BSB Snetterton: Glenn Irwin doubles up to extend championship lead

Glenn Irwin held off Tommy Bridewell in the final Bennetts British Superbike Championship race of the weekend at Snetterton to extend his championship lead to four points.

Irwin was put under immense pressure by the 2023 champion in the closing stages of the race, but, despite some slight errors, was able to stay ahead of the Honda Racing UK rider. It’s Irwin’s sixth victory of 2024, his second of the weekend at Snetterton, and 25th overall in the superbike class.

Bridewell crossed the line 0.125s behind Irwin to secure his ninth podium of the season, whilst Christian Iddon was third onboard the Oxford Products Racing Ducati. Iddon is now 21 points behind Irwin in the standings.

Danny Kent was the leading Yamaha rider in fourth ahead of Kyle Ryde, with the duo now level on points in the championship. Both Yamaha R1 riders have 147 points to their name, and sit 30 points behind the series leader.

Andrew Irwin was sixth on the second factory Honda, whilst Josh Brookes and Ryan Vickers finished seventh and eighth respectively. Jason O’Halloran and Charlie Nesbitt completed the top 10.

Lee Jackson finished 5.912s adrift of the top 10, crossing the line ahead of Max Cook and Franco Bourne. Peter Hickman and Storm Stacey claimed the final two points on offer in the final race.

Leon Haslam returned to the pits and retired from the race, bringing a tough weekend to a premature end.

Round six of the 2024 BSB season takes place at Brands Hatch on July 19-21.

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Glenn Irwin claimed his fifth win of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season in the second restarted race of the weekend at Snetterton.

Irwin was leading the race when the red flags were waved due to rain, which came moments after the safety car was released due to Louis Valleley’s bike catching fire. A five-lap sprint was declared and thankfully the rain cleared.

Irwin led from start to finish after the restart and crossed the line with a comfortable advantage of 1.487s over Tommy Bridewell. It’s Irwin’s fifth victory – and his fifth podium – of the season and he retakes control of the championship as a result, moving two points clear of Bridewell.

Bridewell fought his way through from 16^th on the grid to third in the opening six laps of the original race, but endured a difficult start to the five-lap sprint which allowed Irwin to open up too much of a gap.

Christian Iddon remains in the title fight after securing his third podium in the last four races, with the Oxford Products Racing Ducati rider now third overall, 17 points behind Irwin.

Kyle Ryde missed out on a podium by just 0.034s in fourth, whilst Andrew Irwin completed the top five onboard the Honda Racing UK Fireblade. Danny Kent and Ryan Vickers were sixth and seventh respectively, whilst Jason O’Halloran, Charlie Nesbitt and Josh Brookes completed the top 10.

Franco Bourne’s impressive weekend continued in 11^th, crossing the line ahead of Lee Jackson, Max Cook and race one winner Storm Stacey. Peter Hickman claimed the final point available in the race.

The third and final BSB race of the weekend at Snetterton is scheduled to begin at 16:15.

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Storm Stacey produced a wet weather masterclass at Snetterton to secure his maiden Bennetts British Superbike Championship victory.

Stacey was leading the race when the red flags were brought out, and had to do it all again in the five-lap restart. He bounced back from a tricky restart and got the better of Lewis Rollo at Brundle on the final lap to take an emotional first win.

It’s Stacey’s first-ever BSB podium, achieved in his 128^th superbike race. His victory means that eight different riders have been victorious in the opening 12 races of 2024.

Rollo will still be delighted with his maiden podium on the Pathway-spec Aprilia after leading the majority of the five-lap sprint. Kyle Ryde stayed out of trouble to take a much needed podium onboard the GRILLA OMG Racing Yamaha R1.

Jason O’Halloran was fourth onboard the Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki, whilst Glenn Irwin has moved level on points with Tommy Bridewell at the top of the standings after finishing fifth. Bridewell crashed out at turn six after the restart, and clattered into Danny Kent who crashed out of the lead seconds earlier.

Christian Iddon crossed the line in sixth ahead of Andrew Irwin and Leon Haslam, whilst polesitter Ryan Vickers and Franco Bourne completed the top 10.

Dean Harrison and Tom Neave were 11^th and 12^th respectively, whilst Josh Brookes, Louis Valleley and Danny Buchan claimed the final points on offer in the opening race of the weekend. Alex Olsen was the final classified rider.

Charlie Nesbit crashed out of third position, whilst Peter Hickman and Brayden Elliot both crashed on the final lap of the restarted race.

The original race was brought to a premature end following a huge highside for Rory Skinner at turn 11 (Coram). The Scot was reportedly suffering from leg pain and was taken away from the scene in an ambulance.

Moments after Skinner’s fall, Jaime Van Sikkelerus went down at the same corner but thankfully avoided Skinner and the marshals helping the Cheshire Mouldings BMW racer.  Lee Jackson retired from third position in the original race due to a bike problem.

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Ryan Vickers will start the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race of the weekend at Snetterton from pole position.

The local hero posted a session best lap-time of 2:05.868 in the wet conditions to secure his second pole of the 2024 season. It was a tricky qualifying session for everybody, with multiple fallers throughout.

Moments after going top of the session, Billy McConnell crashed at Oggies and was taken to the medical centre for a check-up. The Aussie will still start today’s race from second, whilst Storm Stacey will line-up alongside him in third after making it through Q1 on his final flying lap.

Honda Racing UK teammates Tommy Bridewell and Andrew Irwin qualified fourth and fifth respectively, whilst Kyle Ryde completed the second row. Ryde crashed at Nelson in the closing stages.

Josh Brookes was the leading BMW rider in seventh, ahead of Jason O’Halloran and Rory Skinner. Knockhill race winner Christian Iddon bounced back from a crash during Free Practice 3 to complete the top 10 for Oxford Products Racing Ducati. The team were busy working on the bike to get Ducati out in time.

Charlie Nesbitt and Danny Kent were 11^th and 12^th respectively, with the latter crashing at turn three (Palmer). Luke Hedger was 13^th, ahead of 2023 championship runner-up Glenn Irwin. Irwin’s (Palmer). Lee Jackson completed the top 15.

Danny Buchan was best of the rest in Q1 after losing his top three position to Stacey in the closing seconds. As a result, the DAO Racing Kawasaki rider will start race one from 16^th on the grid.

Dean Harrison is next on the grid for Honda Racing UK, but was left in some discomfort after suffering a highside at turn six (Oggies). Peter Hickman completed the sixth row onboard the FHO Racing BMW.

Brayden Elliot heads row seven ahead of Max Cook and Franco Bourne. The latter crashed at turn six (Oggies) seconds after posting the quickest first sector of anybody.

Tom Neave, Alex Olsen, Louis Valleley and Jaime Van Sikkelerus were the final classified riders in Q1. Olsen crashed out at turn two (Wilson), whilst Van Sikkelerus went down at turn five (Hamilton)

Leon Haslam and Lewis Rollo both failed to make it out during Q1 following crashes in the Free Practice 3 session.

The opening BSB race of the weekend at Snetterton is scheduled to take place at 16:00.