More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
Hat-trick for Hager PBM Ducati and Irwin at Oulton Park
Glenn Irwin and the Hager PBM Ducati completed the hat-trick of wins at Oulton Park, holding off Christian Iddon to the line in the final race by just 0.128s to snatch the Bennetts British Superbike Championship lead ahead of the next round at Donington Park.
Irwin was victorious in yesterday’s opening race to give Frank and Jordan Bird their first win as PBM Team Owners and he carried the momentum into the Bank Holiday Monday action to hold off the opposition twice, in two close contests for glory.
In race two, Irwin withstood the pressure from reigning champion Tommy Bridewell, Iddon and Danny Kent who completed the pack fighting for the lead to win by 0.352s.
Irwin had hit the front of the pack on the opening lap ahead of Iddon, Bridewell and Kent, but the reigning champion was pushing hard.
Bridewell edged into second with a move on Iddon at Cascades on lap eight and then held off Iddon and Kent to score his first podium finish with Honda Racing UK, as Oxford Products Racing Ducati’s Iddon defended from Kent to take third.
Irwin was determined to make it a treble, but he had to overhaul Iddon who had got a lightning start off the line to lead on the opening lap of the third race. The Oxford Products Racing Ducati rider was trying to make a break and after some rapid laps he had started to edge an advantage.
Irwin reeled him back in though and then he was looking for the opportunity he needed to make a pass. Iddon held off the challenge from his Ducati rival until lap 12 when Irwin was able to take the lead with a move on the brakes into Hizzys.
Irwin then had to defend hard as Iddon was pushing for the victory, but despite his best efforts, the Hager PBM Ducati rider had the edge to the chequered flag.
Ryan Vickers meanwhile had a determined ride to close in on the leading trio of Irwin, Iddon and Kent in the closing stages of the race, bridging the gap to his McAMS Racing Yamaha rival before snatching the final podium position with a move at Hizzys on the last lap.
Kent missed out on third place by just 0.154s at the finish as Haslam claimed fifth place for the ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad team with Bridewell taking sixth ahead of Jason O’Halloran.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race two result:
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +0.352s
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +0.586s
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +0.687s
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +2.396s
- Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +3.106s
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +3.703s
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +4.016s
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +4.286s
- Max Cook (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +5.451s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race three, result:
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) + 0.128s
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +0.511s
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +0.665s
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +5.945s
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +6.077s
- Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +6.195s
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +11.025s
- Max Cook (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +16.629s
- Storm Stacey (LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki) +19.743s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 74
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 68
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 67
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 64
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 55
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 47
- Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 44
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) 42
- Max Cook (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 30
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 29
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Glenn Irwin
Hager PBM Ducati
“Sunday’s race was very enjoyable and races like that, when you lead for so long, are the sweet ones. We did the hard work learning the bike through testing and practice so set the pace from the front.
“I like to lead and control the race from there so with the fastest lap of the race as well, it couldn’t have worked out better. We stayed focused for today which we needed to do as we were constantly making changes to the bike and we improved a number of key factors which we needed to win – resilience, determination and precision being three.
“We had to show our character too and boxed professionally this weekend so the treble was nothing short of what the team deserved. A big thanks to Jordan, Frank and the whole team.”