Motocross star Graeme Irwin contemplating shock BSB switch

The 27-year-old was forced to call time on his glittering motocross career as a result of a complicated wrist injury.

However, the former British MX1 champion is now considering a new challenge on the short circuit tarmac scene, which would see him follow in the footsteps of his brothers Glenn and Andrew, who are among the top contenders in the British Superbike series.

The scaphoid injury Graeme sustained in a crash in the Italian MXGP round last season prevents him from riding a motocross bike at the top level, but Irwin hopes the injury will not affect him to the same degree on a road bike.

Irwin told the News Letter on Friday: “The plan is to join Glenn for a three-day test next week in Spain and see how it goes. The big thing everyone needs to remember is that I have no idea how good my wrist is going to feel, but I’m hopeful that it won’t pose the same problems on a road bike.

“I’m not making any promises until I see how I get on during the test but I feel so lucky that I have a brother like Glenn behind me, and Andrew too, who have been so supportive of me.

“Of course I’m so disappointed that I’ve had to call an end to my motocross career now but it might not be the end for me and this has given me hope.”

Graeme will ride a 1000cc machine prepared by his brother Glenn at the test at Monteblanco next week before making a decision on his future plans afterwards.

He previously made his tarmac racing debut at the Sunflower Trophy meeting in 2015, where he rode a Honda for Wilson Craig Racing at Bishopscourt in County Down.