Glenn Irwin has the edge of just half a point going into the penultimate round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park and the BeerMonster Ducati rider knows that he needs to add to his winning tally again this weekend to keep his rivals at bay.
Irwin closed down teammate Tommy Bridewell last time out at Oulton Park, moving ahead by just half a point as the pair strive to seal the ninth title for the PBM team to continue the legacy of their late Team Owner Paul Bird.
Irwin’s double victory at Oulton Park moved him back ahead in the title standings, and he will be eager to add to his podium tally again after claiming a single top three finish on the visit earlier in the season to Donington Park.
Irwin said: “Obviously going into Donington Park, the script writes itself as such. It’s nice to go in as the championship leader. I have always said throughout my career, when expectation is on me to perform and you are carrying the mantel of the red plate as such, if you were to look at American Supercross the leader carries the red plate, I have had experience of that in the past and returning with expectation. I like that; it is something that gives me great confidence.
“That being said, I won’t be too hung up on individual races, I don’t really have a plan as such or a need for each race to achieve a certain target, we just keep focusing on the end goal to lift the British Superbike Championship. That combined with the efforts of the team and myself should put us in a great position.
“I think to touch on Oulton Park it was a phenomenal weekend for the team and such a tough weekend emotionally, especially for Paul’s family so to be able to play a part along with Tommy to secure three out of three wins for the team, I think is something that I am very proud to be a part of. For sure, there is no war between myself and Tommy, there is no rift whatsoever and we get on really well.
“We all say things in the heat of the moment, so I will continue to do what I have done all season and that is to continue to work on myself and continue to respect Tommy and get on like we do. In hospitality, the craic has been good and Tommy has my full respect. I am sure we can have a beer at the end of the season after the championship has panned out.
“Right now, it is full focus from the team on Donington Park, which has been a happy hunting ground for me in the past, as has Brands Hatch. Both events earlier in the year we had issues, so I look forward to rectifying the Donington Park round and if we can go and continue to focus and target coming away with a few wins here and there, keep the consistency that is all I can ask for.”