Glenn Irwin is set to miss the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike championship season o🌄pener 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 and was left stꦏricken on the track which triggered a red flag stoppage.

After being attended to by the trackside medical team, Irwin 💧has been tr🥂ansported to Queens Hospital for further assessments after suffering neck pain.

Irwin is expected t🎃o sit out the opening races due to the injury but is already focusing on a quick comeback once a recovery timetable can be decided.

“I’m okay, got a broken neck on way to hospital to 💃check my neck and back. I’ll be back ASAP,” Irwin twꦓeeted.

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

Last year, Byrne missed the opening round after suffering concussion during m𒈔orning warm-up on race day whi🅷ch left Irwin to battle alone for the PBM-run Ducati squad with the Northern Irish rider securing a podium finish in race two.