BSB: Irwin to replace Haslam at Kawasaki in 2019

Glenn Irwin will replace the outgoing Leon Haslam in the Bournemouth Kawasaki squad for the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike season.

The Northern Irishman will part ways with the Be Wiser Ducati squad at the end of this year and move over to the factory-backed Kawasaki outfit in place of Haslam, who heads back to the World Championship with Kawasaki next season.

With Haslam looking set to leave BSB as champion, Irwin has big boots to fill as Bournemouth Kawasaki’s number one rider but he feels the change will bring about the best in him ahead of one of BSB’s most open years yet.

“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about my future over recent weeks and I felt that in order for me to go to the next level a change was required,” Irwin told MCN. 

“We haven’t stopped moving forward at PBM, but I think I perhaps went a bit stale in myself and a change could be the thing to help me keep moving forward. This opportunity with the factory-backed Kawasaki team, a proven team that looks set to win the title this year, was just too good to turn down. This is my opportunity to win the championship.”

Racing Co-ordinator for Kawasaki Motors UK, Ross Burridge, added: “We’ve known Glenn for a number of years now and we have watched his quick rise through the British Superbike ranks with some interest. We feel now is the time for Glenn to make a formidable assault on the title and we believe that the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR will be the perfect tool to help him achieve greatness.

The Bournemouth Kawasaki Team have done a fantastic job over the past couple of seasons, winning countless races and we can’t wait to see how the two will work together next year, hopefully notching up many more race wins between them!”

For the full, exclusive interview with Irwin about his 2019 deal – pick up today’s MCN.