Glenn Irwin to make British Superbike comeback with new team after shock Hager PBM Ducati split

Belfast Telegraph

5 days ago

The Carrickfergus man was confirmed to be departing the Ducati side by 'mutual consent' on Tuesday morning after the two sides reached a 'point of conflict' in their discussions over his comeback from a horror crash at Snetterton in June that left him needing surgery on his pelvic region.
Irwin had sounded an optimistic note that he could be back as early as this weekend however, despite that, in a statement by Hager PBM Ducati it was revealed that the pair have parted ways by 'mutual consent', with former British champion Scott Redding drafted in as Irwin's replacement for the remainder of the season.
It did not take long for the 35-year-old to find a replacement ride, however, with Nitrous Competitions OMG Racing Yamaha confirming only an hour later that they would be adding Irwin to their roster for the remainder of the campaign alongside defending British champion Kyle Ryde, running two bikes for the rest of the year.
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Irwin will take to the grid at Thruxton at the weekend on his new machine for the first time, with team owner David Williams commenting: 'Nitrous Competitions OMG Racing are excited to have Glenn join the team.
"Between him and Kyle, we believe we have the strongest pairing on the current grid, and are entering the second half of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship season with a stronger sense of optimism than ever.'
Irwin raced under the Hager PBM Ducati umbrella from 2016 to 2018 before rejoining in 2023, winning 19 races and racking up a further 23 podium finishes, and he nearly delivered the 2023 British Championship to the team, missing out by half-a-point to Tommy Bridewell.
'Hager PBM Ducati and Glenn Irwin have announced that their contractual relationship has been terminated by mutual consent,' said Hager PBM Ducati's statement, with the team riding only one bike for the rest of the year.
'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.'