Double winner Andrew Irwin leads British Superbike Championship after round one | Decision pending following clash with Josh Brookes in race three

The Carrick man, who is in his second year with the official Honda team, twice got the better of his older brother and team-mate, Glenn, to claim a perfect 50 points in the opening two races.

Andrew then finished as the runner-up in a dramatic final race behind Tommy Bridewell, with Glenn coming home in third.

However, the result was placed under investigation following a clash between Andrew and Australian rider Josh Brookes, which resulted in the VisionTrack Ducati rider crashing out at the top of Hollywood, fortunately escaping injury.

Andrew said: “I came out of the corner and got awesome drive and I knew Josh was struggling with the tyre. I think I was past him just as he started to turn in and I felt a small touch.

“I apologise to Josh and PBM because I don’t mean to do these things, but I think Josh fights hard and maybe he closed the door a little bit too much when I was already through,” he added.

“Two firsts and a second this weekend – I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend and I have to thank Honda and all my personal sponsors.”

In Saturday’s opening race, Andrew pulled off a last-gasp move at the Old Hairpin to snatch a debut win on the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade. It was the 25-year-old’s second BSB victory, coming a year after his maiden success in 2019 at Thruxton.

In Sunday’s second race, the outcome once again came down to the final lap as the Irwin boys contested the lead.

A slight mistake by Glenn at Coppice allowed Andrew to draw alongside him on the exit of the corner, and he used the momentum to sneak underneath the 30-year-old on the brakes at the final chicane.

Glenn ran wide off the track, allowing McAMS Yamaha rider Jason O’Halloran through into second place, but the Honda rider was able to draft past on the short blast to the line to reclaim the runner-up spot.

In the final race at the shorter National circuit, Andrew started from seventh place on row three, with Glenn further back on the fourth row in 12th position.

Oxford Products Ducati rider Bridewell took full advantage of the Honda riders’ lower grid spots to move into the lead, opening up an unassailable advantage as he ended the Irwins’ domination to seal victory.

There was plenty of drama behind him involving Irwin and Brookes.

As they exited Redgate, Irwin went underneath the Ducati rider at the top of Hollywood and there was contact, with Brookes crashing out.

Andrew then chased after his brother Glenn in second place, who had charged through the field from 12th on the grid.

The double winner found a way past his brother to clinch the runner-up spot, although the result was later placed under investigation following the incident with Brookes.

In the British Supersport class, Richard Kerr finished seventh in Sunday’s race ahead of Alastair Seeley, who was competing in the GP2 Cup class. Seeley crashed out of Saturday’s race.

Young prospect Scott Swann finished 20th, while Korie McGreevy – eighth on Saturday – was wiped out by Tom Toparis, fortunately escaping injury.

Lee Johnston was 11th on Saturday but registered a DNF on his Ashcourt Racing Yamaha in race two.

Ireland’s Caolan Irwin took the runner-up spot in the National Superstock 600 race, with Simon Reid finishing fifth. Rhys Irwin was eighth, Eugene McManus 10th and Adam McLean 13th.

Cameron Dawson was fourth in the first Junior Supersport race on the KMR Kawasaki and seventh in race two.

Jamie Lyons finished fourth in the opening British Talent Cup race.

Josh Elliott took 18th in the first National Superstock 1000 race, with Michael Dunlop in 22nd on the Buildbase Suzuki. In race two, David Allingham (InCompetition Aprilia) was 19th and Dunlop 20th.

The second round of the championship takes place at Snetterton from August 21-23.

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