Paul Bird has actually exposed that leading lights Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell will race for his Eden-based Ducati group in next year’s British Superbike Champion.
As the drape came down on the 2022 BSB project at Brands Hatch last weekend, Bird reviewed “most likely among the most frustrating seasons we have actually ever had”.
In spite of a flicker of late season type and 2 race wins at Donington Park around the turn of this month for Tom Sykes, the Yorkshireman ended up 12th in the total rider standings. MCE Ducati team-mate and previous title winner Josh Brookes ended the year in 14th area.
” I chose the riders and I simply got it incorrect so I need to stand and be responsible for that,” stated Langwathby-based business person Bird.
Yet the group owner has actually squandered no time at all as he targets a favorable recuperate, and today validated that Irwin and Bridewell would both be signing up with Paul Bird Motorsport in the MCE Ducati group.
Completing for Honda Racing UK, Irwin ended up 2022 BSB runner-up behind champion Bradley Ray, while 34-year-old Bridewell likewise declared a podium location, taking 3rd total for Oxford Products Racing Ducati.
Coming From Wiltshire, Bridewell has actually left Oxford Products after four-and-a-half years, and is a veteran of 332 BSB races with 7 success.
On The Other Hand, 32-year-old Irwin– who has 169 BSB races under his belt and 7 wins– rode for Bird throughout 2016, 2017 and 2018. He had actually hinted after the Brands Hatch ending last weekend that he may be thinking about a relocation far from Honda.
” Both of them concerned us. We didn’t go looking,” stated a thrilled Bird, who confessed he was “champing at the bit”.
” I have actually got an incredible line-up (for 2023) with 2 riders who wish to ride for the group and a brand-new bike coming out next year from Ducati.
” Ideally, we’ll have a truly strong group and have 2 great years ahead of us.
” We were up there challenging this year– we saw 2 weeks earlier at Donington how great the bike was. That’s the very same bike that was at race one, round one.
” We have actually got 2 amazing riders. You have actually just got to take a look at what took place at Brands Hatch at the weekend: Glenn Irwin won 2 races and Tommy Bridewell originated from the pit lane, last, to end up 5th in one race. He was most likely the rider of the year.
” Bridewell, when he was a young kid, 15 years of ages, he stated to me ‘one day I’m going to ride for you, Birdy’, and now it’s going to take place!”
And of Irwin, Bird stated: “It’s good to have him back. He’s most likely left what I would consider among the very best, if not the very best, groups in the paddock to come to us.”
