Graeme Irwin: I've a mountain to climb in BSB but in time I think I can do something special

The former British Motocross champion only made his full tarmac racing debut in 2019 in the National Superstock 1000 Championship, but Irwin is now making the jump to the ultra-competitive Superbike class on a Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

His brothers and proven BSB race winners, Glenn and Andrew, are competing in the championship for the Honda Racing team on the all-new CBR1000R-R Fireblade.

The 29-year-old will make his debut at the upcoming official BSB test at Monteblanco in Spain at the end of this month and although he is confident he can one day challenge for the title, the Ulster rider says he is under no illusions of the scale of the challenge he faces.

“I’m not underestimating the step I’m making because in terms of experience, I’ve got 12 races under my belt,” Irwin told the News Letter.

“To be in the BSB championship is incredible and I’m absolutely going to give it everything I have. From when I’ve been a kid I’ve always wanted to be a motorcyclist but I couldn’t give up on motocross until I felt I had fulfilled my potential by winning the British title. Once I did that in 2017, I realised that I’d rather be a British Superbike champion than be a three or four-time British motocross champion.

“From that moment, my new goal became to win the BSB title but of course I know I have a mountain to climb and a very long way to go to get there. This is just the start of me chasing my dream,” he added.

“I was a complete beginner last year and you can say I raced before once at the Sunflower Trophy meeting, but I don’t think I can count that because I rode a 1000cc Honda that day for the very first time ever.

“I was doing it properly in the British Superstock 1000 Championship last year and some people suggested that I should maybe have raced at home first in the Ulster Superbike Championship, but I came home last year and did a round and managed to win (double at Bishopscourt), so that showed the progress that I’d made.”

Irwin can’t wait to commence the 2020 season in anger as testing gets underway in a few weeks’ time and says he feels extremely fortunate to have such committed support in his racing career from his family, especially his father Alan, who was a highly successful racer in his own right on the roads and short circuits.

“I’m over the moon and I’ve still got so much to learn, but I’m just so excited and I want to get on the bike and step-by-step close the gap to the front. Over time, I’m sure I can do something special,” he said.

“Glenn and Andrew have a job to do and I’d say they’ll give me tips and help if I need it, but my dad is in all four of our corners – Ross as well who’s racing in Ulster Superbikes – so to have three of us in BSB and Ross in Ulster Superbikes is a credit to what my mum and dad have done for us. We wouldn’t be where we are without them and the sacrifices they have made over the years for us, so that shows how tight of a family we are and how supportive we are of each other.

“We live and breathe motorcycling and we are just a racing family. It’s incredible to have three brothers in British Superbikes and I don’t think it’s ever been done before. I’m a realist and I know the step I’m making, but I’ve got Aaron Zanotti as my crew chief and he’s got so much experience, so that’s a big plus for me,” added Irwin.

“We know the bike is capable of being right up there but it’s obviously down to me. In terms of my expectations Im not sure, I’m just going to give it my best. I’ve a good team around me and let’s just say for now that I’d like to score points in my first year in BSB. I’ll give it everything I can and we’ll see where we end up.

“This time last year I hadn’t even raced a road bike before so I’m blown away to be in this position and I’m so grateful to everyone – to Aaron Zanotti and his wife for giving me this fantastic opportunity and also to all my supporters who have made this possible.

“I’ll ride the bike for the first time at the Monteblanco test from February 26-28 and then afterwards we’ll have a test at Jerez. I just can’t wait to get started.”

The opening round of the 2020 Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Silverstone from April 10-12.