Irwin cannot wait to get back in the saddle with Honda in 2021
GLENN Irwin will remain with the Honda Racing team for a second attack on the British Superbike Championship, where he will line up alongside Japanese debutant Ryo Mizuno.
Carrickfergus rider Irwin returns to action after a successful 2020 season with the team and the all-new CBR 1000RR-R Fireblade SP, finishing in fourth position in the Championship standings, enjoying a win and five podium positions.
“I’m really happy to continue with Honda Racing and to carry on development of the Fireblade,” said Irwin.
“The success we had last season was earlier than anticipated and for 2021 we have extensive development to work through which, I’m sure, will improve our package further.
“It will be exciting to work with Ryo, who brings a wealth of experience from racing the Fireblade in the All-japan series and Suzuka 8-hours race.
“We already had a wee run out towards the end of last year at Portimao.
“I cannot wait to get started again.”
In addition to the two-man British Superbike team, Tom Neave will continue in the British Superstock 1000 championship having finished runner-up last season.
However, Davey Todd, a 2019 North West 200 winner, becomes a victim of the lack of international road racing in 2021 and drops out of the Honda team. He is now in search of a ride.
Irwin will have his younger brother Andrew, now with rivals Synetiq BMW, as one of his main opponents this season.
With road racing curtailed for 2021, Honda Racing UK’S participation in the British Superbike Championship sits within Honda’s global racing activities in Motogp, World Superbike and All-japan Championship.
British Superbike organisers have delayed the start of the 11-round, 33-race series by a month, now scheduled to start on the weekend of May 29-31.
“With the North West 200 unlikely to run on its May date, we can condense the gap between rounds one and two,” explained series director Stuart Higgs.
In another revamp, spectators and fans will see a threerace programme at each of the 11 rounds and the return of the Showdown, whereby the top eight riders in the championship after round eight will become the Title Fighters for the remaining three rounds, with podium credits again coming into play.
As far as the Irish scene is concerned, directors of the Cookstown 100 last night postponed their event from the last weekend in April until September 10 and 11.
Sadly though, the Tandragee 100 has fallen victim to Covid-19 while the North West 200 is on a knife edge as to whether it runs in August or at all.