It was clear that a win was possible for Glenn Irwin after he topped the test at Oulton Park right🀅 before the Bank Holiday race weekend got underway and the Ducati rider delivered with victory in the opening race, which he controlled from the front.

It was a special momꦛ🔴ent for the team, now run by the late Paul Bird’s children; Jordan and Frank; as it marks their first success since taking over at Hagar PBM.

• 2024 British Superbikes: Oulton Pa🦋rk - Race Results (1)
• 2024 British Superbikes: Oulton𝄹 Park - Qualifying Results

Irwin thought his start played a big part in his success, and he got a strong launch from second 💝on the grid, then wasted no time in getting ahead of the then leaders, the Yamaha duo of Kyle Ryde and Ryan Vickers:

“I got quite a good launch off the line, as did Kyle from pole and Ryan - I know Ryan had looked like he had a really good pace from the free practice runs and stuff so I was quite eager to get a look at him and managed to get Kyle - um, quite easily to be 𓆏fair!”.

Despite looking to be having grip issues in the closing moments - the #2 saved an almost crash on the last lap at Druids - Irwin was happy with the grip levels his Ducatཧi has with the track, which has had several areas of new▨ surface laid:

“The new tarmac is helping the Ducati in it’s weaknesses of edge ღgrip because it’s so grippy around💫 Cascades, so we can now maximise in that corner and use our speed”.

It wasn’t just Ryde that Ir♕win tꦇhought he passed with ease, though he admitted he found the second Yamaha of Vickers more of a challenge:

“Ry🍎an was more difficult to pass, I think they are clearly running two different set ups, in part because his bike was really fast, to be triply honest - kind of surprising!”

“I had a little look obviously, past Knickerbrook, which is where you wouldn’t pass, usually in🍒 there and that was more for a bit of fun!”

Irwin got to the front and remained unchallenged for the rest of the race, managing hi😼s tyres - leading to his and PBM’s first win of the 2024 season:

“ I got to the front and tried to conserve energy, not just tyre - it’s a funny old track, i🌼t’s very physical - it’s not just managing the tyre it is mana💜ging yourself”.

Irwin had two🦄 more chances of success on the final day of the meet, with the sprint race first on the timetable followed by another full 18 laps of ꦇOulton Park.