BSB: Irwin: 'The best I've felt on the bike'

Glenn Irwin has decided to re-evaluate his approach for 2018 as the Be Wiser Ducati squad got their winter testing programme underway with the Ulsterman looking to concrete his position in the superbike class after an up and down first two years. 

A re-shuffle in the PBM ranks sees double Irish Superbike Champion Ryan Rainey take on the mantle of Irwin’s crew chief and the duo have already set about making their mark with Irwin second quickest after the Monteblanco test.

“This has been a really good test for us,” he said. “I spent the Cartagena test trying to replicate Shakey and had our bike very similar to his as well, but at the end of the test he sat me down and told me that I’ve got to where I am by being me. He’s very strong, and I do need to improve in the areas where he’s strongest but I can’t just copy how he does it as that doesn’t seem to work for me.

“For the last two years I haven’t done much with electronics on the superbike, I haven’t really worked with the data guy or changed by engine braking strategies. I was under the impression that a superbike shouldn’t back in, so any time we saw backing in on the data I kept telling them to dial it out but I love a bike to be the opposite of that. I’m not looking to be going sideways and wrecking my tyre, but I like the bike to feel tight and underneath me. We’ve worked on that and it’s felt really nice. 

“It allows me to ride how I want and it’s boosted my confidence and I’d say this is the best I’ve ever ridden the bike.”