Reigning Bennetts British Superbike Championship-winning team PBM will return to fight for a tenth title this season with Glenn Irwin. Jordan and Frank Bird will take the helm as they strive to add to the unprecedented level of success achieved by their late father, Paul Bird.
PBM claimed another one-two finish in last year’s final standings with Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin separated by just half a point after an incredible decider - the closest finish in championship history.
Under Paul Bird’s leadership, the team have celebrated nine BSB titles, 138 race wins, 175 race podiums and 98 pole positions and now twins Jordan and Frank are ready to continue his legacy.
Irwin returns with the team after his strongest campaign to date last year as 2024 marks his fifth season with PBM. The Northern Irish contender has achieved several career milestones with PBM, including making his Bennetts BSB debut in 2016 and scoring his first podium and race win together.
Last season, PBM won 18 races and finished on the podium a further 18 times, of which Irwin won ten races and scored a further eight podium finishes. Now Irwin is bidding to go one better as he seeks an incredible tenth title for Bennetts BSB’s most successful team.
Irwin said: “For the people reading this it must be a relief as I have been inundated with messages from fans asking me about what I am doing this season, which has been really nice and I am so grateful for their support. It might sound like a cliché, but there was never really anywhere else I wanted to be, despite interest from elsewhere when there was some uncertainty, my heart and attention was always to remain with PBM.
“To touch on last year, we had an amazing season working together, and after four years apart we came back together and I think in that time I have grown up and matured. The team went through a lot last year, but it was also an amazing year and the championship was one of the most exciting in history and I am extremely grateful to have been a part of that. It didn’t work out in my favour as such, but it doesn’t take any of the sweetness away from it because we had great success.
“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.
“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.
Team Owners Jordan and Frank Bird Junior jointly commented: “We are delighted to confirm that the PBM team will be back on the grid this season. It has obviously been a real emotional rollercoaster for us and we are so proud of what the whole team achieved last year, ending the season on a high with a one-two in the standings.
“The PBM team remain fully committed to the championship and after a lot of uncertainty over the last few months we are delighted that Glenn returns as we begin the next chapter for PBM. He has a long-standing history with the team – from making his Superbike debut, to a first podium and his first race win in the championship. We hope that together we can add a Championship title to that this season!
“We want to take this opportunity to thank our partners and fans for their continued support and we are now looking forward to the future of PBM and keeping Dad’s memory alive.”
The PBM Team launch will officially launch in April ahead of the opening test of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season at Donington Park.