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Expect the unexpected, is one way to describe the penultimate BSB round of 2023.
After three dramatic Superbike encounters around the Donington Park GP (Grand Prix) circuit, eight times North-West 200 winner Glenn Irwin is no longer the Championship leader.
Irwin was out of luck in this afternoon’s SBK races, as an incident with team-mate, new Championship leader Tommy Bridewell, a following technical issue put pay to him unlocking a much-needed stellar haul of points.
Collecting zero points from Donington, Irwin’s deficit to fellow BeerMonster Ducati pilot Bridewell going into the season finale at Brands Hatch, stands at 7 and a half points.
Although it seems a long shot to clinch BSB title No.3, FHO Racing BMW’s Josh Brookes goes into Brands still mathematically capable of this feat.
Australia’s speediest TT Races exponent, returned to the rostrum finishers circle in today’s final SBK race stint, having claimed in this weekend’s prior races, eighth, seventh place finishes.
Team-mate, 13 times TT winner Peter Hickman, obtained top three finishes x3 plus had the distinction of becoming the most starting racer in British Superbike Championship history, having now started 435 races!
Davey Todd, racing under the Milwaukee BMW umbrella, attained points finishes whilst 25 times TT winner Michael Dunlop was back in action again for Hawk Racing, continuing to hone his purpose-built circuit racing skillset.
Steve Henshaw Gold Cup winner, Dean Harrison, led the roads scene charge within the British Supersport races, taking ninth, twelfth place finishes.
National Superstock 1000 wise, North-West 200 wins record holder Alastair Seeley battled to third, fourth place finishes.
LAMI OMG Racing’s James Hillier captured P14 finishes times two, triple TT Privateers Champion Jamie Coward placed a respectable 16th from the stock 1000 race opener whilst Saturday, Sunday’s production 1000 machinery encounters, also featured York’s Joey Thompson and Honda Racing’s Nathan Harrison.
I end this piece with a prominent mention for brother of 2016 Senior Manx Grand Prix winner, Tom Weeden, Finn Smart Weeden, who clinched this year’s British Junior Supersport Championship. Huge congratulations!
Photo credit: Michael Wincott
Words by Stevie Rial #dontlfearcontrolyou
