EXCLUSIVE: Glenn Irwin - Q&A

Crash.net:
Now that you've had a few months to reflect, how was 2014 for you?

Glenn Irwin:
It's a hard one to say. I think going into the season I wasn't sure what my aspirations were. Yes, everyone wants to win but following a difficult year before where my confidence took a hit, people were telling me that I could still do it but I doubted myself. We got a win in the wet [at round one] and that did help a bit but we still lacked in the dry.

Midway through the year something just clicked. I said to people the old Glenn was back from the 2010 Irish Supersport days when you went to the grid. You didn't sit and think, 'We're at the front, we'll be close to the front.' You just thought, 'I'm going to win.' It wasn't an outwardly approach where you're telling people you're going to win - it would be foolish to say that - but in myself I knew I was going to the grid to race for the win, nothing else.

Everything fell together. If I could have said that I was going to set myself up for a championship challenge in 2015 I definitely would have taken it. To finish 49 points off... I read somewhere in a publication over here, they brought out their top ten riders [of 2014] and I got put in at seventh.

I don't get too annoyed at things like that but I thought, 'I've done alright this year'. One of the comments was 'his midseason dip in form.' I didn't respond to it directly but my midseason dip in form was breaking my ankle at Seaview in a charity football match followed by trying to race the week after at Snetterton, high-siding in qualifying and breaking my collarbone! I put it on social media and was told to take it down for medical purposes in case I was made to take a test.

Three races followed that one. At Snetterton I did race that weekend [then] Knockhill and Brands where I was definitely not in great shape to be on a motorbike. It's all ifs and buts but it shows that the championship challenge was there this year without realising it. It was a good year.

Crash.net:
You were paired alongside Luke Hedger, who was new to the class, for 2014. Did you feel added pressure, as you were the experienced head in the team?

Glenn Irwin:
It was definitely a situation that I hadn't been in before. I'd never had a team-mate up until Stuart Easton and we all know how that went! This year I had Luke Hedger. I made a two-year plan to go forward and progress. I've kept on with the team for this year coming but Luke was also in his first year in Supersport and I'm sure the team didn't expect him to do it in his first year.

There was pressure. Preseason testing was pretty good in Spain, then my uncle passed away just before the UK tests. I think that and not being able to think straight, a bit of the negative confidence from the year before [came back], riding on tracks that I had struggled on and testing was woeful. Luke was destroying me. It got to the point where I said, 'Get your finger out Glenn!'

Thankfully I beat him in 21 races and the three that he beat me I didn't finish. I don't know if it was added pressure, obviously the first rule is beat your team-mate. It'll be the same again next year, I've got a very good team-mate, a very experienced one and one that will definitely be a big championship threat. In my eyes it's the same attitude again, I have to beat my team-mate. It gets the team on your side if you make yourself number one.

Crash.net:
Obviously there was a big improvement in your results in 2014 but you were visibly more confident and aggressive on the bike in the second half of the year. What was the turning point?

Glenn Irwin:
It was something to do with mentality and experience. One that stuck out for me was at the second Oulton Park [meeting] in August. I crashed out of race one [while] going for a podium on the last lap. In race two I had a second behind Alistair [Seeley] in pretty iffy conditions. At this stage of the year the dry was really starting to come. The wet was good but the grease didn't really suit me. That first race at Oulton was dry, I sat in second behind [Graeme] Gowland and thought, 'hold on to him and he'll pull me away from the pack.'

Then I actually passed him and when he passed me back I thought that was it, they were going to go. I felt really settled and it was only when I started the last lap that I thought I could maybe go for the podium. I think I took around 0.7 out of [Luke] Mossey. I had made a mistake the lap before but got myself in a position to go for a podium. Unfortunately I crashed but I look back on that race and thought if I had believed [in myself] I could have won it.

That's when I realised that Glenn Irwin had something that I wasn't allowing [myself] to express. I had a good result on the Sunday in damp conditions that helped. They weren't in my favour. Gowland was behind me and leading the championship at that stage. I had to ride a defensive race, wasn't trying to go as fast as I could but positioned the bike quite well. We kept him behind the whole race. That was the turning point definitely. Cadwell was another strong win in the wet. We got to Donington and I could show what I had been discovering.

Crash.net:
It seemed crazy to think there was a time that you were searching for funding despite challenging for podiums. Can you tell us about that situation?

Glenn Irwin:
It was mad. The year before I didn't do much to deserve a professional ride with Gearlink. We had a bit of success in the past with Superstock racing and we've always been friendly. I was saying [to them], "take a gamble on me." They gave me a position on their team that I had to bring some outside sponsorship too.

To do a sponsorship deal everyone has the right to not make the deal. I lost a bit of backing that I thought we had. Before Cadwell I still had sponsorship in place but that sponsor changed their payment to the end of the year. As a company it suited them. They didn't pull any more support from me but I didn't have time to find the instalment. It was [initially] for October then changed to August. It was a nightmare.

A lot of people said that it showed the state motor sport is in but I wouldn't look at it like that. The public were fantastic and new sponsors came in to save my bacon. It wasn't as if the team was running out of money. People say it's ridiculous that riders have to bring this, that and the other but next year I'm a full time professional so I don't think it's in that bad a state. The way I see it is if you deserve to get paid you get paid. Some guy in tenth has to bring 40 grand but would you pay somebody if they are only going to finish tenth for you? You wouldn't!

Crash.net:
You were paired with eventual champion Stuart Easton in the Mar-Train set up in 2013. The year didn't go to plan. Do you feel the opportunity with a big team came to soon?

Glenn Irwin:
To be honest there were so many things. When I signed for Mar-Train it was only going to be a one-man team or I was the number one rider. Then Stuart [Easton] signed. That didn't get my back up, I thought 'fair enough'. In pre-season we were told who our crew was going to be. I had no issue with who was in my crew. I really liked the lads. But then you get someone with 20 years experience put towards Stuart. I was working with a lad who was really keen to learn and become a crew chief. It was pretty obvious which basket the eggs were in. I'm one of those riders that if I get support I perform. When you're in a garage feeling like it [support] is all for somebody else...

Nobody can knock the team. They won the championship. Fair play to them, they gave me a big opportunity and things didn't work out. People might think there's a feeling of hatred towards Tim [Martin, Mar-Train's racing Team Principal], there's definitely not. I do respect him. Maybe the bridge is burnt but it was one of them years that did not work out but it was an experience. Don't get me wrong I was not the perfect rider. But I think it helped me, I've been working a lot since then on and off the track. Maybe it just came too soon. Maybe I needed another year in a lower scale team annoying the front boys rather than wanting to beat them.

Crash.net:
You have received a lot of press recently about setting something up to help younger local riders. What can you tell us about that?

Glenn Irwin:
There'll be an announcement in the first week in January regarding one of the two things I have. We have two riders who I'll work closely with on an intern basis. I've also got a bike and set a small team up. It's not a financial thing - it's my time and effort and some other sponsors time and effort and another sponsor will provide a bike. It's the bike I rode at the Ulster Grand Prix, which is definitely a good 650. I rode it at the Sunflower and got a few lap records on it.

I'm going to give a young lad a chance on that but we don't want to leave it at that. We want to help him get some sponsorship, help him to eat right and train right, to help him improve on the track and cover everything.

I'm then going to work with another rider in the same situation. When I put the announcement on Facebook I thought that I couldn't just help one or two guys. There were a lot of names touted about. I can't really say too much but we will have something and get it announced at the Belfast show. It will help a lot of youngsters over here should they choose to attend.

There are always skeptics. People will think I'm making money from it but any money I make from the Belfast show is going straight back into it. The accounts will be open and done through the MCUI so they can see what's there. I'll lose money on it but I don't care. You don't see it as losing money, I want to give something back. I've had a lot of support from people over here so it's only right that I support people back.

Crash.net:
Was that desire to give something back the main motivating factor?

Glenn Irwin:
With what we have going on in England it's important to keep your focus but it's important not to be too intense on my own racing. I think it's nice to have an interest outside racing in BSB. [When] there's a four or five week gap and if I had another little interest I can pop up to Kirkistown for the Irish round and help some of the young lads. It breaks my year up a bit. I'll get some good PR when people see that I am doing something.

I never thought that I'd do it to make myself look good because it takes a lot of time and effort to do something like that. We'll be telling the lads when we work with them that it's not all about how fast you ride a motorbike. You need to see the big picture and there are so many little things [you need]. The PR needs to be right so people want to get involved with you.

Something that encouraged me to do that was Jonathan Rea got in touch with me this year after my results started to improve. He spoke to a few teams for me at world level and opened some doors that definitely aren't shut for the following year. If I perform there's potentially going to be a platform there. Jonathan has time to help me over the phone. Perhaps he wouldn't have time to attend a lot of meetings in Northern Ireland because of his busy schedule. I'm at the stage where I do have time to do that.

Crash.net:
So beyond 2015 are you looking towards eventually securing a seat in World Supersport or Moto2?

Glenn Irwin:
Moto2 would definitely suit my style, sliding it in like a maniac! If you want to go to Grand Prix you have to go there when you start racing. The chances of anyone in Northern Ireland having that kind of money behind them at a young age are slim. My way of getting to Grand Prix would be the way Jonathan and Crutchlow [did it]. I'll have to become a top name in World Superbikes and then get across. If there were a few World Supersport rides and Moto2 rides at the end of the year I'd have to pay for the Moto2 ride. Then you're back into where you were a couple of years ago.

Your aspiration has to be a world champion but saying that the BSB series is incredibly strong at the minute. I'm not one to set a direct plan. At the present time you have to pick the right move. I know they're saying the World Supersport series is weak barring the first few but if you're winning it doesn't matter what the depth is like from tenth to twentieth. You're still beating Kenan Sofuoglu, it's still tough at the top. I did speak to some Superbike teams in BSB for this season [2015] and there may be options there. I've got to get the job done with Gearlink and hopefully we can get that championship and we'll go from there.

Crash.net:
Speaking of 2015 there is some pretty exciting talent in the British Supersport class. Who do you see the strongest challenge coming from?

Glenn Irwin:
There's definitely a lot of talent. Luke Stapleford was quick all last year. He's very quick over a lap and he didn't get a race win but once he gets one it'll make it easier to get more. He's going to be a big threat. Also my team-mate Ben [Wilson]. Anytime he's raced in Supersport he's always so consistent. To me he'll always be on that podium, whether it's first, second or third. Consistency is going to make him a challenger. Gowland could have done it last year; he had the tools to do it. I've raced with him and to me he lacks that little bit of race craft. I've seen him do some things and I thought, 'What are you doing?' Maybe there's a simple pass on and he doesn't do it, he does a stupid one.

Supersport has that label of aggressiveness and that's usually where he loses out. I think the main threat from Smith's [Triumph] is going to be Jake [Dixon]. He's a talented kid and a proper nice lad. He's a proper scratcher as well, he'll put a move on you when he can and he's got good equipment this year. Andy Reid and Kyle Ryde are two young lads stepping up. I don't see them as total championship threats but they will put in some good races. In Supersport there are probably six guys that can win a race. It's proper good racing and hard to pick one single guy as the main threat. I think Jake can definitely step up to the mark depending on how he copes with the pressure.

Crash.net:
Then you also have James Rispoli and the MVs...

Glenn Irwin:
Rispoli is up and down. He will be fast and hopefully more so slow [laughs]! There are a number of lads that can put in a good performance. I would say the championship guys are probably Wilson, Seeley if he's there, Stapleford, Dixon and Gowland. They're the championship threats.

Crash.net:
What's your relationship like with your new team-mate?

Glenn Irwin:
I actually get on really well with him. It's funny. Because of the Seeley days [2012-13] if they don't know Ben they think he's a bit different. Maybe not so friendly but when you get speaking to him he's just one of the lads. Away from racing he's as good craic as anybody, if not better. We were over here for the North West launch and had a night out in Belfast. He's totally normal, just incredibly focussed at the racing. I'm sure we'll work together to improve the bikes throughout the week but are we friends on track? Definitely not. We'll see what way the championship looks at the end of the year. There is a friendship there so we may do each other a favour depending on what way it's going.

Crash.net:
You sampled your first road race in 2014 by racing at the Ulster Grand Prix. Did it leave a big impression on you?

Glenn Irwin:
It was class. People say once you do it that's you hooked, you've got the bug. I definitely didn't get that because my ambition lies away from that route. The whole week was brilliant and the organisers were really helpful. The atmosphere is nice. I stayed in the pits every night. You're just socialising and having the craic. It's proper old school. The professionalism has come along with it too. It was a great event. The road racing itself you noticed all the furniture in the first few laps. You used it as reference points but by the end of the week you're flat chat. My best lap and last that I did was on the Thursday night in the Challenge Race. We unofficially broke the lap record in that.

I was on the 650 and got Lougher's flat out. It takes some guts to get that. On the exit there's an entrance to a house with a big pillar and you're going along wide open. The buzz was class. I'm really glad I've done it because if my career goes how I want it maybe I won't be allowed to do it through contract reasons. The door isn't shut on this year. There's a possibility to do it with Gearlink on the 600. No commitment has been made yet but there's been no ruling it out. Racing against the likes of [Keith] Amor was great, you're slipstreaming and as you go by you're looking over and making hand gestures at each other and having a laugh. It's madness.

Crash.net:
You and Wilson are pencilled in to do the North West 200 in May. Is that an event you've always wanted to do?

Glenn Irwin:
Pretty much. I remember watching dad there up until he quit in '96. I've missed it maybe once or twice [since. I've always wanted to do it. I think a lot of people found it strange that I did the Ulster first but I wasn't planning on doing any [road racing] as such. I spoke to Mervyn [Whyte - clerk of the course] and he was really good. He had us up to the track. Steve Plater helped out with some advice. It's a massive event. It's not just great for me but for my sponsors and for the whole PR side of it is great.

I can't say too much yet because I haven't ridden it but they say it's a lot easier than the Ulster Grand Prix or easier to learn. If that's true then I'm looking forward to it a lot because we picked the Ulster up well on a bike I had never sat on before. It'll be nice coming to the North West on a 600 and a 650. We'll get stuck in. You can't go to a race and say you're going to cruise. You're not going out to do anything stupid because you a ride a road race a little different but are you going to sit on the grid and think, 'I'm going to finish sixth or seventh'? I don't think so. It gets a big crowd and it's nice to get that buzz off the atmosphere.

Crash.net:
Irwin is obviously a famous name in Northern Irish motor sport as your dad Alan was a successful road and short circuit racer. Was much of your childhood spent in racing paddocks across the country?

Glenn Irwin:
The first six years I would have been at all his races. Then he quit and we were straight into motocross. We were racing a lot ourselves. The early years were spent at the road racing then the next ten or eleven years were in the motocross paddock. Now we're back on the tarmac but it's not my dad, it's me this time. I've been around paddocks since the day I was born. It's nice to have my dad there. A lot of people would say that he's a great man for advice. We live under the same roof and that advice is always there.

He was a massive help at the Ulster Grand Prix - don't get me wrong, he didn't want me doing it. But once he knew I was doing it there was no arguing. He said he didn't want to tell me how to go fast in case I got hurt and he didn't want to not tell me in case I could go fast. He was a massive help and he's told me that he'll get me round the North West quick as well. I believe him because the auld boy wasn't slow!

Crash.net:
You raced motocross until your late teens. Is it true you stopped because your younger brother Graeme started beating you?

Glenn Irwin:
Cheers for reminding me! Pretty much. I was doing motocross and really enjoying it. Graeme would be nearly two years younger than me. He started to beat me and not just me - most of the other lads in the country. At the age of 15 he was winning Grade A races in Northern Ireland. At 17 I was still riding in the premier class of the youth over here. I was battling for the Irish Championship and winning races but I had a really bad day at Ballykelly. My throttle cable snapped in one of the races and I got a puncture. The tyre came off the rim and somebody pushed me across the line, which effectively disqualified me for having outside assistance. I lost that many points in the one day and I wasn't going to win the Ulster.

I definitely wasn't going to make a career out of it. I didn't switch to short circuits thinking, 'I'm going to be professional'. Everyone always asked when we would try it and I thought I'd do it. Dad never stood in my way of going to short circuits. He never asked if we wanted to do it, he's never forced us into anything. Maxy Kerr, who was one of Joey Dunlop's mechanics, sorted out a 125 Honda from Logan Racing. We went to Kirkistown and did a track day and that was it. Hooked! I think I was hooked before I got out of pit lane!

I was 17. It was midway through the 2007 season. I got a few races under my belt and in 2008 got my first championship.

It hasn't been all plain sailing. People always say, 'You must be living the dream' and in the early years you say that you are - not because you are but you want it to seem that way. There's so much more to it. Even today. Besides this [interview] I'm organising all the logos for my leathers. It's all emails. There is a lot of stuff and it's hard work.

Crash.net:
Your younger brother Andrew has shown flashes of speed in the British Superstock 600 class. What are his plans for 2015?

Glenn Irwin:
I think Andrew is doing the same championship, the Superstock 600. He showed flashes of speed this year and got two podiums. That's an achievement. To me that wasn't him at his best. Hopefully he can get himself in the right frame of mind and get things tied up and show what he can do. I might sound biased but he's definitely capable. If he wasn't I wouldn't give him the credit. I've seen what he's done at home. He needs to do what I've done, find that confidence at home and bring that to England. If it clicks I think he'll be a championship contender. He'll still be on the Kawasaki. He hasn't signed with MWR yet but I can't see him not being there. They're making some changes within the team to get some more experience in there so hopefully he gets on the grid to finish first.

Crash.net:
How is the winter training programme coming along?

Glenn Irwin:
It's going good. In previous years I've started with it too soon. I do get really into my fitness. This year I took a bit of a different approach and I've enjoyed myself for a little longer. Instead of taking a total break I've just ridden the motocross bike consistently. From yesterday [Monday, 15th] I've started back into my programme. The hard work's started now for me! At Christmas I'll not sacrifice the chocolates, I tried that approach two years ago when I was into being as light as I could be. It wasn't enjoyable. Now I'll crack on and do everything that everyone else is doing excluding alcohol. I'll be out training on Boxing Day on Cavehill. A lot of people will maybe be hung-over and I'll be out busting my balls.

Crash.net:
You're based in Carrickfergus, just outside Belfast. Is it a good base for training?

Glenn Irwin:
It's perfect. If you want to go cycling there are some really good climbs. There's a few of us up the road that either race or race motocross. We all hook in and do a bit of cycling when the weather's there. If you want to go trials biking there's a forest down the road. Obviously the likes of Desert Martin motocross track is only 45 minutes away. I'm pretty lucky. The only thing against us is the weather!

Crash.net:
Do you have any tests lined up ahead of the first round?

Glenn Irwin:
We're going to do it different. Spain is expensive for the team logistically. If you go to Spain you're guaranteed a lot of dry weather testing. But you go from all this testing and hop on the bike for a freezing cold Donington at round one and the bike doesn't feel good. You haven't practiced in them conditions. Hopefully we're going to start in February no matter how cold it is. As long as it's not freezing we'll be cramming in as many days in the UK as we can.

My brother Graeme is getting married in America in February. The way I'm talking I don't think I'll be there too long. As I said to the team I'd hate to be there and there to be a five day dry spell here. Ben would be out testing and I'd be stuck in the States. I think my brother would rather I win a British championship than spend a few more days with him!