BSB: Irwin sidelined after free practice crash

Glenn Irwin was taken to hospital after crashing out of the opening session of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park but has received the all clear on a suspected neck injury. 

Overnight rainfall and low temperatures led to tricky conditions for the first session of the year with a track temperature of just 6.7 degrees as riders rolled out of pit lane.

The Be Wiser Ducati rider crashed in the final minutes of the session, highsiding out of the final turn.

He was tended to by trackside medics before being taken to the medical centre. He was then transferred to Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham for further scans on a suspected broken bone in his neck. 

However, Irwin has since confirmed that doctors at QMC believe the neck fracture was actually sustained in the incident in which he dislocated his shoulder and elbow at Knockhill last year. 

“Turns out when I broke/dislocated my elbow and shoulder at Knockhill I also broke my neck. It’s been confirmed as an old fracture, I’m stiff as a board but I’ll be passing the fitness test tomorrow.” 

Should he be released from hospital, Irwin will need to undergo a medical assessment at the circuit in the morning before he’s cleared to ride. 

Irwin’s Be Wiser Ducati team-mate Shane Byrne topped the session ahead of Jake Dixon and Kyle Ryde.