British Superbikes: Jordan Bird aims to build on success of late father's PBM team
- Published
Glenn Irwin pictured with Jordan Bird after agreeing to ride for the PBM team in 2024
For Jordan Bird, learning the ropes of running a motorcycle racing team has been a way of life.
The daughter of former PBM Racing team boss Paul Bird has, in her own words, been "involved forever" with the record nine-time British Superbike champions.
The death of her dad on 1 September 2023, aged 56, saw Jordan and her twin brother Frank take over the reins of the Ducati team and now they are preparing for their first full season in charge of the decorated BSB outfit.
The team will field just one rider in 2024 - Northern Ireland's Glenn Irwin, who finished just half a point behind team-mate Tommy Bridewell in a thrilling climax to last year's series.
"It's been a bit of a nightmare really, trying to run a race team, grieving the loss of my father, probate, all the different factors, but it was never an option not to do this [run a BSB team again in 2024]," Jordan told BBC Sport.
"It's something I've always wanted to do, along with my brother, to make it happen. Now we've got it over the line, we can start doing the good bits.
"I've been involved forever, gone along to every race with my dad. I've never known anything different.
"I took a bit of a back seat where I could just see how things happened and now really it's all on my shoulders.
"I've had good teachers and plenty of years to watch and learn."
'Thriving on a good pressure'
The PBM team's British titles have been achieved by Shane Byrne (5), Steve Hislop, Scott Redding, Josh Brookes and Bridewell.
The outfit have also competed in two-wheel motorsport in World Superbikes with Kawasaki and MotoGP on an Aprilia machine, won races at the Isle of Man TT with the likes of Joey Dunlop, John McGuinness and Ian Hutchinson, as well as taking part in four-wheel motorsport.
Jordan is relatively unfazed, however, by the prospect of trying to emulate some of the success achieved by her late dad's team over recent decades.
"There's pressure, but it's good pressure, you need pressure and you thrive on it. I feel it but it's the thing that drives you forward.
"Ducati are great. They have looked after us for years and have given us as much as they can, both Ducati UK and Ducati Corse. I would never change manufacturer. It's the best bike on the grid in BSB.
"This is a new project, we're kind of calling it PBM 2.0. I fully expect us to carry on as we would if my dad was still here.
"We go racing to win races and win championships and that's what we expect to do."
Racing at NW200 'a no-brainer'
Glenn Irwin will ride for the PBM team in British Superbikes and at the North West 200
The new PBM team will also participate at the North West 200 road race in May as Irwin attempts to become the most successful rider ever at the event.
"We're really looking forward to it [the NW200]. It was one of my dad's favourite events so we're aiming to achieve some more success. That would be nice.
"Glenn's great. He's been unbelievable with us because there has been a lot of uncertainty at one point for him.
"He said it was a no-brainer to stay with us, and for us I would never have signed anybody else for BSB.
"Going to the North West was an absolute no-brainer too. Glenn is part of the furniture now. I think we are stuck with each other."
'It made a tough time more bearable'
Jordan explains that her grief at the loss of her father was helped by the outpouring of support she and the other family members received.
"I was really grateful. It made a really tough time a bit more bearable to know that a lot of people loved my dad, not just us.
"I knew my dad was a legend - the results and the things he has done speak for themselves.
"When you see how many people he gave a leg up to. The team has a massive following and a lot of that was down to my dad."
The 2024 series begins at a new venue in Navarro, Spain, this weekend.