Irwin: Today was about qualifying for BSB Showdown

Glenn Irwin concedes a took a conservative approach to the final lap battle against Leon Haslam in the Silverstone opener knowing second place would book his Bennetts British Superbike Showdown spot but is eager to build on it to target wins in the remaining two races.

The Be Wiser Ducati rider took on Haslam in a final-lap fight for victory but conceded he ‘didn’t brake as late as I could have’ with the podium in sight which would guarantee him a BSB Showdown place with two races to spare.

With Irwin hungry for wins in BSB, having gone 12 months since his previous victory which came in race one of the Silverstone round last year, he feels he can afford more risks in Sunday’s two races with the sole focus of Podium Points.

"It’s been a bit of a scrappy weekend but I felt pretty comfortable in the race and although second’s a good result I obviously want to win,” Irwin said. “We had all used most of our tyres by the end of the race and although I didn’t miss a gear going onto the straight on the last lap, it wasn’t the cleanest of shifts and that gave Leon his chance.

“I didn’t brake maybe as late as I could have done but I didn’t want to lose the podium either, so we’ll take second place today.

“I was only a fraction off the win again so hopefully we’ll get one soon and the main thing today was qualifying for the Showdown.”

The result marks Irwin’s fifth second place finish of the season to push his podium credit count up to 15 – 43 off championship leader Haslam and seven behind second place rider Jake Dixon.