McErlean planning 'step forward' at Rally Finland
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BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Irwin questions former team's loyalty after split
Glenn Irwin believes PBM Ducati "weren't prepared to wait for me" after his surprise exit from the British Superbike Championship 35-year-old suffered fractures to his hip socket and pelvis as a result of a practice crash at Snetterton in June and had surgery on his sacrum (pelvic region) as part of his initially targeting the round at Cadwell Park at the end of August, Irwin said he was declared fit to race at he next event at Thruxton from 8-10 August. However, on Thursday, PBM Ducati announced that Irwin had left the team "as a result of a point of conflict" over the immediacy of the Northern Ireland rider's questioned the loyalty of his former team, which he felt had not been reciprocated after he held off on contract negotiations with other outfits at the end of 2023 after PBM faced an uncertain future following the death of its owner and founder, Paul Bird, earlier that said he was a "very loyal person" and was "a bit hurt" by his exit."I didn't sign a contract for 2024 until that March [while waiting for PBM to get up and running under Bird's daughter, Jordan]. I was committed and trusting," Irwin told BBC Sport NI."PBM did get going and I sat there waiting. I don't think they were prepared to wait on me this year."Irwin added that the last week had been "one of the toughest moments of my career but also in my life."The injury was one thing, and having to deal with what comes next but there was also a lot of other things to deal with."I got passed orthopedically fit in all the stage one examinations that are required and got second and third opinions as well, but the team, for whatever reason, didn't value that." Irwin made his BSB debut with PBM Ducati in 2016 and was in his second spell with the team after rejoining in wished Scott Redding, the 2019 BSB champion who replaced Irwin while he was injured, all the best for the remainder of the season and said there were people at the team who would be "friends for life".After his exit from PBM, Irwin will return to the grid at Thruxton after agreeing a deal with OMG Racing, who run reigning riders' champion Kyle three-time BSB runner-up said he "can't go too much" into the reason for his departure but said: "It's an expensive sport, maybe that has something to do with it, I don't know"."There's one bike and this sport is expensive. It's a big ask to put two Ducati's out," Irwin added."It's been really tough. When you work so hard to come back from injury you want that encouragement when you get positive news. "When you go to trusted medics, I certainly value what they say. These are the guys you are trusting with your life."I know what I've been doing in training and it's been great. I'm fit to ride and hopefully we can show that this weekend." Irwin 'can't rule out' NW200 return Irwin's deal with OMG Yamaha is a "short-term deal" for the remainder of the BSB season and said he is currently negotiating for a seat for the 2026 was also spotted having lunch with the North West 200's Mervyn Whyte, and Irwin said he would not rule out a return to the event in is an 11-time winner in the Superbike class but announced his retirement from road racing due to the dangers of racing on closed public roads. "We spoke about lot of things about the North West, including safety improvements," Irwin said on his lunch with Whyte."My reason for not racing there was the danger, with having a family, but if these guys can make the event even safer then you never know."If they can keep making steps then I couldn't rule it out for next year."If we go back it's to do the same job we done before, it's not for anything else."
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
European defeat 'fuel' for league season
Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton has urged his side to use the disappointment of their European campaign as "motivation" for the new domestic season. The Reds became the first Irish Premiership team to bow out of the 2025-26 Uefa Conference League qualifying rounds with a 5-4 aggregate loss to St Joseph' Jesslen netted the winner for the Gibraltarian side during extra time at Solitude last month."We were all bitterly disappointed," Magilton told BBC Sport NI."Over the course of two games if you go down to 10 men, you don't expect to win and that's the disappointing bit as I felt we had them in our grasp, the second game especially, and it's a huge disappointment that we couldn't go on and finish the game."We were very competitive right to the death, but we couldn't get it over the line and I would like to think we will use that as motivation and fuel for what is coming next."It could be a huge season for the Reds, whose club members recently voted to accept a takeover proposal from the Toronto Investment takeover by the Canadian consortium could see the north Belfast club move to a full-time model and lead to their Solitude home receiving a facelift, with Magilton saying that the takeover is currently "in the hands of solicitors"."Cliftonville know where we are in the pecking order for getting players. The takeover isn't in place yet, it's in the hand of solicitors," added the former Northern Ireland midfielder. "If that were to happen and we were given investment, it gives us a better opportunity to get quality players into the club. We are always very careful with who we bring in because financially we can't compete and that's just a fact and we acknowledge that. "We always look to bring in players that are going to fit into the programme and bring that quality."
BBC News
8 hours ago
- BBC News
Reds call on IFA to change process after Burrows case
Cliftonville have called on the Irish Football Association (IFA) to review its process of how suspensions are communicated after Reds captain Kelsie Burrows was cleared of assaulting a match official. On the IFA's website, Burrows' ban was listed as 16 matches for "assault on a match official (whether or not causing bodily harm)" after Cliftonville's Women's Premiership win over Glentoran on 25 Northern Ireland defender was shown a red card by referee Simon Bickerstaff after the incident involving one of his she was cleared of the initial charge after Cliftonville's successful 'obvious error challenge' to the County Antrim FA disciplinary a result, Burrows' red card still stands and she now faces a shorter two-match ban on a reclassified Tuesday, Burrows said "the stress of being accused of something I knew I didn't do was incredibly emotionally difficult". While Cliftonville said the club were "pleased" that their 'obvious error challenge' was successful, they asked the IFA to review "how such matters are communicated on their website"."We believe that only the final outcomes of the disciplinary process, once exhausted, should be reported," added the club's statement. "Issuing lists of offences and associated sanctions while a process is under way gives a misleading impression, particularly when such serious offences are stated, as was the case in this instance. "Publishing what appears to be a final position can lead to issues beyond football for the person concerned, both in their personal life and work environment. We ask the IFA to give this due consideration."The IFA has been approached for comment. 'Incredibly emotionally difficult' Burrows, who represented Northern Ireland at the 2022 Euros, said she was "relieved and appreciative" that Cliftonville's challenge was successful. "The original sanction was not only going to affect my ability to play the sport I love, but it also took a significant toll on my mental and social well-being," added the former Blackburn and Linfield player. "The stress of being accused of something I knew I didn't do was incredibly emotionally difficult, and it placed strain on my relationships both on and off the pitch."I'm proud to represent both Cliftonville and Northern Ireland, and I've always tried to conduct myself with professionalism and respect for the game. "I'm thankful the challenge process acknowledged the full context of the incident, and I now look forward to moving on and continuing to give everything for my club and country."
