With 27 riders now confirmed, the 2024 British Superbike Championship grid is already match to bursting each by way of high quality and amount however to this point stays conspicuous within the absence of its reigning championship profitable group, Paul Bird Motorsport.
With little greater than a month to go earlier than BSB heads to mainland Europe for an inaugural go to to Navarra to lift the curtains on one other season, PBM is but to disclose whether or not it will likely be current and proper in Spain.
It’s an omission that tallies with one other obtrusive absentee in Glenn Irwin, the Ulsterman having been on the agonising wrong-side of a scant 0.5-point margin separating himself and title-winning team-mate Tommy Bridewell.
It’s a coincidence that hasn’t gone amiss with rumours that Irwin and PBM will group up once more for a tilt on the 2024 BSB crown… however with not even a peep rising from PBM over the winter, will it’s a optimistic or destructive end result for rider, group and followers?
![Glenn Irwin, BeerMonster Ducati, Ducati Panigale V4 R, 2023 BSB, Cadwell Park, portrait, podium, celebration [credit - Tim Keeton Impact Images]](https://cdn.petnews2day.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Will-Paul-Bird-Motorsport-defend-its-BSB-title-with-Glenn.jpeg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&webp=50&avif=38&sharp=1&resize=696%2C465&ssl=1)
Will PBM, Ducati and Irwin be on the 2024 BSB grid?
Officially, the reply is: “Maybe…”
Unofficially, the reply – primarily based on what BSN has realized – is: “The signs are good…”
Strictly talking, sources near BSN have been cautious to keep away from the affirmative… however what they’ve disclosed is definitely nearer to a sure than a no.
A name from PBM over whether or not it’ll make the grid in 2024 was all the time more likely to be a late one. The sudden demise of its founder and boss Paul Bird in September 2023 has necessitated a re-organisation of the group in his wake, probably the most vital being a choice to maneuver its Penrith base in Langwathby – near the household’s Frank Bird Poultry business – to Preston, the place it’ll function alongside Frank Wrathall’s FW Developments Engine Tuning workshop.
In the meantime, a drip-feed of telling social media updates from varied folks related to PBM – together with Paul’s daughter and new group supervisor, Jordan – in recent weeks have hinted in direction of a plan to race in BSB this 12 months.
You may also learn between the traces on a handful of Irwin’s posts too, even when they’ve been considerably skinny on the bottom lately.
Forward-facing bulletins, such because the affirmation of a brand new provide cope with RST for 2024 recommend plans are afoot, although a slipshod put up ‘revealing’ his intention to change his race quantity from ‘2’ to ‘46’ (in so doing pinching the quantity synonymous with former team-mate and ‘frenemy’ Bridewell) stirred controversy and was shortly deleted.
Either means, Irwin’s persistence as seats crammed up round him would recommend he’s both very assured that PBM will put a package deal collectively for him, or he can afford to calm down with one thing reasonably extra concrete already signed and sealed in his again pocket for now.
It received’t be totally business as typical for PBM, nonetheless, with all indicators pointing in direction of it slimming to only a single-rider entry for not less than this 12 months, whereas it isn’t clear whether or not its recent from the supply Ducati provide will – due to Paul’s shut ties with the Borgo Panigale marque’s high brass – come direct from the supply in Italy as in recent years.
Should Irwin and PBM go forward and throw its helmet into the ring for 2024, it’ll guarantee not less than eight of the final season’s high ten riders shall be again to tussle it out on British (and Spanish) soil as soon as once more, the exceptions being the as-yet-unconfirmed Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW) and British Supersport-bound Jack Kennedy.
It stays to be seen whether or not PBM will stretch in direction of an outing on the 2024 North West 200, the place Irwin would try to increase his unbroken streak of eight wins on the 8.9-mile highway course.
While the BSB title stays elusive for Irwin, he has now completed inside the highest 4 (twice runner-up) in 4 of the final six seasons. To date, he has achieved 16 wins since his debut in 2016.
