Glenn Irwin ninth in Pre-Qualifying at Assen British Superbike Showdown round as Andrew Irwin makes injury comeback
Ulsterman Glenn Irwin was ninth in Pre-Qualifying at Assen as the British Superbike Championship Showdown got underway on Friday.
The Nitrous Competitions Ducati rider – 13th in the championship – was 0.416s down on pacesetter Scott Redding, who set the fastest time on the Hager PBM Ducati at the iconic Dutch TT circuit in 1m 35.619s.
Bradley Ray had topped the times in free practice on the McAMS Yamaha but dramatically crashed out on his first flying lap.
Ray was able to return to the paddock and rejoined the session, but the former champion was 11th in the classification, albeit securing his passage straight into Qualifying 2 today.
Championship leader Kyle Ryde crashed with just over 10 minutes remaining, bringing out the red flag because of gravel on the circuit. Ryde, who leads Redding by 71 points, was seventh fastest on the Nitrous Competitions Racing Ducati.
Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran and Ilya Mikhalchik (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) were second and third respectively as they enjoyed their best session of the season, while Ryan Vickers was fourth (Honda Racing).
Co Antrim’s Scott Swann, who is riding for the TAG Racing Honda team in a one-off appearance during a break from the National Superstock 1000 Championship, was 18th.
Swann, third in the Superstock standings and a double race winner in 2026, said: “It’s probably the coolest track on the BSB calendar and it’s definitely one of my favourites.
“When I was last there in 2025 I enjoyed one of my best races, I was battling with the likes of Josh Brookes, Lee Jackson, Glenn Irwin, some really experienced guys in the class.
“After taking the sideway step back into Superstock for 2026, after what I thought was a strong rookie year in Superbike, my goal was to win races put myself in the window if any superbike teams needed someone to step in for a round, to help me get my foot back in the door for 2027.
“I feel ready for it, I’m really excited, I don’t think I’m going to pull off any mad results, I just want to enjoy it. I know it’s going to be tough jumping to from a Superstock bike onto a Superbike, but I’m positive I can gel with the Honda, get faster each session, work well with the team and then see where we end up come the end of the weekend,” Swann added.
“I must say a massive thank you to SMR Performance for allowing me to do this, they have helped me so much since stepping in mid-year.”
Carrickfergus man Andrew Irwin made his comeback at Assen after sustaining a broken humerus in a crash during a private test at Knockhill in June.
The MET fonaCAB Racing Ducati rider was 19th in Pre-Qualifying behind Swann.
Donegal’s Rhys Irwin was 16th on the MasterMac Honda with team-mate Eugene McManus from Randalstown in 22nd.
Former Superstock 1000 champion Richard Kerr was 23rd on the SM Racing Honda.
Luke Stapleford led the Supersport times on the Scars Racing Ducati from Oli Bayless and Jack Kennedy.
In the British Moto4 Cup, Dungannon teenager Jack Burrows was eighth fastest on the combined practice time sheets.
Saturday’s first BSB race is scheduled for 14:45 BST.