Glenn Irwin heads into the final round of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship holding second in the standings with just a single point separating him from Tommy Bridewell in third as the pair fight in the last three races of the season at Brands Hatch this weekend.
The Honda Racing UK rider has celebrated three wins and a further four podium finishes this season and with Bradley Ray holding the advantage at the top of the standings, Irwin is determined to complete his campaign with a podium haul in his quest to finish as close to the top as possible.
Irwin said: “In racing anything can happen, ultimately we all want to win the championship and that is what we set out to do every year. Racing can throw up strange things and we have seen it before.
“Jason (O’Halloran) is very much capable of pulling three wins out the bag this weekend and Lee (Jackson) has had a great year and I believe Tommy is one of the toughest competitors with focus and desire – he rides with a lot of passion and I see a lot of me in Tommy. We both have an extended dictionary and are extremely determined I am not sure there are two more hungry riders snapping at the heels of Brad!
“I watched Brad at Donington and I felt I had more pace on the X tyre than Brad had on the 0 which pleases me, as this time of year the track temperature is cooler. I showed character and determination at Donington in the third race that was Glenn Irwin on display for sure. It was like an audition and to pass Tommy with one foot peg was a real pleasing moment despite losing the victory.
“I had a lot of nice messages from riders I look up to, and that is confidence inspiring as well. Although that doesn’t mean when I get into Brands Hatch and have two foot pegs it becomes easy! I believe I was riding over the limit, so with two I will just be on the limit!
“We made a chassis change with a swingarm at Thruxton and Brands Hatch was the circuit we went to after that. We had a podium in the last race. It was a strange weekend, I made a mistake in race one and we left Brands having managed to beat Brad in race three using the strength of the Honda and yes, the bike has made steps since then.
“Fundamentally, it is just tweaks but it is me too, I had a shoulder injury for a long time and I had it fixed and that has made a big difference. Me and the bike are both upgrading at the same time, that is the best way of saying it, and that is what has been enjoyable lately especially at the more physical tracks.
“Brands Hatch is track where Tommy and the Ducati have been exceptionally strong before. It is Brad’s local, Jason has a fantastic record there, but I believe I can put it amongst them and if I am going to hold on to second in the championship or grab any opportunity that might present itself, then we need to go and do it.”