British Superbikes: Andrew and Glenn Irwin take top two places in Donington opener
- Published
Irwin added to his maiden BSB win at Thruxton achieved 12 months ago
Andrew Irwin won the first British Superbike race of the season at Donington after edging brother Glenn into second in a thrilling battle.
Andrew overtook his Honda Racing team-mate on the final lap to take the victory, with Josh Brookes third.
Buildbase Suzuki rider Kyle Ryde led early on but Andrew assumed the lead on lap five, before Glenn hit the front with four laps remaining.
Two more Superbike races will be held on Sunday as part of a triple-header.
Ryde retired with a mechanical problem while lying third, while polesitter Jason O'Halloran ended up in eighth position after running off the track in the early stages.
Last year's championship runner-up Brookes also led for a period mid-race but appeared to suffer tyre degradation as he dropped back to occupy the final rostrum spot.
The official Honda team are sporting uncustomary black liverys this season as they campaign a brand new version of their Fireblade machine.
For Andrew Irwin, it was the second race win of his BSB career, the Carrickfergus rider having triumphed in race one at Thruxton 12 months ago.
The 25-year-old finished eighth overall in the standings last year in his first full season in the championship.
Glenn, five years older than Andrew, claimed the 13th podium of his BSB career and began his campaign on a strong note after suffering a year of disappointments in 2019.
The third Irwin brother in the series, Graeme Irwin, crashed out apparently without serious injury, while Clogher native Keith Farmer did not take part in the race after suffering right shoulder ligament damage in qualifying.
Brookes' PBM Ducati team-mate Christian Iddon was fourth, with Tommy Bridewell and Luke Mossey making up the top six.
The championship is getting underway four months later than originally scheduled because of the restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and this weekend's event is being staged behind closed doors.
Meanwhile in the first British Supersport/GP2 race of the season, last season's British Superstock 600cc champion Korie McGreevy from Ballynahinch, was eighth overall for EHA Racing and sixth home of the Supersports.
Ross Patterson was ninth overall, with Richard Kerr 10th and Lee Johnston 11th and ninth of the Supersport riders.
Alastair Seeley crashed out of the race on lap five and compatriot Scott Swann was also a faller.