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"It Should Have Been a Podium" - Irwin Rues Missed Opportunity in Donington BSB Race 3

Impact Images

A fourth win of the season, his first on the Donington Park GP circuit, enabled Glenn Irwin to extend his championship lead in this year’s British Superbike Championship to 13 points but it wasn’t all plain sailing for the Hager PBM Ducati rider.

Arriving at the Leicestershire circuit on the back of six straight wins at Oulton Park and the North West 200, Irwin struggled for the first two days with a scrappy Superpole lap leaving him in eighth on the grid for Saturday’s Race 1. And although he fought his way to fifth, it left him and the team with plenty of work to do.

Glenn Irwin leads Leon Haslam, 2024 Donington Park BSB. Credit: Impact Images.

“We had a bit of a problem with the bike after the North West 200 which hindered us on Friday and Saturday, and we were nowhere,” the Carrickfergus rider admitted. “Right from the first lap of practice, the bike felt strange, and it was hard to find any positives after the first race. With Ryan (Vickers) and Christian (Iddon) crashing, we got away with it points-wise as it could have been a lot worse than fifth.”

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However, in true PBM style, the team turned it around with Irwin taking a superb win in Sunday’s Sprint race. Leading from start to finish, he successfully kept Leon Haslam at bay to reassert himself on the series.

“The team worked beyond midnight on Saturday to give me a bike I could win on. The bike felt so good in morning warm up and the hard work paid dividends in the race. I was able to go flat out from the word go with some incredibly fast laps and although Leon kept chipping away, we were ultimately rewarded with the victory.”

Irwin then played his part in undoubtedly the best race of the season as he battled with Tommy Bridewell, Danny Kent and eventual winner Jason O’Halloran throughout the 20 laps. He ultimately was one to lost out in a last lap sort out but he was nevertheless smiling at the conclusion of round three.

“The final race of the weekend was just one of those you’re glad to be involved in. And whilst I would have been happy with any of the top four positions, I feel it should have been a podium. On the plus side, it was my first win on the GP circuit, and we’ve extended our lead in the championship so on we go. I feel great and I’m enjoying the pressure of being the championship leader.”

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