BSB: Irwin: 'I've wanted this since I was a nipper!'

Glenn Irwin was overjoyed to take his debut MCE British Superbike victory after a tricky race at Silverstone saw the Northern Irishman beat Josh Brookes and John Hopkins to the top spot.

With half of the 3.6 mile Northamptonshire circuit wet and the other half dry, the race was a tyre gamble with half of the field opting for wets and the other intermediate or dry combinations, but it would be the riders on the wet option Pirelli who prevailed after being able to pull a gap in the early stages.

Taking his time to find a feeling with the track, Irwin made a steady start but began to pick off the field before taking the lead from Brookes on lap six to storm to his debut win just a couple of months after he fractured his left shoulder and elbow.

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“To win my first Superbike race was class,” Irwin said. “It really is a mega feeling and something I have wanted to do since I was a little nipper.

“It makes it not easy to do again, but for sure I feel like the monkey is off my back. In any form of racing, in any sport, once you get the victory it becomes easier to get to that level again. Fair play to my team. I can’t use the injury as an excuse anymore but it’s been so tough.

“My plan was not to lead at the beginning of the race but when it mattered, but I got to the front and was comfortable so rode a steady race.”

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