Roads: 11-time North West 200 race winner Glenn Irwin announces retirement from international road racing

Bennetts British Superbike Championship rider Glenn Irwin has announced his shock retirement from international road racing.

The 34-year-old is the most successful Superbike rider at the North West 200 having won the last 11 races around the Triangle Circuit. Irwin is unbeaten since race two in 2017, and has taken the chequered flag first onboard Kawasaki, Honda and Ducati machinery.

During that same time period, Irwin has finished runner-up in BSB on two occasions. Irwin was second to Bradley Ray in 2022 whilst riding for Honda Racing UK, before dramatically losing out by half-a-point to PBM Ducati teammate Tommy Bridewell the following year.

“Around 4pm on Saturday May 11, 2024, I took the chequered flag at the North West 200 for the final time. I would like to make the announcement that I have made the decision to retire from all road racing with immediate effect,” Irwin said on a video posted on his Facebook page.

“34 may seem young but I achieved so much more in my short tenure than I ever could have dreamed of. I finished 14 international superbike races, winning 12 of them, the other two that I didn’t win was my debut at the Isle of Man TT and also the first ever NW200 Superbike race in wet conditions.

“I finished three international Supersport races, where I finished on the podium in all three races, and finished behind riders like William Dunlop, Lee Johnston and Alastair Seeley.”

Irwin beat the all-time wins record held by Michael Rutter and Joey Dunlop, both of whom had nine victories on their CV at the NW200.

“How we’ve gone on to beat that record with 11 wins consecutively is something that will live with me forever,” added Irwin. “I can’t believe what we’ve done, but we’ve done it, and it feels so nice to sit here saying that. It’s very surreal.

“From the boy who cycled the golf courses as a kid, who begged for pounds for the fosters sweet stall in the paddock, to the most winning superbike rider ever at the NW200… It’s a chequered flag on my road racing career. Is this the missing bit of the puzzle in my quest for my first British Superbike title? Only time will tell.”

Irwin finished third overall this season in BSB after suffering some huge crashes onboard his Hager PBM Ducati V4 R. Despite these crashes, and technical issues, Irwin still managed to win eight races to take his grand BSB total to 27.

A blown oil cooler at Brands Hatch launched Irwin off of bike during qualifying, with brother Andrew Irwin going down behind him as a result. Earlier in the season at the same circuit Glenn was taken out going down Paddock Hill Bend.

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Whilst he avoided any broken bones, it’s incidents like this that have also played on Irwin’s mind with regards to his North West 200 future. Irwin is a father of three and therefore has a young family to consider.

In the video, Irwin reminded fans that he broke his neck, shoulder and elbow at Knockhill in 2017 when a “handlebar snapped at me.” Irwin also suffered multiple back fractures when he suffered a brake failure during testing at Andalucia in 2022.

“All these three crashes would take a miracle to survive in road racing, and I believe I have had chances. I am a father of three children and a partner of Laura and we have just bought our dream home.

“The road racer in me knows that we could be successful at the NW200 for years to come and I also believe that I could remain unbeaten for many years. However, the dad in me knows I have had a good time of it, I have achieved success that I have never dreamed of achieving.

“We’re often guilty in life of wanting more. More wins, more financial freedom, more whatever. But in the world of road racing, the price of chasing that next victory, that next record, can be so high, it can be the ultimate price.

“I have always felt in control but having the awareness and exposure of the big crashes I have had, caused by unforeseen circumstances had made me realise that riding with the best intentions isn’t always enough.

“We started this journey as a family of two and we leave it at the top of as a family of five, something I am forever grateful for.”

Alongside his NW200 heroics, Irwin became the fastest-ever newcomer around the Isle of Man TT in 2022, recording a best of 129.85mph.

Earlier in his road racing career, Irwin was victorious at the 2017 Macau Grand Prix and finished on the podium at the 2014 Ulster Grand Prix in the Supersport class, breaking the existing lap record at that time.

Irwin’s road racing debut came in 2014 at the Dundrod 150 whilst racing for the VRS Kawasaki team. Irwin finished fifth in the Supertwin race after qualifying third.