BSB: Podium double for Glenn Irwin at Brands Hatch

Carrick's Glenn Irwin wrapped up a podium brace at Brands Hatch as the Be Wiser PBM Ducati rider finished as the runner-up in race two behind double winner Josh Brookes.
Glenn Irwin is third in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship after a brace of runner-up finishes at Brands Hatch.Glenn Irwin is third in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship after a brace of runner-up finishes at Brands Hatch.
Glenn Irwin is third in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship after a brace of runner-up finishes at Brands Hatch.

In a repeat of the first race, Brookes and Irwin set the pace with Bennetts British Superbike Championship leader Leon Haslam also in contention on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki until the final stages, eventually dropping into a safe third.

Irwin attempted to pressurise Aussie Brookes and although he closed onto the rear wheel of the McAMS Yamaha rider at the start of the final lap, Brookes had enough in reserve to close out victory by only 0.090s, with Haslam a further five seconds adrift.

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Irwin said: "The first race was a bit of a game between Josh and me with both of us sitting back and not showing our true pace. I then got my head down and got into a nice rhythm and I came close to getting by Josh on the final lap, but I wasn’t quite close enough, so second place was a good result to start the day.

"The second race was a fair bit faster and it was important for me to have a bigger gap to the riders behind me. I had a bit of an issue early on when I hit a false neutral and Josh was stronger than me in some areas whilst I was stronger than him in others.

"I really tried hard as seen in the lap times and whilst you always want to win, I’m pleased to get my first double BSB podium today. Full credit to Josh and to my team so roll on the next round.”

Jake Dixon (RAF Reserves Kawasaki), Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) and Tyco BMW rider Christian Iddon completed the first six in race two.

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Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) turned the tables on young rookie Andrew Irwin (Be Wiser PBM Ducati) as he edged ahead of the Carrick man to claim 11th position.

Haslam leads the championship by 80 points from Dixon after six rounds, with Irwin 17 points further back in third.

The remaining Showdown places are currently filled by Brookes, Bradley Ray (Bennetts Suzuki) and Danny Buchan (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki).