Despite having the second-highest tally of race wins in BSB this year, Glenn Irwin’s title challenge lacked consistency in 2024 as he eventually took third place in the stan♕dings.

After crashing out of Race 1 at the final round at Brands Hatch, Irwin was mathematically out of contention o🐎n Sunday. Despite that, the two Sunဣday races were not simply races to win for the PBM Ducati rider.

A charge to the front in the first half of Race 3 saw Irwin fighting a༺gainst both remaining contenders: Kyle Ryde and Tommy Bridewell; with their respective teammates, Ryan Vickers and Andrew Irwin, also in the mix.

“The last race, how do you describe🐎 it,” Irwin asked when speaking to BritishSuperbike.com following the final round at B𓆏rands Hatch.

“We start the race and cle𝔍arly I could see what Andrew’s [Irwin] gameplan was: he was being a fantastic teammate to Tommy [Bridewell].

“It’s the beauty of having a teammate. I kind of felt b𝕴ad for Kyle [Ryde]. Andrew was going so tight into the corners, he was stopping in every corner, and I thought ‘This is terrible’.”

Irwin explained that he played🍌 his own role in the title battle between Bridewell and Ryde, and that events from 2023 at least impacted how he viewed this year’s battle.

“Then I passed Kyle,” he said. “Iꦯ wanted him to not panic [about] me passing him; I knew we could get to the front, but I also knew my tyre would probably tear in this cool temper꧅ature.

“So, I got to the front, tried my best, thought about ‘Do we go and win this race, is this how this fi๊nishes for me,’ and realised that I was starting to have some moments.

“When Kyle we♛nt by I got into a scrap with Tommy, and I think a little bit of me became a bit of a wingman for Kyle.

“I could see how much Andrew was doing it, an🌜d there’s always a little bit of a casting eye to las🐟t year.

“I hold no resentment and have a lot of respect for Tommy, but after the incident at Donington Park and the✃ statements on TV [...],  it always sits deep within me.

“I believe things go round in circles, so I would never do anything out of the ordinary to anyone, but I really enjoyed the fight, done my bit, and then watched the🅠 guys have an amazing fight for the British Superbike Championship.”

Finally, Irwin spoke about th♒e two title contenders, showing respect to both of them.

“Hats off to Tommy, he set a lap record, he got to the front of the race, and Kyle showed grit and determination that he’s shown in the last three or fo𝓀ur races where he’s mounted a serious run of form, and I applaud him; he’s really come of age.

“I remember teꦺlling his dad at Silverstone when he was on a 125cc two-stroke, I was like ‘That kid’s class, he’s going to be so good’, and🌼 here he is today.”