Irwin to extend stay with team for 2026 BSB season

Irwin has twice been runner-up in the British Superbike Championship

Glenn Irwin has agreed a deal to continue his partnership with the Nitrous Competitions Racing British Superbike team for the 2026 season.

Irwin made his debut for the team at the BSB round at Thruxton in August after splitting from the PBM Ducati outfit for whom he has raced in recent seasons.

The Northern Ireland rider has subsequently competed on a Yamaha for the outfit at Cadwell Park and Donington and will race in the ninth round of this year's championship at Assen in the Netherlands this weekend.

The 35-year-old was second in the BSB championship in 2022 and 2023, when he lost out on the title by just half a point, and finished third in the standings last year.

His 2025 campaign suffered a major setback in June when he sustained fractures to his hip socket and pelvis as a result of a practice crash at Snetterton and had surgery on his sacrum (pelvic region) as part of his treatment.

Before that, the Carrickfergus rider had secured four podiums in five races to start the season with the PBM team.

Irwin, a record 11-time Superbike race winner at the North West 200 international road race, will again be joined in the team by reigning BSB champion and current series leader Kyle Ryde for the 2026 season.

"I am over the moon to be staying with Nitrous Competitions Racing next season. After such a great start to the 2025 season and feeling like if I had made another step with my riding, the championship was going great until the injury, and now I am beginning to feel back to myself physically," said Irwin.

"I have a great pre-season plan already, even though we still have races this season still to go, which will help me develop as a rider.

"I get on great with Kyle and so for us to be going into next season to fight for the title, along with the whole team, is a great blend. Right now we are happy and working away, but next season I fully expect to be challenging Kyle for the title."