Irwin joins Yamaha after split from Ducati

Irwin spent six seasons with Ducati

Northern Irish rider Glenn Irwin has joined OMG Racing Yamaha after parting ways with PBM Ducati by "mutual consent" as a result of a disagreement over his return to racing.

The 35-year-old suffered fractures to his hip socket and pelvis as a result of a practice crash at Snetterton in June and had surgery on his sacrum (pelvic region) as part of his treatment.

After initially targeting a return to action at Caldwell Park at the end of August, Irwin said last month that he was ready to make a comeback at Thruxton from 8-10 August as he had recovered faster than initially hoped.

PBM Ducati disagreed with this decision and in a statement explained that "it was the opinion of the team that his return should be deferred until at least after round seven at Cadwell Park".

"This decision was taken by the team management on the ground of managing competition expectations and a duty of care to Glenn as despite recovering to a position where 'fitness to ride' could potentially be achieved, the team felt that risks remained in this early period of recovery that a subsequent fall could result in a further, complicated injury," Ducati's statement continued.

"As a result of a point of conflict the parties have agreed to terminate their contractual relationship, and Glenn is free to pursue other opportunities to fulfil his insistence to immediately return to competition."

Irwin will join defending British Superbikes champion Kyle Ryde at OMG Racing, as he makes his return on a new bike this weekend.

'I have been declared orthopedically fit'

Irwin made his British Superbikes debut in the first of two spells with PBM Ducati in 2016, and managed 19 wins and 23 podiums over six seasons, narrowly missing out on the 2023 Championship win by just half a point to Tommy Bridewell.

He had finished on the podium in four of the first five races of the 2025 season but missed two rounds after his accident and was replaced by 2019 BSB champion Scott Redding.

The 11-time North West 200 race winner responded to the PBM statement with a video posted on X.

"Upon reading the statement I want to reiterate that I have been declared orthopedically fit and have passed all the stage one single leg examinations and I have been returned 100% to full duties of riding bikes in the last seven days," he said.

"Training has been as normal the past week, but I do want to go on record and thank PBM for all the success we achieved together, all their efforts, their time and their support shown to me and my family I wish them all the best for the future."

Yamaha team owner David Williams added he was "excited" to welcome Irwin.

"Between him and Kyle, we believe we have the strongest pairing on the current grid and are entering the second half of the British Superbike Championship season with a stronger sense of optimism than ever."