#18 Andrew Irwin
BMW new boy is never shy of going for it
Andrew Irwin was a breakout star last year as he guided the new Fireblade to three victories and entertained fans with his intense riding style. It may come as a surprise then that he’s swapped Honda for SYNETIQ BMW, but on a personal level it may just make sense. Irwin grew up supporting the TAS Racing squad back home in Northern Ireland and still lives just 45 minutes away from their base. He can now become his own person again, moving away from the same box as his brother Glenn. Then there’s the machinery – the all-new M1000RR already looks like a big step forward following pre-season testing.
On the track Irwin is one of the most exciting riders out there, epitomising Ayrton Senna’s mantra: “If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver.” Based on his experience from 2020, Irwin admitted to MCN that he needs to ensure the gap is big enough, and that sometimes a basic move down the inside may be safer than a risky move around the outside. Fine-tuning his racecraft will be key, but we must remember that Irwin is still young and is still learning in BSB.
SHAKEY SAYS…
“I love Andrew’s style and the way he attacks everything; he’s not shy of banging fairings. He is a hard rider, but is he the ultimate bandit that some people make him out to be? I don’t think so and if he does keep his nose clean, there’s no reason why he can’t have a go at it.”
‘Andrew’s not shy of banging fairings…’