Glenn Irwin: I expect Alastair Seeley to pull out all the stops to deny me NW200 Superbike treble

Glenn Irwin has his sights firmly set on a first-ever Superbike treble at the North West 200

James Robinson

Glenn Irwin is targeting a first-ever Superbike treble at May’s Briggs Equipment North West 200 when the Ulster rider ‘fully expects’ key rival Alastair Seeley to be on the grid in Portrush from May 8-11.

Irwin has won the previous eight Superbike races in a row, and the 34-year-old can surpass the record of most wins in the premier class, held jointly by the late Joey Dunlop and Michael Rutter, who have won nine times around the 8.9-mile ‘Triangle’ course.

The Hager PBM Ducati contender is aiming to take full advantage of an extra Superbike race in 2024, which has been added to the Thursday evening schedule as a four-lap event, complementing Saturday’s two flagship races.

British Superbike title hopeful Irwin faces stern opposition, including Peter Hickman, Michael Dunlop, Dean Harrison, and Davey Todd, but he also believes fellow Carrick man Seeley will return to stake his claim once again.

Seeley has struggled to secure machinery for the event in 2024, although the record-breaking 29-time winner landed an 11th-hour ride in the British Supersport Championship with Binch Racing on a Yamaha R6.

Irwin, who got the verdict over Seeley by one second in 2023’s feature NW200 Superbike race after a red flag stoppage, said: “Having known Alastair as a friend, a mentor and a rival, he has never been one to let slip what he has lined up.

“That is understandable in the dog-eat-dog world of racing, but I’ve heard various rumours, and I fully expect him to be at the North West.”

Irwin, fourth and eighth in the opening BSB races of the 2024 season at Navarra in Spain, admits anything less than winning all three Superbike races at the North West would be ‘disappointing’.

“When you are on a run like I have had at the North West, the target is big,” he said.

“I understand it because if I was one of my rivals, I would be obsessed with beating me.

“Not winning all three races this year would be a disappointment, and equalling the record just won’t be good enough.

“I couldn’t retire from the North West without beating the record.”

The introduction of a new prize fund sponsored by Milwaukee Tools this year offers riders an extra £10,000 on a points-based system across the three Superbike events.

British Superbikes star Glenn Irwin will be a star attraction at the 2024 North West 200

A revamped race week format will also be in place, with the Bank Holiday BSB meeting at Oulton Park leading the NW200 organisers to hold practice and qualifying on consecutive days on Wednesday and Thursday, which Irwin feels plays into his hands.

“Mervyn Whyte has given the rest of the field an extra chance to beat me with the new race,” he joked.

“In the past, my schedule at the North West has been Tuesday and Thursday morning qualifying and then nothing until Saturday, while the other guys have been racing on Thursday evening.

“Sometimes, I’ve started Saturday a bit rusty because of that, so the Thursday sprint race might help me.”

Glenn Irwin celebrates his success in the Superbike class during 2023's North West 200

Meanwhile, the 2024 Irish road racing season gets under way on Friday with practice for the Cemcor Cookstown 100 in Co Tyrone.

An invitation Open race and Supersport race are planned after qualifying on Friday evening.

On Saturday, roads will be closed from 7:30am for the main race bill when the main contenders include Michael Sweeney, Mike Browne and Dominic Herbertson.