Superbike rookie Andrew Irwin has revealed that the fastest lap of the weekend, which vitally sent him to Q3, wasn’t as difficult as it looked.
After a game of strategy with brother Glenn Irwin in the second qualifying session this afternoon, Andrew scorched to a 1’14.346, over four tenths of a second faster than Shane Byrne’s fastest ever lap of the Hampshire circuit.
The Be Wiser PBM Ducati rider then clocked the third fastest time in the final qualifying segment, joining his pole-setting brother on the front row for his best-ever start since his BSB debut at Snetterton in June.
But 23-year-old Andrew credits much of his success to big brother Glenn, who he admits has taken him under his wing in recent weeks, and the younger Irwin feels it’s beginning to pay dividends as he finds form in the blue riband class.
“When I followed Glenn in Q2 I didn’t think I had that pace for a 1’14.3, but it felt kind of easy,” he admitted.
“When I came in I knew I had made it into Q3 and so I just told myself to keep breathing. To make the front row is really good and I’m really happy.
“But to be honest, I have to thank Glenn. The past two weeks he’s taken me under his wing, every time he’s been training I’ve been with him. We do cycling, yoga, everything together to help me keep breathing.
“So tomorrow we’re in a good position for the races and it’s going to be all about the tyre wear so if I can make the most of the tyre and not overuse it at the start I think we can be okay at the end.
“I have to be realistic, top 10 is still my aim but I always want more than that. I’m starting to live my dream.”