NW200 winner Irwin welcomes ex-MotoGP man Barbera

Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki heads into round three of the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship with a diverse blend of two-wheel racing experience as it prepares to welcome Hector Barbera alongside Glenn Irwin at Donington Park.

Fresh from his Superbike success on the North West 200 last weekend, Irwin will be paired with experienced former MotoGP rider Barbera in a new-look pairing for this weekend’s BSB triple-header.

Barbera – who started 139 MotoGP races during a tenure at the highest-level spanning 2010 to 2017 - has received a BSB call up to replace the injured Ben Currie, who suffered a leg injury last time out at Oulton Park. More recently the Spaniard has ridden a Kawasaki ZX-10R in World Superbikes with privateer Orelac Racing team.

For Irwin, having a rider of Barbera’s calibre on the other side of the Quattro Plant Kawasaki garage will prove a big motivation for him.

“It’s good to be going into Donington Park off the back of our success at the North West 200 last weekend. It feels like this is a real turning point in the season and there has been a positive change in confidence.

“It’s cool to have Héctor as part of the team. I used to watch him race on TV and I get on well with him. It’ll be good to share a garage with him and learn from him where I can.”