March 13, 2023

Irwin And Bridewell Conclude Successful Spanish Test For PBM Ducati

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

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

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

PODIUMS, POINTS AND PRIZES FOR HAGER PBM DUCATI

May 18, 2025
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

May 14, 2025
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.
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