Glenn Irwin: My title hopes are ruined but I'm just thankful horror Snetterton crash wasn't worse

Belfast Telegraph

22-06-2025

Irwin had set a fast time in the third and final free practice time in the morning session when he was caught out by a high-side as he exited the Esses section of the Norfolk track.
He landed heavily on his right-hand side and was almost struck by his brother Andrew and Rory Skinner, who did not see the stricken Irwin lying on the side of the track because of a cloud of dust kicked up as a result of the incident.
It was a close call for the Carrickfergus man, who is being treated for hip and pelvis fractures in Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
Irwin is facing a spell on the sidelines and after missing all three races at Snetterton, the 35-year-old has dropped to fourth in the championship, 66 points behind former champion Bradley Ray, who looks unstoppable on the Raceways Yamaha after sealing a second consecutive treble.
Ray has won seven of the eight races so far in 2025 and the English rider made history on Sunday, becoming the first rider to secure back-to-back BSB hat-tricks.
Irwin was only 12 points behind Ray going into the weekend but with his hopes of winning the title for the first time in tatters, he is focused on his recovery and says he has not given up on his dream of one day winning the coveted British crown.
In a video posted to social media from his hospital bed, Irwin provided an update on his injuries and said he was thankful he wasn't more seriously hurt.
'I've smashed my sacrum, it's in lots of pieces but they're all quite close together so it might not need surgery, but with a view to returning to racing sometimes we get treated (differently) so maybe we have a surgery,' Irwin said.
'I have another fracture in my pelvis, where the hip socket goes into – that's the only injuries I have.
'I'm very grateful; Andrew (Irwin) was very close to me, also Rory (Skinner); when I crashed, the guys couldn't see me with the cloud of dust and I'm thankful because it could've been so much worse.'
The two-time BSB championship runner-up apologised to his team but said he was determined to realise his long-term goal.
'I apologise to the team because we've ruined our championship challenge for sure, we will be missing for a little while,' he said.
'But, in true 'Glenn' spirit, we're resilient, we're determined, we will be back, and the goal is what the goal has always been, and that's to lift the British Superbike Championship.'
Ray followed up his victory in Saturday's opening race with another stylish success in the Sprint race yesterday by almost four seconds from Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) with Honda's Tommy Bridewell in third.
Ray was pushed harder by reigning champion Kyle Ryde (OMG Nitrous Competitions Yamaha) in the final race but still won by 1.7 seconds, with Leon Haslam third on the Moto Rapido Ducati.
With a two-week break until the fourth round at Knockhill, Ray holds a 30-point lead over Ryde, with Haslam eight points back in third.
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing) crashed out of the third race yesterday and was 19th in the Sprint race.
Fellow Northern Ireland rider Scott Swann skipped both races yesterday after a crash but is set to return on the IWR Honda at Knockhill.
Lee Johnston crashed in yesterday's Supersport race, with reigning champion Jack Kennedy also a faller on the opening lap.