April 8, 2025

TESTING, TESTING… HAGER PBM DUCATI READY FOR NAVARRA ACTION

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

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI WRAP-UP SUCCESSFUL TESTING PROGRAMME

April 24, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team and rider Glenn Irwin have completed another successful R&G Official test at Oulton Park, with the opening round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship now just over a week away. Irwin and the team have spent the last two days at the Cheshire track, grabbing as much track time as possible in the final days on track before the season begins. After ending last weekend’s Donington Park test on top, the team was keen to continue to push in the final two days, working through a busy schedule and trying a host of new components and ideas. Irwin ended the test second quickest overall after clocking the best lap of Thursday afternoon’s final session, banking a 1min 33.313s lap on his last run. He leaves feeling confident about next weekend’s opening round and can’t wait to get back out. Glenn Irwin: “That’s us finished pre-season testing and I’m feeling good. We’ve been working, working, working and the bike felt better today but we still have a bit of work to do. “It’s been really, really enjoyable, we’ve tried a number of different things and I think now we’re finding a bit of a balance. Today we unlocked something in that middle session, I did a good few 33s in that run so I think we’re strong. “It’s definitely been very productive. We haven’t gone for lap times, we’ve been focussed on getting the bike right and when that happens, the lap times come. That’s what we’re starting to see and I think we’re in a good place to come back next week and start the season.” Frank Bird Jnr, Team Co-owner: “It’s a mega way to finish, this puts us in really good stead for the season and we’ve got a lot of boxes ticked off with the bike. All the boys are working well, we’ve got everyone back into the swing of things and Glenn seems to be riding well, so we’re in a good window for the first round. “It’s been a long winter but all the hard work seems to be paying off and we’re right in the mix. It means we can come here for Round One and we’re in a great place to start from.” The opening round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship roars into action at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend, May 3-5.

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI END SUCCESSFUL SECOND TEST ON TOP

April 19, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team continued its strong testing form at Donington Park as rider Glenn Irwin once again ended the two days fastest overall. Although the team is still not concentrating on lap times, Irwin picked up where he left off at Circuito de Navarra earlier this month as he led the way on Friday before going even quicker on Day Two with an impressive fastest lap of 1min 27.015s in the final session. After a strong first test where he topped the timesheets at Navarra, the team headed to the second R&G Official test at Donington Park looking to work on a number of different things. Irwin was consistently quick across the opening day, ending Friday fastest overall with a 1:27.022sec lap in the final session to end the day at the top of the timesheets with what was the fastest ever BSB lap of the iconic track. Along with most of the pack, he opted to sit out of Saturday morning’s first session due to track conditions, heading out for the second to work through a few more things. He again shot to the top of the timesheets with a lap of 1:27.468, before later going one better in the final session to clock his new fastest ever lap. Glenn Irwin: “It’s been really good, like Navarra, we’ve continued with a plan. Yesterday we had a really, really strong bike here and conditions were a little better. Today conditions were tougher with the wind but everyone still finds a way to go fast. “We probably persevered with a bike which is suited to the final sector, perhaps Turn One as well. As the day went on I realised we were losing a bit in some places but we stuck with it. “It’s pleasing because I would say that isn’t the bike of choice for here, perhaps maybe yesterday's bike was better, but to top today feeling like that, to do a lot of laps in the 27s with improved pace on old tyres is good. The test has definitely been a success.” John Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “I think it’s been a positive test where we’ve confirmed a number of test items over the two days. We had slightly better conditions yesterday than today but I think we’ve ticked a lot of boxes, gone fairly quick so it’s all positive – roll on Oulton Park. “The plan there is more of the same, just keep trying to understand the new tyre, try and work with it. I think longevity is going to be the key now for Oulton Park, we’ll do a couple of race runs, see how the tyre lasts and then get ready for Round One.” The team will now prepare for the final test at Oulton Park next Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24 which will be the last chance to get everything ready ahead of the first round of the 2025 season at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
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