but the wind was really strong, and it was a tough race. Conditions were again tricky in the final race, and it was very similar to how it went on Saturday with Gino setting a good pace. I sat behind him and we were quite a bit quicker than the rest of the field. A win was on my mind, but he was really committed in the final two laps so fair play to him. With three podiums this weekend, it’s been superb for our title aspirations and we’re well and truly in the mix heading into the final round.”

Josh Brookes: “I’m lost for words to be honest with how today has gone and we’re still struggling with the issues that have blighted us all year. If I ride at the level that’s comfortable, I finish outside the top ten and if I ride with where I think the bike should be, I crash. On the odd occasion this season, I’ve been able to get away with it and get some sort of acceptable results and the small improvements have masked over the fundamental problems. It’s been a tough day.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s been another good day for Christian and with three podiums from three races, he’s done a good job this weekend. We erred on the side of caution in the first race today and went with the harder tyre, but he had a decent set up in both the wet and dry and it’s very much game on in the championship. Josh suffered with a lack of grip again today and unfortunately, he’s now out of the title race after his two crashes this weekend. He has a lot of pride though so will be determined to finish his season strongly at Brands and he could yet have a big part to play in the championship. We’ll go to Brands as a team and work as a team to get the best results possible. There’s been plenty of twists and plenty of drama this weekend so I’m expecting the final round to be the same!”

The final round takes place at Brands Hatch on October 15-17.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (20 laps)

1 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

2 Danny Buchan (BMW)

3 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

4 Gino Rea (Suzuki)

5 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

6 Kyle Ryde (BMW)

11 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (15 laps)

1 Gino Rea (Suzuki)

2 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

3 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

4 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

5 Andrew Irwin (BMW)

6 Ryan Vickers (Kawasaki)

DNF Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

Championship Points

1 Mackenzie 1127pts

2 O’Halloran 1117

3 Iddon 1112

4 Bridewell 1106

5 Buchan 1061

6 Hickman 1059

7 Brookes 1047

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

Iddon Scores Donington Podium But Brookes Crashes Out

Sat, 02 Oct 2021 22:34:48 GMT

Christian Iddon and the VisionTrack Ducati team did their 2021 Bennetts British Superbike Championship hopes the world of good at Donington Park today with third place in the opening race of the weekend seeing them close to within 26 points of the championship lead.

But the Lake District-based team’s joy was tempered when defending champion Josh Brookes crashed out of second place on the fourth lap to lose ground to the series leaders with just five races remaining.

The conditions today were vastly different to yesterday’s dry practice sessions, which kickstarted proceedings when Iddon placed an impressive second and Brookes lapped only a couple of tenths slower in eighth, with both qualifying and the race taking place in wet and cold weather.

Indeed, qualifying was extremely difficult for Paul Bird’s Penrith team with both riders crashing out in the early stages. Brookes slid off the VisionTrack Ducati on the opening lap before Tyneside-based Iddon ended the session in 17th after a high speed off at McLeans. However, Josh managed to get back out on track for one flying lap and did a great job to put the factory-backed Ducati Panigale V4 RR in fourth place and on the second row of the grid.

The 16-lap race an hour or so later saw the conditions worsen but both riders started well with Brookes running in fourth place at the completion of the opening lap and Iddon already having moved up to ninth. Josh was soon running in second place but a huge slide at Schwantz Curve fourth time around put him onto the grass and he was unlucky to tip off as he looked to re-join the track.

That left Iddon to fly the flag and he did so brilliantly, continually moving forward and soon putting himself into podium contention. The second half of the race saw him compete for second with Kyle Ryde and Lee Jackson and although third was the eventual outcome, he clawed back valuable points on championship leaders.

Christian Iddon: “Having crashed in qualifying and lining up in 17th on the grid, I didn’t think I’d end up on the podium so it’s a terrific result in terms of both the race and the championship. I didn’t feel like I did anything wrong in qualifying, but conditions were really tricky, and I even had a moment on the out lap before the race! It was scary following people in the race due to the number of moments they were having but the battle with Lee and Kyle took my mind off things and it’s great to have taken the podium. The team deserve massive credit as the bike took a big hit in the qualifying crash and needed a fair amount of repair work, but it ran perfectly.”

Josh Brookes: “It’s been a tough day and to crash out of second place after a good effort in qualifying is a massive downer and I’m gutted for both myself and the team. The only comfort is that I wasn’t alone, and a lot of other riders went down in the treacherous conditions. I’m just frustrated though that I saved the slide and only came off because of being on the wet grass. I can’t dwell on it though and the forecast looks a lot better for tomorrow. I’m P3 on the grid and the bike’s been working well all weekend so let’s see what we can do.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “What a day! Having both riders crash in qualifying was far from ideal and gave the team a fair bit of work in a short space of time but they did a great job, and we were ready to go again in the race. Conditions were pretty difficult and with the amount of crashes, I thought the race may have been stopped. Unfortunately, one of those crashes was Josh which was a real shame as he was looking set for a good haul of points in second. It wasn’t to be, but Christian did a great job in staying upright so fair play to him for doing that and scoring a good podium. He took more points off the championship leaders so with both riders well placed on the grid for tomorrow’s first race, let’s hope for decent starts and more podium finishes.”

Sunday’s races are scheduled to take place at 13:00 and 16:15.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Bike Social race one (16 laps)

1 Gino Rea (Suzuki)

2 Kyle Ryde (BMW)

3 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

4 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

5 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

6 Joe Francis (BMW)

DNF Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

Championship Points

1 O’Halloran 1102pts

= Mackenzie 1102

3 Bridewell 1084

4 Iddon 1076

5 Hickman 1050

6 Brookes 1042

VisionTrack Ducati Head For Donington In Good Shape

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 22:34:25 GMT

The penultimate round of the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Donington Park this weekend with both Christian Iddon and Josh Brookes still in contention to add a third successive crown for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team.

Following on from the success at Oulton Park last weekend, which saw both VisionTrack Ducati riders on the podium, the pair arrive at Donington Park’s Grand Prix track in confident mood.

Tyneside-based Iddon occupies fourth in the standings after two podiums in as many meetings and is just 33 points adrift of the series leader with six races left of the season. He would have been higher had he not clashed with another rider in the final race at Oulton Park which left him down in 11th place so will be looking to make amends this weekend.

Defending champion Brookes has endured a tough season but is coming good when it matters and posted a pair of second place finishes at Oulton to record his best results of the season. Despite a crash in race two at the previous round, the Bedfordshire-based Aussie has scored four podiums in the last five races and although his 51-point gap to the leader is substantial, there are still 150 points up for grabs so it's distinctly possible to retain his title.

Christian Iddon: “We had good pace when we were at the Donington Park national track a couple of months ago, but we didn’t capitalise on that and get the results we were capable of. Now we really need the results so I’m going all out to make that happen. The longer track tends to suit us even better so that should be good, and everything is still to play for. After Oulton Park, the gap to the leaders has reduced which can only be positive so I’m looking for a really strong weekend to get myself in contention and we can fight it out going into the final three races at Brands Hatch.”

Josh Brookes: “My thoughts are haunted by that crash at Oulton as I threw away valuable points, so I need to forget about that and concentrate on the job in hand. The podiums have been coming fairly consistently lately so that’s a good thing. We just need to stay positive, and I know we have a mountain to climb to win the championship but if that’s not possible, then the plan is to go out with some good results and our heads held high. We’ve come so close to winning recently that it would be good to box some off now. The bike is good, I’m a lot more confident and optimism is high right now.”

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

Podium For Brookes And Solid Points For Iddon At Oulton

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 22:41:57 GMT

The VisionTrack Ducati pairing of Josh Brookes and Christian Iddon scored valuable points in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park today with Brookes taking a second place in the final race of the day and Iddon claiming fourth in the opening encounter, leaving them both still in title contention.

In the opening meeting of the title-deciding Showdown and after two podium finishes on the factory-backed VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4RRs yesterday, the opening 18-lap race today saw Christian and Josh line up in second and fifth on the grid respectively with conditions all around the 2.69-mile circuit ideal.

The duo were in the thick of the action from the word go for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team with Tyneside-based Iddon running in second for the first half of the race and Brookes right in his wheel tracks in third and doing everything he could to find a way by.

Less than one second covered the leading seven riders for much of the race but with two laps to go, yesterday’s race winner Tarran Mackenzie had overhauled both of them with Tommy Bridewell doing the same heading into the final lap. Bridewell went on to take the eventual win but whilst Iddon held on for fourth to score valuable points, Brookes’ title hopes took a knock as he crashed out of fifth place on the final lap at Druids.

The Bedfordshire-based Aussie had the consolation of a front row start for the final race of the weekend, but Iddon had more work to do from three rows furthers further back. The race followed an unusual pattern in that Bridewell opened up a huge lead in the early stages, but Josh ran in second for much of the race and kept the rest of the chasing pack at bay.

Defending champion Brookes was duly rewarded for a fine ride with his second runner-up spot of the weekend but the race was a lot harder for Iddon after he’d worked his way up to sixth. He was well placed to make a move in the second half of the race but a clash but with another rider put him in the gravel at Lodge to scupper his chances. He recovered from 15th place to claim 11th at the flag to hold onto fourth in the title race, just 33 points behind the leader Mackenzie going into the penultima round at Donington Park next weekend.

Josh Brookes: “It’s been a mixed day and I’m distraught with dropping the bike on the last lap of the first race today, not just for losing points but for actually doing it as that’s not me. I lost a place on the last lap yesterday so was determined it wasn’t going to happen again and wanted to maintain my pace right up until the end, but I just lost the front. However, the team did a great job in getting the bike ready for race two and whilst I could only admire Tommy riding into the distance, I think we can be proud of the result. Of course, I want to win but to come from as far back as what we were a few weeks ago, to where we are now is testament to everyone’s hard work and we can be content with a brace of seconds this weekend. The championship’s been turned on its head and I’ll keep fighting as always.”

Christian Iddon: “Like Josh, I’ve had a mixed day but whilst it would have been nice to have got the gap to the leaders below 25 points, it’s still only 33 and it’s still all to play for. But with the two McAMS Yamahas faltering, I can’t help but think it’s a missed opportunity. Fourth in the first race today was ok and I just didn’t have the power to fight at the end so had to settle for the position whilst I was having a problem with the brakes in the second race. Taz didn’t leave me any room and off I went into the gravel trap. I was able to hold onto the bike though and who knows how valuable those five points could be.”

Johnny Mowatt: “Where do I start, what a day! The championship’s been turned on its head and for Jason to crash twice this weekend, after being faultless all season, is remarkable and on hindsight, we could have profited even more. It was obviously disappointing for Josh to slide off on the final lap of the opening race, but he fought back well to take a good second place. He didn’t make any mistakes despite the huge pressure he was under, and he deserved those 20 points. Christian was a bit unfortunate today, but he still leaves closer to the championship lead than what he arrived. It was a tough move by Tarran but that’s how racing goes sometimes. The good thing is that both riders have been in the leading pack and fighting it out for the race wins all weekend, which is where the PBM team belongs. Anything can still happen, so we’ll be giving it 110% as always.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (18 laps)

1 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

2 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

3 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

4 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

5 Peter Hickman (BMW)

6 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

DNF Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (18 laps)

1 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

2 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

3 Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG racing BMW)

4 Peter Hickman (BMW)

5 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

6 Danny Buchan (BMW)

11 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

Championship Positions (after nine rounds)

1 Mackenzie 1093pts

2 O’Halloran 1091

3 Bridewell 1084

4 Iddon 1060

5 Hickman 1050

6 Brookes 1042

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

Bird Claims Runner Up Spot In GT World Cup

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 22:31:14 GMT

Penrith driver Frank Bird endured a frustrating weekend at the fifth and final round of the Fanatec GT World Cup Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup in Valencia, but still managed to end the season as runner-up in the series.

The 21-year-old Cumbrian and Japanese teammate Ryuichiro Tomita struggled during qualifying in the Team WRT Audi R8 LMS on the technical Spanish track to end up 24th on the grid.

But in typical fashion, Bird made a cracking start in the opening race and was up to 12th place when contact with another car dropped him back down the order before Tomito took over and brought the car home in 14th overall and fourth in the Silver Cup class for lesser experienced drivers.

Race two saw both Bird and Tomito nurse the car home to 17th overall and sixth in the Silver Cup class to clinch the runner-up placing much to their delight.

Frank Bird: “We didn’t maximise qualifying and that made things difficult. In race one, we were lucky, given we had a slow puncture, and in race two, we could only finish sixth. Overall, it’s not been too bad as we finished second in the Silver Cup. It was a tough season, but we also had some good races so a big thanks to the team and our sponsors.”

GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup – Round 5

Valencia, Spain - 24-26 September 2021

Race 1 Result

1. Engel-Stolz (Mercedes AMG)

2. Roussel-Haase (Audi R8 LMS)

3. Boguslavskiy-Marciello (Mercedes AMG)

4. Marschall-Aka (Audi R8 LMS)

5. Umbrarescu-Gounon (Mercedes AMG)

14. Bird-Tomita (Audi R8 LMS) (4th Silver)

Race 2 Result

1. Stolz-Engel (Mercedes AMG)

2. Umbrarescu-Gounon (Mercedes AMG)

3. Siedler-Costa (Lamborghini Huracan)

4. Bernicoat-Wilkinson (McLaren 720S)

5. De Leneer-Engelhart (Porsche 911 R)

17. Bird-Tomita (Audi R8 LMS) (6th Silver)

For further info, please contact Vincent Vosse vincent.vosse@w-racingteam.com or

Daria Marina (Media) daria.marina@w-racingteam.com . Mob: +41 76 405 90 52

Double Podium For VisionTrack Ducati At Oulton

Sat, 25 Sep 2021 23:36:24 GMT

The VisionTrack Ducati pairing of Josh Brookes and Christian Iddon got the Bennetts British Superbike Championship Showdown underway in fine style at Oulton Park this afternoon with second and third place finishes respectively in the opening race of the weekend.

The results were all the more crucial with championship leader Jason O’Halloran crashing out with two laps to go and the title standings have now closed up considerably, Iddon now just 29 points off the series lead.

The weekend started positively from the outset and after topping the times during Friday’s free practice sessions, held in good, dry conditions, Brookes was able to do it in the damp too. Indeed, an inspired decision to fit an intermediate rear tyre in this morning’s qualifying session enabled him to claim pole position for the afternoon’s race with Iddon heading up the third row in a solid seventh.

Conditions were perfect for the race and although positions changed on a number of occasions in the first half of the 14-lapper, it was Brookes who led more often than not from O’Halloran, Iddon, Tarran Mackenzie and Lee Jackson.

As the race entered its final third, O’Halloran took the lead and looked to make a break but in doing so, he pushed a little too hard and crashed out at Hizzy’s which put Josh back into the lead.

However, he still had Mackenzie, Christian and Jackson for close company and it was O’Halloran’s team-mate Mackenzie who edged ahead at Hizzy’s on the final lap. He held on for the win from Josh and Christian but their podium finishes, and O’Halloran’s demise has put them right back into title contention with eight races of the Showdown still to go.

Josh Brookes: “Irrespective of wins and podiums, I’m just pleased to be back in the fight again and it’s nice to be racing hard at the head of the field. I felt good leading and although Jason got by on a few occasions, it was never more than for a few corners although I could see he was making a few mistakes. When the attack came from Taz, I didn’t have the grip to fight with him and couldn’t get close to even attempt a pass, but I can’t complain with second. At the same time, now I’m back in the fight, I want to win races again, so we’ll keep pressing on and see what tomorrow brings. It’s a good start to the Showdown especially for the team with two bikes back on the podium.”

Christian Iddon: “Third place is a good start to the Showdown and our title hopes. I got a good start from the thirdrow which made my life that little bit easier and could see Jason and Josh were battling hard at the front. Taz and I were also battling hard but not enough to lose any ground and when Jason crashed, it changed the complexion of the race. I’m not sure why but the pace slowed quite a bit and I didn’t quite have the package to push any harder. After an average qualifying session though, a podium is fantastic and it’s all to play for now.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Coordinator: “On the one hand, I’m a little bit disappointed we didn’t get a win today but on the other hand, second and third place finishes is a good start to the Showdown – and with Jason’s demise, we’re right back in there. You don’t want to get your results due to your main rivals’ misfortune but when the opportunity is handed to you, you have to grab it with both hands. We’ve done exactly that and fair play to both riders, especially Josh for hanging on in there. He was a long way adrift three to four rounds ago but has clawed his way back and anything’s possible now. It looks like the grip levels weren’t there in the closing stages, particularly in sector two, despite running the harder tyre but our overall pace is good. The package is working well so we’ll look to do it all again – and hopefully go one better – tomorrow.”

Sunday’s races are scheduled to take place at 13:10 and 16:15.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship – BikeSocial race one (14 laps)

1 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

2 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

3 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

4 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

5 Peter Hickman (BMW)

6 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

Championship Positions

1 O’Halloran 1071pts

2 Mackenzie 1066

3 Iddon 1042

4 Bridewell 1034

5 Hickman 1026

6 Brookes 1022

Iddon And Brookes All Set For Showdown Battle

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 14:16:02 GMT

The battle for the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike Championship starts in earnest this weekend when the title-deciding Showdown commences at Oulton Park with both VisionTrack Ducati riders Christian Iddon and Josh Brookes in contention.

After a season of contrasting fortunes, both riders secured their places in the top eight who will fight for the crown over the next three rounds starting with Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team’s local round this weekend.

Originally from the Peak District but now residing on Tyneside, Christian Iddon will be hoping for more success at what he considers to be his local track also. Iddon currently occupies third in the title race aboard his factory-supported VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4 RR having taken two wins already this season.

He is just 45 points adrift of series leader Jason O’Halloran and arrives at Oulton Park with an enviable record having finished second in the last five races to be held there. However, three of those second places came back in June when he had to follow O’Halloran home on all three occasions so will be looking to turn the tables this time and get that elusive victory.

Teammate and defending champion Josh Brookes secured his place in the Showdown in the very last race of the main season at Silverstone two weeks ago and after a tough season, now looks to have turned the corner having scored his first podiums of the year last time out.

The Bedfordshire-based Australian knows he needs a huge slice of luck if he’s to add to his two BSB titles already as he is 69 points behind the series leader and in need of a number of victories. But if anyone can do it, it’s Brookes as he’s already won eight times in his career at Oulton Park and been on the podium a further 19 times so will need to add to those statistics in all three races if he’s to remain in the hunt.

Christian Iddon: “We are returning to a track we’ve already raced at this season and the earlier meeting at Oulton Park was a really good one for us. I’m hoping we can replicate that podium success and even challenge for some wins. It’s the first round of the Showdown so it’s now all to play for and the championship positions have been condensed dramatically. It’s vital to have a good, solid first round of the Showdown so I’m really looking forward to it. We have some great settings that work on the bike there so we’ll be dialling them back in and see how we feel and hopefully we can take some big points away from this round again.”

Josh Brookes: “We got over the first hurdle which was to get into the Showdown and that positive energy will carry us forward into these last three rounds. The progress we have been making over these past few rounds is very promising, but Oulton Park is a very different prospect. My hopes are high of continuing with the better results and providing we can continue where we left off at Silverstone, there’s every chance I can win some races this weekend. If we can do that, then the end of the season is going to be interesting for sure, especially with the autumn weather playing a part. My attitude is the same as always, which is to keep persevering and never give up.”

Bird Out Of Luck In Greystoke

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 14:02:47 GMT

Penrith-born Frank Bird and Lake District-based co-driver Jack Morton were out of luck on today’s Greystoke Stages Rally after retiring when well in command.

The 21-year-old Cumbrian set fastest time on the opening three stages in the Dom Buckley Motorsport-prepared and Frank Bird Poultry/PBM and Aico-backed Ford Fiesta R5 as he and Morton looked to repeat their victory of 2019 on their local event.

Holding a half minute advantage going into the fourth stage of six, Bird slid off the road on SS4 and into retirement much to his disappointment.

Frank Bird: “Everything was going fine, and I was enjoying being back on gravel again. We had set fastest time on the opening three stages but slid off the road on SS4 and we

couldn’t get the car back on the road. It’s disappointing, especially as it was our local event which we had won before, but thanks as ever to Jack, the team and our sponsors, we’ll hope to make up for the disappointment next time.”

Picture copyright free, courtesy of Phil James, Pro Rally www.pro-rally.co.uk

Brookes Joins Iddon In Showdown After Podium Success

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 13:57:13 GMT

VisionTrack Ducati rider Josh Brookes took a pair of third place finishes in the two Bennetts British Superbike Championship races at Silverstone today with the 32 points enough to see the reigning champion move into seventh place overall in the standings and join teammate Christian Iddon in one of the top eight Showdown positions for the Cumbrian team.

With the third fastest lap in Saturday’s race, Brookes lined up on the front row for this afternoon’s opening 30-lap race around the 1.64-mile National circuit with Iddon just one row further back on the factory-supported VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4 RR and both riders made good starts to complete the opening lap inside the top six.

A lap later and some forceful moves enabled Josh to hit the front, and by lap three, Christian was in his wheel tracks to put the two Paul Bird Ducatis in first and second.

However, whilst Bedfordshire-based Brookes continued to lead, Iddon ran wide on a couple of occasions to drop back to fourth and he then had a huge moment at Becketts on lap 13 when he got caught by another rider. It caused him to run off track and hit one of the trackside marker boards, which resulted in him dropping back to seventh where he eventually finished.

Brookes continued to lead the way but just as it looked like he’d take a welcome victory, he was overhauled on the final lap by the two Yamahas of Tarran Mackenzie and Jason O’Halloran.

Nevertheless, a good third place was still the outcome for his first podium of the season, and it put him closer to the top eight Showdown positions.

Lining up in sixth and seventh for the final race of the weekend, Tyneside-based Iddon was the better placed of the two riders before the race was stopped on the 11th lap with Josh in third and Christian down in 12th after clipping another rider and running wide.

Re-started over the shorter distance of 15 laps, Brookes again led in the early stages before dropping back to third by lap ten and it was there where he finished for his second podium of the day. The points haul helped him move up from tenth to seventh overall and clinch one of the Showdown positions to again ensure there’ll be two PBM machines contesting the battle for the title once again.

For Iddon, a good start helped him move from 12th through the order with a podium looking on the cards. However, having got caught up with Tommy Bridewell he slipped back a spot to sixth at the chequered flag, but he now heads into the Showdown in third overall in the standings, 45 points adrift of series leader O’Halloran.

Christian Iddon: “We made some changes after Saturday’s race, and we’d gone the wrong way with set up, so we weren’t as competitive as what we’d been before whilst I’ve no idea how I stayed on after being hit by another rider. It took me a while to regroup after that, but we were missing that little bit, particularly with tyre life, although things were a lot different for the final race. The bike was working really well although I got caught out by a cold tyre and ran wide and then did so again when I got clipped once more. The red flag helped me out as I managed to go from 12th to fifth and so a podium was definitely on the cards. I got mixed up with Tommy Bridewell and the chance went so I’m a bit frustrated, but we haven’t lost much ground in the championship this weekend and it’s all about the Showdown now.”

Josh Brookes: “It’s obviously been a pretty average season by my standards, but I’m pleased with the two podiums today and delighted to continue my run of making it to the Showdown every year I’ve contested BSB. The improvements we’ve made of late are coming to fruition now and I’ve had the potential for a while without being able to convert my pace into results. Today we did that, and the second race in particular was good, and I felt really good as it was a proper dog fight and a great battle to be part of. I’m still taking it race by race, but we can be proud of our efforts this weekend and I’m really pleased for the team, and everyone connected with it.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Coordinator: “It’s safe to say today’s been a huge sigh of relief and we’re delighted to have two bikes in the Showdown once more. Josh got the job done this weekend and was unlucky not to have won a race as he probably deserved victory in at least one of them. He rode well so fair play to him. Christian had a bit of an indifferent weekend and struggled to get the bike stopped but after the run he’s been on of late, getting a full weekend of results under his belt was important. We’ve got some good tracks coming up now, including our home round at Oulton, so we’re aiming for race wins and to finish the season stronger than how we started.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (30 laps)

1 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

2 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

3 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

4 Bradley Ray (BMW)

5 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

6 Gino Rea (Suzuki)

7 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (15 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

3 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

4 Danny Buchan (BMW)

5 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

6 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

Championship standings (going into Showdown)

1 O’Halloran 1071pts

2 Mackenzie 1041 pts

3 Iddon 1026pts

4 Bridewell 1024pts

5 Hickman 1015pts

6 Buchan 1014pts

7 G Irwin 1012pts

8 Brookes 1002pts

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

Iddon Clinches Silverstone Podium With Brookes Fourth

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 13:47:22 GMT

The VisionTrack Ducati pairing of Christian Iddon and Josh Brookes got the eighth round of the 2021 BennettsBritish Superbike Championship underway in fine style at Silverstone today as they took second and fourth place finishes in a dramatic opening race at the Northamptonshire venue.

The duo had a mixed start to their respective weekends during the free practice sessions, a time on Saturday morning seeing defending champion Brookes go second quickest with a time of 53.440s on the factory-supported VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4 RR but Iddon was down in 16th albeit only half a second further back, an illustration of the close times around the 1.64-mile National circuit.

However, when it came to the Superpicks Qualifying session this afternoon, Bedfordshire-based Brookes wasn’t able to go any quicker and had to settle for seventh whilst Iddon improved by four tenths of a second to jump up to tenth for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team.

That put them on the third and fourth rows respectively for the 24-lap race later in the day with Iddon moving up to eighth on the opening lap but Brookes dropping back to 11th. By lap seven, the duo had made good strides forward with Tyneside-based Iddon up to sixth and Brookes now eighth, but it was extremely close with less than two seconds covering the leading nine riders.

Positions were changing frequently and going into the penultimate lap, Christian was lying in fourth and Josh seventh but just as it looked like this was where they’d finish, race leaders Tarran Mackenzie and Jason O’Halloran dramatically crashed out and as the following group tried to avoid them, a shuffling of the pack inevitably occurred.

Indeed, Christian found himself in second and Josh in fourth and with the red flag coming out shortly afterwards, this was where they finished. It also meant vital Podium Points for Iddon and vital championship points for Brookes who is now just six points off a Showdown position with two races to go before the top eight is finalised after tomorrow’s second race.

Christian Iddon: “I’m really happy to be back on the podium as I’ve been off the pace recently and had a few tough rounds so it’s nice to get this feeling again. Even at the start of this weekend, I was only average, but we made some improvements during qualifying, and I kept moving forward the whole race. Gino Rea looked to have that bit more on the Suzuki, but I was confident I could get by Glenn Irwin although the crash changed everything, and we ended up second. I’m really strong in some parts of the track but weak in others so if we can get off the corners better, I think we’ll be in a really good position for tomorrow’s races.”

Josh Brookes: “The wheel spin and lack of grip I’ve been encountering continues but I’ve almost learnt to live with itnow although it does make the races hard work. We only have a small window where the bike works and just the slightest movement out of that window leads to big mistakes which is why I’m up and down a bit during the races. I’m not known for making mistakes or for getting bad starts but that’s what’s happening although as the race goes on, the other riders come back to me. I can see them spinning up in the second half of the race but because I’ve had that from the start, I’m able to make up ground in the latter stages. It’s not ideal and it’s still frustrating but I’ll take the positives and the fourth place.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Coordinator: “We’ll take the results however they come at present and although Tarran and Jason were unlucky to not finish, it gave us our best combined results in a long time. Christian was running with the leading bunch, and we felt he had a podium in him anyway and Josh battled hard to be rewarded with yet another fourth place to give himself a real chance of securing a spot in the Showdown tomorrow. We’ll look to make some improvements overnight as both riders felt they were lacking a little so hopefully we can get some more podiums tomorrow.”

Sunday’s races are scheduled to get underway at 13:30 and 16:30 respectively.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (23 laps)

1 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

2 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

3 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

4 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati )

5 Bradley Ray (BMW)

6 Gino Rea (Suzuki)

Championship standings

1 O’Halloran 399pts

2 Mackenzie 293

3 Bridewell 277

4 Iddon 259

5 Hickman 224

6 Irwin 186

9 Brookes 154

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

Top Six For Frank Bird In Germany

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 13:39:51 GMT

It was another weekend of celebrations for Team WRT as Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts netted the Fanatec GTWorld Challenge Europe powered by AWS overall Drivers’ title at the Nürburgring, with two rounds still to go and one week after taking the Sprint Cup crown.

However, teammates Frank Bird and Ryuichiro Tomita, along with Danish driver Valdemar Eriksen couldn’t quite replicate the heroics of last weekend at Brands Hatch and had to settle for a top six placing in the Silver Cup in their Team WRT Audi R8LMS.

Cumbrian Bird drove his usual spectacular race, but their cause wasn’t helped with some safety car interventions as he powered to 16th place overall in the three-hour race in Germany.

Frank Bird: "I think we really got the maximum out of the car and P6 in the Silver Cup is the best we could achieve, so I am happy about how things eventually went. We were a little bit unlucky with one of the safety car periods, that put us one lap down, but all in all, not a bad weekend. I think we had the pace to get a better result, but we scored some points, and we did what we could. As always, the team did a great job, a big thanks to them.”

Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS - Endurance Cup Round 4

Nürburgring 3 Hours, 4-5 September 2021

Race Result

1. Bortolotti-Caldarelli-Mapelli (Lamborghini Huracan)

2. Marciello-Fraga-Gounon (Mercedes AMG)

3. Engel-Stolz-Bastian (Mercedes AMG)

4. Siedler-Altoè-Costa (Lamborghini Huracan)

5. Lappalainen-Ghiotto-Rougier (Lamborghini Huracan)

6. Frijns-Vanthoor-Weerts (Audi RR8 LMS)

13. Goethe-Hall-Pull (Audi R8 LMS)

16. Bird-Eriksen-Tomita (Audi R8 LMS) 6 ^th Silver Cup

For further info, please contact Vincent Vosse vincent.vosse@w-racingteam.com or

Daria Marina (Media) daria.marina@w-racingteam.com . Mob: +41 76 405 90 52

Iddon Claims Showdown Place As Brookes Hits Form

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 13:22:29 GMT

The VisionTrack Ducati team scored a trio of top six finishes at Snetterton in Norfolk today with round seven of the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike Championship seeing reigning champion Josh Brookes take fourth and sixth place to keep his Showdown hopes alive and Christian Iddon getting back on track with a strong fifth place to claim his place as a Title Fighter.

With the duo having had mixed fortunes yesterday, this was reflected in their grid positions for the opening 16-lap race, Brookes starting from second and in the middle of the front row for his best grid position of the season but Iddon back on the sixth row after his first lap crash.

With good conditions around the Snetterton 300 circuit, Aussie Brookes consolidated his second place on the factory-supported Ducati Panigale V4RR for the first couple of laps with Iddon moving up to 12th, but Brookes then ran wide on a number of occasions which dropped him back down the order to eighth.

It was a frenetic race for all concerned but by lap ten, Josh was back up to fifth and a good overtaking manoeuvre on Gino Rea on lap 14 enabled him to take his second fourth place finish of the weekend. Meanwhile, Tyneside-based Iddon fought his way up to tenth only for a slight coming together with Danny Buchan towards the end of the race dropped him back a place to 11th.

The final race of the weekend saw Brookes start from fifth and Iddon 11th, but the race was stopped on the ninth lap following a crash. Re-started over just five laps, it was a hectic race, but it was Iddon who came out on top for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team with a strong fifth place. Bedfordshire-based Brookes had a bit more of difficult race but after dropping back to tenth, he fought his way back up to sixth at the chequered flag.

Iddon remains in fourth place overall claiming his place in the Showdown with Brookes now up to tenth and just 13 points behind eighth place with the final four Showdown position still to be decided at the next round at Silverstone.

Josh Brookes: “It’s been a hectic weekend and I seem to be around all the on-track drama that’s happening at the moment. All the moments and crashes other riders are having seem to be happening all around me, so I’d like to be away from all that at the next round. Looking at the positives, I’ve been able to fight a lot more this weekend and am more at ease with the bike which is translating into good race pace so two fourths and a sixth is another step in the right direction. We had the potential to do better this weekend, but the results at least mean I’ve put myself in with a shout of the Showdown and having been in it every year, it would be nice to do so again.”

Christian Iddon: “I was a bit disappointed with 11th in the first race but, at the same time, I needed a finish after therun we’ve been on. I felt pretty racy up until about mid-race and I lost a bit of front end feel in the latter stages whilst the harder tyre didn’t quite work as I’d hoped. I switched to the softer tyre for the second race and refined both the electronics and chassis and that enabled me to be more aggressive in the first few laps. After the red flag, it was a five-lap dash which is always a bit hairy but the little changes we’d made helped the bike be better again and although a podium may have been possible, it wasn’t to be, and we took the fifth. It’s obviously not where I want to be finishing or need to be, but we’ll take what we can, and it’s stopped the rot a little bit, so we’ll build on this.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “We showed a lot of potential in practice and felt that it was going to be one of our stronger meetings, but it wasn’t to be, and we don’t seem to be getting the rub of the green at the moment. We keep getting caught up in other people’s incidents in areas where we shouldn’t be and there’s been so many instances of ‘wrong place, wrong time’. Both riders got beat up in both races but on the plus side, Josh closed the gap to the top eight and made good strides forward whilst the fifth place in the second race will be good for Christian’s confidence. The Yamahas are performing really well at the moment and are having a year like we did in 2019 but we need to up our game and stop their dominance so hopefully, things will turn our way next time out.”

The next round takes place at Silverstone next weekend.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (16 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

3 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

4 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

5 Gino Rea (Suzuki)

6 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

11 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (5 laps)

1 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

3 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

4 Gino Rea (Suzuki)

5 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)
6 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

Championship standings (after seven rounds)

1 O’Halloran 399pts

2 Mackenzie 293

3 Bridewell 261

4 Iddon 239

5 Hickman 224

6 Buchan 174

10 Brookes 141

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

Fourth For Brookes At Snetterton With Iddon Out Of Luck

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 13:16:08 GMT

The VisionTrack Ducati team endured mixed fortunes in the opening race of round seven of this year’s BennettsBritish Superbike Championship today with Josh Brookes claiming a strong fourth at the Snetterton 300 circuit but Christian Iddon suffering an early crash.

The two riders fared slightly differently on the opening day yesterday with Brookes getting back to his best with the third quickest time in the opening free practice session, but Iddon was down in 14th, which meant he had to go to Q1 this morning. He easily progressed into Q2 on the factory-supported VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4 RR with what was the then quickest time of the weekend.

Neither rider was able to replicate that form in the main Q2 BSB Superpicks Qualifying session for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team and in the closing moments, the duo had a coming together at the Murray’s Chicane which resulted in them both crashing out.

The net effect was that defending champion Brookes started from eighth and Iddon in 11th for the afternoon’s 12-lap race, but Iddon’s race was immediately over as he crashed out half way round the opening lap.

That left Brookes to carry the flag for the team and, seventh on the opening lap, he’d moved up to fifth at half race distance. Looking comfortable on the bike once more, Josh closed right in on the back wheel of third placed Tommy Bridewell only to run wide on the penultimate lap.

Undeterred, he successfully fended off Lee Jackson on the final lap and claimed a good fourth place, only half a second adrift of eventual race winner Tarran Mackenzie.

Iddon now sits in fourth overall in the championship standings and although Brookes remains in 12th, he’s just 26 points adrift of the top eight and a Showdown position.

Josh Brookes: “We had the pace to be better than fourth, but I got caught up in the incident of Andrew Irwin and Gino Rea and that lost me time to the leaders. I clawed it back but then lost the front going onto the back straight and ran wide although I was still only half a second adrift at the end. The most important thing about the weekend so far is that I’ve got my pace back and the longer races tomorrow should suit me better. I’m on the front row for the first race which is obviously good so the aim will be to make a good start to put me in a better situation and hopefully get back on the podium.”

Christian Iddon: “It’s been a frustrating weekend so far but having made a good step this morning in Q1, I wasfeeling a lot better in myself and was looking forward to the race to build the confidence back up. Unfortunately, I lost the rear on the first lap and the bike spun round on me causing me to crash. It was a real shame as my race was over before it had begun, and we haven’t learned anything about where we are or have anything as a reference. Thankfully, I’m ok so we’ll try again tomorrow.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “Obviously, the qualifying incident was far from ideal, but Josh held his hands up and it was a shame as he probably would have been a row further up the grid. He had strong pace in the race but lost time in the Irwin-Rea incident and then a couple of unforced errors probably cost him the podium. He’s only 26 points off a Showdown position now though which with five races to go is more than do-able and being on the front row for tomorrow’s first race gives him a good platform.

“For Christian, I think he must have broken a mirror as he’s gone from a 33-race finishing streak to lots of crashes in recent races. The grid position didn’t help and when you’re in mid-pack, these things can happen, and it now means his first race tomorrow will be compromised due to not setting a time. He’ll have a lot of work to do but hopefully he can get a solid finish to put him in better stead for the second race.”

Tomorrow’s races are scheduled to get underway at 12.15 and 16.30.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (12 laps)

1 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

3 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

4 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

5 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

6 Ryan Vickers (Kawasaki)

DNF Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

Championship standings

1 O’Halloran 358pts

2 Mackenzie 248

3 Bridewell 225

4 Iddon 223

5 Hickman 209

6 Buchan 171

12 Brookes 118

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

Bird Victorious At Brands Hatch

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 13:10:39 GMT

The fourth round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup powered by AWS proved to be amemorable one as Cumbrian racing driver Frank Bird swept to victory at Brands Hatch.

At the Kent track where his father Paul’s British Superbike Championship team has had so much success over the years, 22-year-old Frank and Japanese teammate Ryuichiro Tomita took a magnificent third place overall in the opening race which they backed up with an impressive fifth overall in race two in the Team WRT Audi R8 LMS.

But as well as lifting the trophy for third overall in race one, Penrith-born Frank and Tomita-San won the Silver Cup class followed by a second place in class in the second outing to round off a fantastic weekend for the #31 car.

They added to the WRT team’s success as courtesy of a win in race one and second place in race two, Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts secured the Sprint Cup Drivers’ title, their second in a row, and so did Team WRT in the Teams’ standings, as, mathematically, they cannot be overtaken in the last round scheduled at Valencia.

Also, Team WRT crews netted the 2021 Pirelli Pit Stop Challenge.

Frank Bird: “What a fantastic weekend for my home race, I’m really very happy. I was a little bit nervous coming hereas I didn’t know what expect, but the car was very good and a real pleasure to drive. P1 and P2 in the Silver Cup and an overall podium has meant a really a great weekend for us at a track where PBM has had so much success in the past. Thanks to my dad, my team and our sponsors for making it a memorable weekend.”

GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup – Round 4

Brands Hatch, United Kingdom, 28-29 August 2021
Race 1 Result

1. Vanthoor-Weerts (Audi R8 LMS)

2. Stolz-Engel (Mercedes AMG)

3. Bird-Tomita (Audi R8 LMS) (1st Silver)

4. Pérez Companc-Breukers (Lamborghini Huracan)

5. Panis-Vervisch (Audi R8 LMS)

18. Goethe-van der Linde (Audi R8 LMS)

Race 2 Result

1. Stolz-Engel (Mercedes AMG)

2. Vanthoor-Weerts (Audi R8 LMS)

3. Umbrarescu-Gounon (Mercedes AMG)

4. Puhakka-Tunjo (Mercedes AMG)

5. Bird-Tomita (Audi R8 LMS) (2nd Silver)

9. Goethe-Mies (Audi R8 LMS)

For further info, please contact Vincent Vosse vincent.vosse@w-racingteam.com or

Daria Marina (Media) daria.marina@w-racingteam.com . Mob: +41 76 405 90 52

Brookes Bounces Back As Iddon Climbs The Table

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 12:01:52 GMT

The rollercoaster season that is the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike Championship for Paul Bird’s VisionTrack Ducati team continued at Cadwell Park today as the series reached its halfway point.

Christian Iddon followed up his result from yesterday with a crash in today’s opening race which he backed up with seventh place in the final outing whereas Josh Brookes scored his best points haul of the season with a pair of fifth places today to add to his top ten from yesterday.

The solid results from yesterday meant Iddon and Brookes started today’s opening race, held over the longer distance of 18 laps, from third and tenth respectively and both made strong starts on the pair of factory-supported VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4RRs.

Lap three saw Tyneside-based Iddon running in third, but his race didn’t last much longer as he crashed out at Charlie’s and that left Brookes to single-handedly fly the flag for the Penrith-based team.

The defending champion did a great job of doing exactly that and by mid-race was one of the fastest riders on track. His pace enabled him to continually climb the leaderboard and he was rewarded with a strong fifth place, his best result in a dry race this season.

For the final race of the weekend, the Bedfordshire-based Aussie was the better placed on the grid in seventh with Christian five places further back in 12th, and once again Brookes enjoyed a strong ride, battling with Lee Jackson for fourth for much of the race.

It looked like he’d claim the position but a slight mistake on the entry to the chicane with three laps to go compromised his line into the bottom of the Mountain and that allowed the Kawasaki man by. As a result, he had to settle for his second fifth place of the day, but he made good progress over the course of the weekend and his chances of making it into the Showdown haven’t disappeared just yet.

For teammate Iddon, his tough day ended on a slightly better note with that seventh place finish but with rival Tarran Mackenzie not riding due to injury today, Iddon has moved up to second place overall in the Championship standings, albeit level on points but ahead on countback scores.

Josh Brookes: “The three hours of track time on Thursday helped me get into a bit of a rhythm and being back at a track I like helped this weekend but the improvements we made were still tiny. I can see on track where I’m losing time and, in this series, you can’t afford to give away the time that we’ve been giving away. We still can’t get to the bottom of the main issues but although the improvements have been small, we’ve still made progress and that’s a positive. Two fifth places aren’t where I want to be finishing but it certainly felt better to be fighting a bit closer to the sharp end.”

Christian Iddon: “You make your own luck in this game and that’s two crashes in two meetings which have been myfault. And when added to two when I was knocked off, it’s disappointing in one way but with Taz not riding, I’ve somehow managed to climb to second in the title. In truth, we’ve chased our tail all weekend and I’ve not found a suitable setting despite the team working so hard. We were hoping to get some more data in race two to help for the final race today, but the crash scuppered that. We now regroup and head to Snetterton in a positive frame of mind as that’s where I got my maiden win last year.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s the best we’ve seen Brookesy ride all year and you could see on track that he was more committed and more aggressive. The better start positions helped, and it was good to see him fighting towards the front. He looked a lot better and that’s three top six finishes in the last four races so although still not where we want to be, it’s good progress. Christian’s had a bit of a tough day and he looked confident in the opening race until he tucked the front and crashed out. He was a long way back on the grid for the final race so with a few crashes recently he rode a bit cautiously which was to be understood. It’s a case of onwards and upwards and having won two races at Snetterton last year, let’s hope it’s a happy return and we’re back on the box.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (18 laps)

1 Peter Hickman (BMW)

2 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

3 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

4 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

5 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

6 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

DNF Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (18 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Peter Hickman (BMW)

3 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

4 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

5 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

6 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

7 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings (after six rounds)

1 O’Halloran 342pts

2 Iddon 223

3 Mackenzie 223

4 Bridewell 205

5 Hickman 200

6 Buchan 165

12 Brookes 105

The next round takes place at Snetterton on September 3/4/5 September.

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

Solid Points For Iddon And Brookes At Cadwell

Sat, 21 Aug 2021 12:24:14 GMT

Paul Bird’s VisionTrack Ducati team were back in Bennetts British Superbike Championship race action this afternoon with the scenic Cadwell Park the venue for round six of the series whereby both Christian Iddon and Josh Brookes once again scored solid points.

Both riders enjoyed a productive first day at the Lincolnshire venue which enabled them to progress direct to the second BSB Superpicks Qualifying session earlier today, Brookes, in particular, having a welcome return to form on the factory-supported VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4 RR.

The dry conditions of yesterday were replaced by damp weather initially this morning, but it had dried in time for qualifying although neither rider was able to replicate their form in a session interrupted by a red flag due to a crash involving Friday’s pace setter Ryan Vickers.

As a result, Christian and Josh lined up in ninth and 13th on the grid respectively for the afternoon’s 14-lap BikeSocial sprint which gave them plenty of work to do around the tight and twisty 2.20-mile circuit.

The race got underway in dry conditions but early on, overtaking was hard for both riders but they both continually advanced forward during the race, Tyneside-based Iddon, in particular, making a good charge forward. He latched onto the back of a five-rider battle for the final podium position and although he couldn’t make it into the top three, he nevertheless took a strong fifth place..

Reigning champion Brookes, meanwhile, also climbed the leaderboard as the race progressed and the Australian ace gained three places from his grid position to take an eventual tenth.

Christian Iddon: “I’m quite content with today’s result and after qualifying about where our pace suggested we should be, I had a much better race. I didn’t make the greatest of starts so it was hard work, but we made good strides forward and with about three to four laps to go, I thought we may be able to make it onto the podium. It wasn’t to be sadly, but it was a hard fought fifth place and if we can improve the performance in a couple of sectors, we’ll be in a better position tomorrow. Being on the front row for the first race is definitely a much better starting point and we’ll be giving it 100% once more.”

Josh Brookes: “It’s been a similar meeting so far as per previous rounds sadly and that’s just where we are at themoment. I obviously gave it 100% again and gave the race my best efforts and with a couple of riders coming off and by overtaking a couple of riders, I got myself up to tenth. It’s frustrating and I can use all the words you can imagine to describe finishing tenth as it’s not at all pleasing but we are where are. The mixed conditions and rain look like they’re going to give me my best chance of a podium this season as that’s when I’m competitive so let’s see what tomorrow brings.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “Conditions in FP3 this morning hampered Christian as he wasn’t able to try the changes we’d made to the bike and had to go into qualifying on an un-tried bike, so it wasn’t easy. P9 on the grid didn’t help as it’s pretty much follow my leader around Cadwell but he came through well for fifth and P3 for tomorrow’s first race is a big plus. We’re missing two or three tenths to the leaders, but we’ll make some more changes for tomorrow to try and help him in the areas where he’s losing out. As Josh said, it’s been a similar story to previous rounds and although he was quick out of the blocks on Friday, he’s stayed at a similar pace whilst others have got quicker. Grip’s still causing him issues, but he was a bit higher than recent races which is a plus and we’ll look to see what we can do to make the bike better for him. The weather could well be a factor tomorrow as the forecast isn’t the most promising but let’s see.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (14 laps)

1 Peter Hickman (BMW)

2 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

3 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

4 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

5 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

6 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

10 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings

1 O’Halloran 297pts

2 Mackenzie 223

3 Iddon 214

4 Bridewell 173

5 Buchan 165

6 Hickman 155

12 Brookes 83

Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (1) and Christian Iddon (21)

Iddon Maintains Championship Lead At Thruxton

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 12:41:17 GMT

Christian Iddon maintained his Bennetts British Superbike Championship lead this afternoon when the VisionTrack Ducati rider took a second place in the opening race of the fourth round held at Thruxton.

But it again proved to be a tough day for reigning champion Josh Brookes with the Australian struggling and ending the race in 17th position for Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team.

After wet conditions yesterday at the super-fast Hampshire track, today saw good, dry conditions although the fortunes of the two PBM riders varied in free practice with Christian placing third on the factory-supported VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4 RR and Josh back in 17th.

That pattern continued in qualifying where Tyneside-based Iddon posted the fifth fastest time for a second row start for the afternoon’s 15-lap race whilst Josh was back in 20th and on the seventh row.

Iddon slotted into fourth at the completion of the opening lap which was where he remained until the fifth lap when he overhauled Honda’s Glenn Irwin. Yamaha’s Jason O’Halloran, Iddon’s main championship rival at present, led but on lap 12, Christian moved up to second to ensure his losses were a minimum.

The race ended on the penultimate lap after Irwin crashed heavily, fortunately without injury, and O’Halloran took the win ahead of Iddon which means the pair are separated by just one point in Iddon’s favour ahead of tomorrow’s two races.

For Brookes, it was another challenging race and after losing a number of places on the opening lap, the combination of a poor start and being slowed by a first lap crash, he dropped to 23rd at one point. He regrouped and managed to gain six places, but 17th meant he was outside the points to remain in 11th overall in the standings.

Christian Iddon: “Thruxton’s different to any other circuit we go to, and it’s been a bit of a bogey track for me in the past so it’s nice to finish on the podium this time around. I was really surprised at the pace we were doing and managing the tyre was the challenge, but I stayed patient and managed the race as best I could. I was a bit nervous ahead of the weekend, but we’ve stuck to our plan and didn’t panic when the riders ahead of me made a bit of a break. Jason’s pace was too much but the others came back to me and whilst it’s always sad to finish a race on a red flag, it’s another good podium.”

Josh Brookes: “It’s been another tough weekend so far and we’ve been trying to limit the amount of front-endchatter we’ve been having. It hasn’t been the traditional feeling, but we can see from the data that there’s not as much travel in the front. We made some changes for the race but when things are going wrong in racing, they go wrong, and I was pushed wide by the first corner crash which lost me a lot of time. The changes we’d made were in the wrong direction too and it was near impossible to make any kind of impression. We’ll be going with the opposite of that for tomorrow and do our best to get back to where we should be.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s been a very good day for Christian and having had tough times here previously for other teams, we drilled it into him that being patient and not destroying the tyre was key. He probably could have gone with Jason but knew he wouldn’t have had tyre left in the final third, so he played the waiting game and did so superbly. It’s not easy for a racer to do as it goes against their instincts, but he rode with his head and also with a lot of heart.

“Unfortunately, it’s been another struggle so far for Josh and whilst we thought his pace looked good after six or seven laps in qualifying, he wasn’t able to duplicate it in the race. When you qualify a long way back on the grid, you’re fighting a losing battle as you’re never going to make massive in-roads, but the team will make some more changes and he’ll go again tomorrow.”

Tomorrow’s 20-lap races are scheduled for 13:30 and 16:30 respectively.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (15 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

3 Peter Hickman (BMW)

4 Ryan Vickers (Kawasaki)

5 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

6 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

17 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings (after 10 races)

1 Iddon 183pts

2 O’Halloran 182

3 Mackenzie 147

4 Buchan 133

5 Bridewell 106

6 Hickman 89

11 Brookes 56

Iddon Wins Again At Brands Hatch

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 14:54:29 GMT

Christian Iddon and the VisionTrack Ducati team got back to winning ways in the Bennetts British SuperbikeChampionship at Brands Hatch today with the Tyneside-based rider taking victory in a hectic seven-lap dash which, together with fifth place earlier in the day, consolidated his lead in the title standings.

The final race of the weekend started with a damp track but with a multitude of tyre choices across the field, Josh starting with full wets and Christian fitting a slick rear and intermediate front highlighting the mix.

Australian Brookes surged into the lead before Danny Buchan moved ahead of him but as the race wore on, the track dried and Iddon moved ahead of his team-mate to take second at half race distance. However, shortly afterwards, the red flags were out after Gino Rea’s Suzuki expired in a plume of smoke across the start and finish.

Re-started over just seven laps, slick tyres were the order of the day with both Paul Bird Motorsport riders on the front row and, as expected given the short distance, it was a hectic affair from start to finish.

Disappointed with the earlier stoppage, Iddon was clearly fired up and his intentions were clear as he took the lead early and withstood significant pressure from, amongst others Danny Buchan and Tarran Mackenzie, to claim his second win of the season.

Bedfordshire-based Brookes looked on course to join him on the podium when he took third on the fourth lap but a tough move by Jason O’Halloran saw him pushed wide and lose ground although he was still able to take a fine fifth place at the end to further boost his confidence.

Christian Iddon: “I was a bit disappointed after the first race where I struggled a bit for grip in the second half of the race but everything was looking good in the second as my tyre choice was really coming into their own. I was really wound up after the red flag came out and determined that the re-start was going to be mine. In such a short race, I didn’t have to worry about tyre life and I could just go for it which is exactly what I did! It was an amazing race and I was surprised at the pace we were all going at but I’m just glad I was able to get the job done, keep my lead in the championship and pick up a good haul of podium credits.”

Josh Brookes: “The day didn’t start well at all but ended a lot more positively and we can definitely take away a few good things from the second race – fifth isn’t where I want to be finishing obviously but given where we’ve been at, it’s a start. The bike clearly works well in the wet but in the seven lap dash, I was able to lap comfortably quicker than I have done all weekend so we definitely found something in the dry. The SCX tyre is still making the front feel bad but something changed and I was able to lap in the 1’25s bracket which was more satisfying. I’m taking it day by day at the moment but it’s nice to end the weekend on a positive note.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “Christian’s continuing to deliver the goods and although his head could have dropped at times today, he responded perfectly each time. The first race saw him lose grip in the last few laps, so we made some changes for the second race although the rain negated that and tyre choice was the most important thing. It was a collective decision to go with the inter front and slick front and we kept our fingers crossed!

“If it had gone the full distance I was confident we could win so to overcome the disappointment of the red flag and win the seven lap dash shows his character – he was going to win that race no matter what! Josh is clearly having some issues still and not getting the feeling he wants but there were definite signs of encouragement and leading the wet race and then taking a good, close fifth when it was pretty much dry will hopefully get his confidence up.”

The next round takes place at Thruxton, Andover on July 30th - August 1st.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (20 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

3 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

4 Danny Buchan (BMW)

5 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

6 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)

18 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (7 laps)

1 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)

2 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

3 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

4 Danny Buchan (BMW)

5 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)

6 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings (after three rounds)

1 Iddon 163pts

2 O’Halloran 157

3 Mackenzie 137

4 Buchan 130

5 Bridewell 100

6 Skinner 86

10 Brookes 56

Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (1) and Christian Iddon (21)