Glenn Irwin reflects on 'great season' as Josh Brookes clinches British Superbike title for second time at Brands Hatch

Irwin lost his title lead after a crash in race one at Donington Park at the penultimate round and the Honda Racing rider went into the weekend with a deficit of 18 points to Australian rider Josh Brookes, who doubled up yesterday to clinch the BSB crown for the second time for Paul Bird’s VisionTrack Ducati team.

The 30-year-old Ulsterman finished sixth in Saturday’s opening race and could only manage 12th and 11th yesterday as he ended the season in fourth overall in the standings.

Nonetheless, it has been a memorable year for Irwin on a brand-new bike that is still very much in development.

“I’d have bitten your hand off at the beginning of the year to come into the final round in be in with a realistic chance of winning the championship from a points perspective,” he said.

“I didn’t expect that, not that I didn’t believe that after such a difficult 2019 that it was important to improve and re-establish ourselves, but I would summarise that we did do that and perhaps were even better than where we were in 2018.

“I’m really, really happy but obviously you always want more, but for sure it’s been a great season and the highlight for me is still the first race, with the Honda one-two and the one-two with my brother, even if he passed me on the last lap! I’ve a lot of great memories.”

After finishing fourth on Saturday, Brookes dominated race two yesterday as he came home ahead of Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha), who won Saturday’s opener to close to gap at the top to seven points.

The Ducati rider held a 12-point advantage ahead of the final race but Brookes wasn’t for holding back as he won the title in style, crossing the line half-a-second ahead of Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha), with O’Halloran third and Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati) fourth.

In the end Brookes was crowned champion by 21 points from O’Halloran, with Iddon third and Irwin fourth.

“It feels awesome and I don’t have to say anything because all the words were said out on the track,” said Brookes.

“When the pressure is on I seem to find that little bit more… today I had to give everything and I knew [in the final race] that I only had to come third mathematically even if Jason won, but I wanted to the title with a win.”

Andrew Irwin – a three-time race winner this year – concluded the season with a string of solid results for Honda Racing, finishing seventh, fourth and fifth respectively in the three races to end the championship in sixth position.

Next year’s British Superbike Championship is provisionally scheduled to commence later than usual at Oulton Park from May 1-3.

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