Glenn Irwin’s departure from PBM Ducati and subsequent agreement with OMG Racing were announced Tuesday.
Glenn Irwin believes PBM Ducati “weren’t prepared to wait for me” following his unexpected exit from the British Superbike Championship team.
The 35-year-old rider sustained fractures to his hip socket and pelvis in a practice crash at Snetterton in June, necessitating surgery on his sacrum as part of his treatment.
Initially aiming for a return at the Cadwell Park round in late August, Irwin stated he was cleared to race at the Thruxton event from August 8-10.
However, PBM Ducati announced on Thursday that Irwin had left the team “as a result of a point of conflict” regarding the immediacy of the Northern Irish rider’s comeback.
Irwin questioned the loyalty of his former team, which he felt was not reciprocated after he delayed contract negotiations with other teams at the end of 2023. This decision was made as PBM faced an uncertain future following the death of its owner and founder, Paul Bird, earlier that year.
He described himself as a “very loyal person” and expressed being “a bit hurt” by his exit.
“I didn’t sign a contract for 2024 until that March [while waiting for PBM to get up and running under Bird’s daughter, Jordan]. I was committed and trusting,” Irwin told BBC Sport NI.
“PBM did get going and I sat there waiting. I don’t think they were prepared to wait on me this year.”
Irwin added that the past week had been “one of the toughest moments of my career but also in my life.”
“The injury was one thing, and having to deal with what comes next but there was also a lot of other things to deal with.”
“I got passed orthopedically fit in all the stage one examinations that are required and got second and third opinions as well, but the team, for whatever reason, didn’t value that.”
Irwin joins Yamaha after split from Ducati
Irwin debuted in BSB with PBM Ducati in 2016 and was in his second stint with the team, having rejoined in 2023.
He extended his best wishes to Scott Redding, the 2019 BSB champion who replaced Irwin during his injury, for the remainder of the season, acknowledging that some team members would be “friends for life.”
Following his departure from PBM, Irwin will return to the grid at Thruxton, having reached an agreement with OMG Racing, the team of reigning champion Kyle Ryde.
The three-time BSB runner-up stated he “can’t go too much” into the reason for his departure but said: “It’s an expensive sport, maybe that has something to do with it, I don’t know.”
“There’s one bike and this sport is expensive. It’s a big ask to put two Ducati’s out,” Irwin added.
“It’s been really tough. When you work so hard to come back from injury you want that encouragement when you get positive news.
“When you go to trusted medics, I certainly value what they say. These are the guys you are trusting with your life.
“I know what I’ve been doing in training and it’s been great. I’m fit to ride and hopefully we can show that this weekend.”
Irwin’s deal with OMG Yamaha is a “short-term deal” for the remainder of the BSB season, and he mentioned that he is currently negotiating for a seat for the 2026 season.
He was also seen having lunch with the North West 200’s Mervyn Whyte, and Irwin indicated that he would not dismiss a return to the event in 2026.
Irwin is an 11-time winner in the Superbike class but had previously announced his retirement from road racing due to safety concerns.
“We spoke about lot of things about the North West, including safety improvements,” Irwin said on his lunch with Whyte.
“My reason for not racing there was the danger, with having a family, but if these guys can make the event even safer then you never know.
“If they can keep making steps then I couldn’t rule it out for next year.
“If we go back it’s to do the same job we done before, it’s not for anything else.”