Having the showdown is ‘great’, Brands ‘can start my bid for more’ - Irwin

Following a tough opening start to the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike campaign, Glenn Irwin is confident that the pace found in race three at Knockhill is a sign of things to come this weekend. 

With podiums and a race win already in the bag at this stage last season, Irwin has been unable to replicate such results so far, even though the ‘new’ Honda Fireblade is improved. 

The Northern Irishman has had his fair share of bad luck throughout the opening six races, as contact during both Oulton Park and Knockhill weekends affected his overall results.

But with that in the rear view mirror, Irwin is looking to build upon a race three in Scotland that saw him match the race leaders for pace, while alluding to the ‘showdown’ being much needed this year.

"My feeling is we go to Brands Hatch now with where we left Knockhill in terms of the package and discovering something new with the chassis which seems to help us use the SCX tyre, so we go there and roll with that," said Irwin.  

"We will work on our weaknesses from last year and maintain our strengths. I definitely think that I can start my bid for more this weekend, of course you have to be in the Showdown before you think of anything else. 

"The beauty of the Showdown is that I am only 18 points behind [8th place]. Last year it was good having no Showdown in the position we were in but this year it’s great having it! 

"Of course we can start to build a tally of points and we go onto Thruxton where Andrew [Irwin] won on the past Fireblade, and wherever the previous bike was good, the new one seems to be better."