Glenn Irwin says he ‘fully expects’ to be in contention for the 2024 British Superbike Championship despite the last minute nature of his deal with compete once more with Paul Bird Motorsport.
The Ulsterman - who made his BSB debut with PBM in 2016 - finished a close runner-up to team-mate Tommy Bridewell in the 2023 BSB standings on his return to the works Ducati team last season.
After a period of uncertainty in the wake of founder and owner Paul Bird’s sudden death in September 2023, Irwin will once again team up with PBM under a new management structure overseen by Paul’s daughter Jordan Bird and son Frank Bird Jr.
While Irwin - who has 16 BSB wins to his name and has finished runner-up in each of the past two seasons - accepts there will be some challenges ahead for the team in the wake of its necessary re-organisation, he has no doubt he will be in contention for the title.
“I believe and full 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.
More than that, however, Irwin is keen to finish what he started some eight years ago when Paul Bird himself gave him his big break in Superbikes.
“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.”
In addition to confirming his presence on the BSB grid, Irwin says he will be back at the North West 200 as he looks to extend a streak of eight Superbike class victories.
