BSB 2024 has been a se🐼ason affected by injury for Andrew Irwin, although not necessarily those obtained this year.

The Honda Racing UK rider was forced to sit out the Cadwell Park BSB earlier this year when he crashed during practice, but it’s the broken humerus he suffered in 2023 that Irwin says has had the biggest effect on hi💫s 2024 season.

“I don’t think people realise how big the injury was in 🎉2023 that I had, I definitely shouldn’t have come back when I did,” Irwin told mahbx.com on Friday at last weekend’s Donington BSB, where he eventually took three top-six finishes.

“It’s took a little bit more time, I’ve had to adapt a little bit, but honestly now I feel like my arm is as strong as it’s e🍃ver been — when I go training, I’m stronger than I’ve ever been.

“So, it’s getting to thatဣ level, now I think I’m about that level. [But] everyone keeps progressing, I have toඣ keep growing, and I’ll do that over the winter.”

What were those adaptations Irwin had to make?

“It’s just learning,” he said. “Maybe I brake a slightly different way than what I used to, and [...]♋ it’s adapting꧅ to that.

“Maybe more so at the start of the year, when I was still getting stronger, was when I 🀅needed to adapt, but now I know I’m at 100 per cent, my arm is completeᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚly fixed now.

“It’s adapting to that slight change iඣn riding style.”

Irwin’s recovery from injury and the adaptation he’s had to make during that recovery have contributed to a season that has seen the #18 strong at times, but strug♏glin🍸g at others.

“After 2023, I probably thought it was ꦑgoing to be a lot easier coming backꦯ from injury,” he said.

“The first two rounds were extremely difficult in Naဣvarra and Oulton.

“In Navarra, we showed lots of speed in the test, and then something kind of went a little bit wrong. To be honest, I think ဣit w💞as more me than anything.

“Then, we started to turn it around at the third round [at Donington], and honestly it w♛as going really good, everything was going in the right direction.

“Cadwell was looking really strong to be honest, I had lots of speed there. Unfortunately, I had like a freak accident, let’s say, and I h💝ad to miss that weekend. Then I missed the test at Oulton."

Ove⛦ral🎃l, Irwin said, while 2024 has been a season of showing promise, it’s not been the one he anticipated.

“Has it been the season that I hoped for? Probab✅ly not,” he said. “But, I think that I’ve shown the promise, that I have podium potential.

“I’ve been on the podium a couple of times, and I’ve we🎐nt in the right direction. So, I can’t really complain too much, but, of course, I want more and I want to end the season strongly this weekend and♓ in Brands.”

Ultimately, in teꦛrms of results, the season has fallen below expectations.

“Honestly, at the start of the ౠyear I thought I would be top-five in the championship🥃, but obviously that hasn’t materialised,” Irwin said.

“I think the goal for these last six races is to be as close to the top five as possible. I want to be close to the podium, but, first, to be on the podium you’ve got to 🌺be in the top five.”