Glenn Irwin makes surprising road racing U-turn

BSB runner-up Glenn Irwin has confirmed plans to race at this year’s North West 200, ending his brief retirement from road racing. 

Irwin is an 11-time winner at the event, and will make his return with the Nitrous Competitions Racing Ducati team that he rides for in BSB.

Part of the reason for his decision to come out of road racing retirement is to achieve 14 wins at the North West 200. That number is a fairly important one when it comes to this particular event, as 14 wins would put Irwin one ahead of road racing legend Joey Dunlop. It would also put the Ulsterman level with Michael Rutter.

Irwin first contested the North West 200 in 2015, which he did alongside his BSB commitments. Irwin also made his debut at the Isle of Man TT in 2022, but he has not returned to the island as a competitor since.

Irwin’s last appearance at the North West came in 2024, the same year he initially decided to retire from road racing. 

But while speaking on the Nolan Show, which is hosted by BBC Radio Ulster, Irwin had this to see about his 2026 plans: 

“I had a really difficult season in the British Superbikes [in 2025]. It started so well, but we ended up with what looked like a year-ending [hip] injury in June, and it changed things for me.

“Yes, we came back a lot earlier, but I sustained bad fractures to my pelvis and underwent surgery, and from the back of that, I lost my ride with my previous ride. I was approached by Nitrous Competitions Ducati, as they are now, with a proposal to have a bike and package to win the Superbike championship and go back and win the North West 200 again.”

Irwin added that his goal of winning 14 races at the North West 200 is one his fiancée Laura supports: 

“Laura understands, as we have a dream as a family to win the British Superbikes and my dream has altered slightly to win 14 North Wests.”

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