Glenn Irwin 'happy with pace' on new Nitrous Competitions Racing Ducati ahead of British Superbike season-opener at Oulton Park

The Carrickfergus man is back on Ducati machinery with the Nitrous Competitions Racing team alongside reigning back-to-back champion Kyle Ryde in his quest to become Northern Ireland’s first BSB champion.

Irwin has twice finished as the title runner-up, including missing out by only half-a-point in 2023, and the 36-year-old remains as hungry as ever to clinch the crown.

Irwin rode his new V4R machine for the first time last week at the two-day Oulton Park test last month and was fifth fastest overall on the combined times, with Ryde leading the way ahead of PBM Ducati’s Scott Redding, Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) and Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing Ducati).

Irwin, who will return to the North West 200 next week after a year’s absence, was happy with his pace at the Oulton test, six months after he last rode a Superbike machine at the 2025 finale at Brands Hatch.

“For sure we weren’t completely dialled in and I am happy with our race pace, which is much better than a one-off lap, but I’m also pretty content with our one-lap pace too,” Irwin said.

“We haven’t exactly gone one hundred percent for it yet on a single lap, but it looks like we’re already in the battle for the top five and the podium positions, which is a strong position to be in.

“You get your eyes opened, but once you are dialled in, how lucky you are to get to ride at such a great track as Oulton Park.

“What was pleasing was we had quite a lot of adversity chucked at us throughout the two days, there were a few red flags and we lost a few sessions with rear brake issues.

"We kind of went and did a little bit of a repetitive phase, with something that we had done in both the previous years.

“We backed-to-back on shocks and I think in the end we made a great decision to take one of those out and I think the bike immediately felt like I expected, when we stuck with what I know,” he told the British Superbike website.

His younger brother Andrew will make his race debut for new team MET fonaCAB Racing on a Ducati V4R after three seasons with Honda Racing UK.

“People don’t realise the amount of work that has gone in to making this happen,” Irwin said.

“I feel confident and I'm really enjoying the bike. As long as I stay calm and continue to adapt to the Ducati, we'll only get stronger.”

Eugene McManus from Randalstown and reigning British Supersport championship Rhys Irwin have made the step up to BSB with the MasterMac Honda team, while Richard Kerr is competing in the class on a Honda for SM Racing.

In the National Superstock 1000 Championship, David Allingham is targeting the title on the SMS/Nicholl Oils BMW, when his opposition includes fellow Northern Ireland rider Scott Swann, who rode in BSB in 2025 but returns to the Superstock class on a Honda.

Simon Reid from Banbridge also returns to the championship for the Carl Cox BMW by MLav Racing team.

Practice takes place on Saturday with final qualifying and the first BSB race on Sunday (16:10 BST).

Monday’s BSB races are scheduled for 13:00 BST and 16:15 BST.