Glenn Irwin warms up for North West 200 with superb Oulton Park victory

The Carrickfergus man, who will head straight to Northern Ireland ahead of Wednesday’s opening practice sessions on the north coast after the conclusion of racing today at the Cheshire circuit, took over at the front from early championship leader Ryan Vickers on the third lap and managed the race from the front.

The Hager PBM Ducati rider wrapped up his first win of the 2024 season by one second from Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Ducati), with pole man Kyle Ryde (OMG Yamaha) rounding out the top three.

Vickers slipped back to fifth on the OMG Yamaha by the end of the 18-lap race after falling into the clutches of reigning champion Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK).

The top six was finalised by Danny Kent on the McAMS Yamaha.

Irwin, who is fourth in the standings after finishing fourth and eighth in the first two races of the season last month at Navarra in Spain, said: “Sometimes a weekend can look easier than what it is and we’ve been fast all throughout testing, and a few times they (team) all clapped me when I came in P1 on the sheets.

“I don’t like anyone being complacent so I don’t like to celebrate until we get something in the bag, but they’ve worked really well, fine tuning and going one way and then the other.

“I wanted to get to the front and I didn’t know with Ryan (Vickers) if that was his pace or if he was trying to conserve tyres or energy,” added Irwin.

“I wanted to get to the front and conserve energy myself. I know I’m faster when I calm down and I enjoy it more as well, so I really enjoyed that race.

“Hats off to Christian, it’s nice to see him more competitive and I think they’ve a few more upgrades this year, and his bike probably wasn’t as good as ours last year and it’s maybe why it looked as though he didn’t perform as well as the other Ducatis.

“It sets me up for tomorrow and it sets me up for a bit of road racing next week.”

Irwin is the sole rider in the PBM team this season, which is being run by Jordan and Frank Bird after their father Paul passed away last year.

The 34-year-old highlighted the importance of his first win of the campaign as the team makes a new start.

“It’s very important,” he said. “It feels a little bit like your first win again in Superbike: One, because I’m the only rider in this team and the expectation is on you, and you have to get that monkey off your back and two because we are in a new season and things can change over the winter and we’ve very much done that.”

Andrew Irwin finished outside the points in 16th place on the Honda Racing UK Fireblade, 32 seconds behind his brother.

Today, the Sprint race is scheduled for 1:15pm with Race 3 at 4:15pm.

In the British Supersport Sprint race Dublin’s Jack Kennedy was third for Honda Racing behind Luke Stapleford (Macadam Racing Triumph) and reigning champion Ben Currie (Oxford Products Ducati).

Randalstown’s Eugene McManus crossed the line in fifth on the ROKiT Haslam Racing Ducati.

Former champion Alastair Seeley (Binch Racing Yamaha) was 10th.

The Carrick man is set to miss the North West 200 this week after struggling to put together a deal.

Seeley is the most successful rider ever at the event with 29 victories.