Reigning Irish Motorcyclist of the Year Glenn Irwin doesn’t consider himself the favourite to lift the Joey Dunlop trophy for a third time at the Irish Motorbike Awards in Belfast on Friday night.
Irwin handed over the impressive piece of silverware ahead of the star-studded ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, where he has won the main accolade for the past two years.
The Carrick man finished as the runner-up in the British Superbike Championship in 2022 and 2023 and continued to dominate the Superbike races at the North West 200.
Last year, the 34-year-old won eight BSB races and set a new record of 11 Superbike victories in a row at the North West, surpassing the previous best of nine wins in the blue riband event held jointly by Joey Dunlop and Michael Rutter.
Irwin later announced his retirement from road racing and will this year redouble his efforts to become Northern Ireland’s first British Superbike Champion.
He is one of the strongest contenders on the six-strong shortlist for the Irish Motorcyclist of the Year title on Friday, but Irwin says he does not believe he is the frontrunner for the honour.
Irwin said: “I’ve been very grateful to have been the Irish Motorcyclist of the Year the past two years running.
“We go into Friday’s awards and I would probably hand on heart say I’m not the favourite this year.
“I’m sure everyone will get the recognition that they deserve and nonetheless it’s always a great night.
“I look forward to going to it and hopefully we will come home with a little bit of silverware.”
The nominees for the top award include Michael Dunlop, who won four races at the Isle of Man TT, taking over from his legendary uncle Joey as the most successful rider ever at the event.
Joey’s record of 26 victories had stood since 2000, but his nephew has raised the bar to 29 after winning both Supersport and Supertwin races.
The shortlist also includes Dublin’s Jack Kennedy, who won the British Supersport title for a record fifth time after spearheading Honda’s official return to the class.
Six-time World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea claimed a podium at Donington Park, finishing third, but was 13th overall in the final standings. Rea has won the main award a record nine times.
“This is a really special night for the sport with all disciplines under one roof celebrating with the fans,” Rea said.
“I was so honoured to win the Irish Motorcyclist of the year seven times in a row and also amazed that I was able to surpass the record held by the legendary Joey Dunlop.”
Scott Swann, third in the National Superstock 1000 Championship, and British Supersport contender Eugene McManus complete the six riders in contention.
Many of the sport’s biggest names will be in attendance at the event, which is the biggest night for UK and Irish motorcycling.
A raft of awards include Young Rider of the Year, International Road Racer of the Year, Team of the Year, Short Circuit Rider of the Year, Off-Road Rider of the Year and the prestigious Hall of Fame.
A new BSB Breakthrough award will also be presented in memory of four-time British Champion Keith Farmer, who died unexpectedly in 2022.
The accolade has been organised in conjunction with the British Superbike Championship and will go to the Irish rider who has made the biggest impact over the season.
In 2023, Clogher man Keith was posthumously awarded the Special Recognition Award.
Another new addition to the list of gongs is the Female Trailblazer of the Year gong.
The evening will be hosted by Keith Huewen and Stephen Watson and the ceremony will be streamed live online at kingoftheroads.tv
NOMINEES
ADELAIDE IRISH MOTORCYCLIST OF THE YEAR Jack Kennedy, Jonathan Rea, Michael Dunlop, Eugene McManus, Glenn Irwin, Scott Swann ZEROFIT SHORT CIRCUIT RIDER OF THE YEAR – UK CIRCUITS David Allingham, Jack Kennedy, Andrew Irwin, Simon Reid, Alastair Seeley, Scott Swann, Glenn Irwin, Eugene McManus, Nikki Coates, Rhys Irwin KAWASAKI YOUNG RIDER OF THE YEAR Jack Burrows, Rossi Dobson, Holly Denis, Macy Edgar, Jack Hamilton, Cole McCullough, Sophie Ferguson, Alfie Flynn, Max Robinson, Ruben Sherman-Boyd, Isaac Mark, Lewis Mullen, Alexander Rowan, Peter Willis, Brian O’Malley, Casey O’Gorman, Shannon Smyth KERR’S TYRES GROUP TEAM OF THE YEAR BPE/Russell Racing, Burrows Engineering/RK Racing, Daracore Racing. TAS Racing, J McC Roofing Racing, KMR Racing, MLav Racing, McAdoo Racing, MD Racing, Mar-Train Racing, Swann Racing CLASSIC BIKE FESTIVAL IRELAND INTERNATIONAL ROAD RACER OF THE YEAR Richard Cooper, Michael Dunlop, Davey Todd, Peter Hickman, Glenn Irwin, Dean Harrison BAYVIEW HOTEL SHORT CIRCUIT RIDER OF THE YEAR – IRISH CIRCUITS Korie McGreevy, Alexander Rowan, Johnny Campbell, Kevin Keyes ARBUTUS CATERING FEMALE TRAILBLAZER OF THE YEAR Holly Denis, Anne Forsythe, Sophie Ferguson, Nicole Lynch, Macy Edgar RACKING SHELVING OFF ROAD RIDER OF THE YEAR Martin Barr, Sophie Ferguson, Jay McCrum, Jason Meara, Jordan Scott A.McLEAN BOOKMAKERS RACE OF THE YEAR GLENN IRWIN wins a thrilling BSB Superbike Race Two at Donnington Park, Round 10. SCOTT SWANN beats Davey Todd in the final BSB Superstock race of the season at Brands Hatch. MICHAEL DUNLOP’s record-breaking 27th Isle of Man TT win in the first Supertwin race. MIKE BROWNE beats Michael Dunlop to take a dramatic Supersport victory at the Southern 100. JACK KENNEDY’s British Supersport Sprint race win at Brands Hatch, Round Six. GLENN IRWIN beats Davey Todd to secure a history-making 11th Superbike victory in a row at the NW200. BELFAST CHAUFFEUR HIRE EVENT OF THE YEAR Bayview Hotel Armoy Race of Legends Cemcor Cookstown 100 Briggs Equipment North West 200 Go Fuels Classic Bike Festival Ireland JAS Finlay Sunflower Trophy Other awards to be presented on the night include the prestigious Hall of Fame sponsored by Pride & Pinion, the IFS Special Recognition Award, the BSB Breakthrough Award in memory of Keith Farmer and the Greenlight TV King of the Roads.