The North West 200’s most successful Superbike rider Glenn Irwin has announced his shock retirement from road racing in order to focus on his quest for the British Superbike Championship.
The 34-year-old from Carrickfergus confirmed in a video on his social media pages that he will no longer compete in off-circuit racing as he looks to lift the trophy that has eluded him the last few seasons.
Irwin retires unbeaten at the North West 200 since race two in 2017 having won the last 11 consecutive Superbike races around the Triangle and is the most successful rider in the discipline, surpassing Michael Rutter and the late Joey Dunlop at this year’s event.
However, the British Superbike title has eluded him, finishing second in 2022 and 2023 and third this year, and he has now signalled his intent to go all-in on circuit racing to try and achieve that dream.
“Around 4pm on Saturday May 11, I took the chequered flag at the North West 200 for the final time. I would like to make the announcement that I have made the decision to retire from all road racing with immediate effect,” revealed Irwin.
“Thirty-four may seem young but I achieved much more in my short tenure than I ever could have dreamed of.
“It’s the chequered flag on my road racing career. Is it the missing piece of the puzzle in my quest for my first British Superbike title? Only time will tell.”
The decision also came to the forefront of his mind after a crash at Brands Hatch in the final race of the British Superbike season, which saw him crash out after a blown oil cooler that also wiped out brother Andrew behind him.
With a young family to think about, Irwin admits that running the risk of that happening on a road race is significantly greater, with hazards much closer to the track and the possibility of a fatality much higher.
“In my career I have always rode within my limits. I have never suffered a crash in road racing and I have also been very consistent in short circuits,” explained Irwin.
“In 2017 I broke my neck, shoulder and elbow when a handlebar snapped at me at Knockhill. In 2020, I suffered a break failure in Andalucia in Spain in a high speed crash which, although it had a big run-off, led to a number of fractures in my back and several other bones. More recently at Brands Hatch, I suffered a blown oil cooler which led to an unavoidable crash for myself and also my brother Andrew, who was following behind.
“All these three crashes would take a miracle to survive in road racing, and I believe I have had chances.
“I am a father of three children and a partner of Laura and we have just bought our dream home. The road racer in me knows that we could be successful at the North West 200 for years to come and I also believe that I could remain unbeaten for many years. But the dad in me knows I have had a good time of it, I have achieved success that I have never dreamed of achieving.
“In life, we are always guilty of wanting more. More wins, more financial freedom, more whatever. But in road racing, the price of chasing that next victory, that next record, can be so high, it can be the ultimate price.
“I have always felt in control but, having had the exposure of the big crashes I have had, caused by unforeseen circumstances had made me realise that riding with the best intentions isn’t always enough.
“We started this journey as a family of two and we leave it at the top of as a family of five, something I am forever grateful for.”
In line with those comments, Irwin paid an emotional tribute to those who have led him to this point, including his parents, wife Laura and their three children.
“To my mum and dad, you can now breathe!” he laughed.
“Dad, you can now enjoy the North West 200 without standing in the same lucky spot, underneath the big screen in the pit lane. Every year you stood there, I kept winning, so now you can finally move. How about we go back to Juniper Hill where it all started in granny’s caravan, when we signed up as marshals to get a better viewing point.
“Dad, thank you for all the advice. You kept me safe, you gave me confidence but, most of all, you taught me the respect for road racing, a big reason why I’m making this decision today. You may not have won a North West 200 but I know that you were on the bike every second of the journey with me, so now you have won 11 – well done.
“Mum, sorry for the stresses that you go through as the parent of a road racer. Thank you that, despite that, you showed up every year to cheer me on. You helped look after our children and I will forever be grateful for that. I have always told you that I would take it easy. Here we are, out the other side.
“Finally, to Laura. This journey began very early into our relationship. We went from a young couple to parents of three and our children are growing up in a world that is ever changing, and they need us now more than ever. They, and you, are my reason for this decision.
“I am beyond proud for the memories we have created at the North West 200 but, even more so, I am proud to be out at the top and create more memories with our young family.
“To Freddie, you are eight-years-old and I know you understand. The proudness in your face when daddy wins and you are on my shoulders celebrating is something I will always remember.”
Irwin made his road racing debut at the Dundrod 150 races in 2014 for the VRS Kawasaki team, qualifying third for the Supertwin race and going on the finish fifth, but it was on his North West 200 debut a year later where he fell in love with road racing.
Although he would break down in the opening Supersport race while battling for the lead, he would finish second in what he described as one of the “best races of (his career)” in the second race of the event.
“It opened my eyes to how fun road racing can be and the respect that I had for my rivals,” Irwin said in his retirement video.
He would go on to break the existing lap record racing for the John Burrows team at that year’s Supersport race at the Ulster Grand Prix, finishing second in race two, and a year later he would make his Macau Grand Prix debut, qualifying on the front row.
Although his remarkable North West 200 run would begin the following year in 2017, Irwin recalled a funny moment on the grid before the opening Superbike race.
“I remember sitting on the grid, it was my first Superbike race at the North West, it was soaking wet and I was thinking, ‘I don’t even want to do this!’” laughed the 34-year-old, who would go on to finish fourth.
But the following race would kickstart a phenomenal run at the Triangle circuit, Irwin holding off Alastair Seeley to cross the line first and begin an unbeaten run that exists to this very day, breaking Rutter and Dunlop’s previous record of nine.
“How we’ve gone on to beat that record with 11 wins consecutively is something that will live with me forever,” added Irwin. “I can’t believe what we’ve done, but we’ve done it, and it feels so nice to sit here saying that. It’s very surreal.
“I felt like David Beckham on the north coast during the North West. From a wee lad who grew up in the hills above Carrickfergus, you can only imagine what that felt like.
“I cast my mind back to the 2017 event and that first Superbike win. As I made that move into Juniper chicane, I could hear the crowd over the noise of the engine. In 2018, with a five-second lead, I was able to enjoy a nine-mile Mexican wave.”
He would win the Macau Grand Prix in 2017 at his second attempt, setting the fastest lap in qualifying before claiming the title, although the death of Dan Hegarty in the same race “really hit (him) on a personal level”.
Another memorable moment would come at the 2022 Isle of Man TT when he would link up with John McGuinness at Honda and have a front row view to the road racing legend making his 100th TT start before setting the record for the fastest newcomer lap on his way to an eighth placed finish in the Superbike race.
“We still lapped faster than John, something we still joke about!” laughed Irwin.
“What an experience. I saw what John went through up close, celebrating 100 TT starts and it is a memory that I will cherish forever, and I am so thankful to Honda for all their preparation over a couple of years before we made our debut.”