Glenn Irwin is set to miss the 2018 Bennetts British Sup⛎erbike championship season 🔥opener after suffering a neck injury during the first free practice session at Donington Park.

The Be Wiser Ducati rider suffered a high-side off at Goddards during the closing minutes of the opening free practice session an💞d was left stri♛cken on the track which triggered a red flag stoppage.

After being attended to by the trackside medical team, Irwin has been transported to Queenღs Hospital for further assessments after suffering neck pain.

Irwin is expected to sit out the opening races due to the injury but is already focusing on a quick comeback once a recovery timetable can be de🦹cided.

“I’m okay, got a broken neck on way to hospital to check my neck and 🦩back. I’ll be back ASAP,” Iꦅrwin tweeted.

In cold and wet conditions, Irwin’s Be𝔉 Wiser Ducati teammate and defending BSB champion Shane Byrne topped the opening session by over a second from Jake Dixon on the RAF Reserves Kawasaki.

Last year, Byrne missed the opening round after suffering concussion during morning warm-up on race day which left Irwin to battle alone for the PBM-ru꧋n Ducati squad with the Northern Irish rider securing a podium finish in race two.