Cumbrian British Superbikes team Hager PBM Ducati are delighted to have extended their championship lead after another top performance from Glenn Irwin.
The Carrickfergus rider claimed victory in the second of three races at Donington Park.
It saw them open up a 13-point lead in the championship.
Race one saw Irwin start eighth after a difficult Superpole session and he was lying sixth when fellow Ducati rider Christian Iddon crashed.
The race was stopped and Irwin awarded fifth place.
Irwin then showed his quality with victory in the 12-lap sprint race, holding off BMW’s Leon Haslam to take the chequered flag.
A closely-fought final race saw Irwin home in fourth.
PBM co-owner Frank Bird said: “It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster of a weekend with the first two days being a bit scrappy due to the issue with the bike but if fifth is the outcome on a bad day, then it’s not too bad.
“Full credit to the team though, they rectified the issue, and we came out swinging with a superb win and whilst we couldn’t repeat it in the final race, it was a pleasure to watch and typified why BSB’s so popular.
“Any of the four could have won and the results could have been different, but we come away from Donington Park having extended our lead in the championship and the whole team is working incredibly well together.”
Irwin added: “We had a bit of a problem with the bike after the North West 200 which hindered us on Friday and Saturday, and we were nowhere, but the team worked beyond midnight on Saturday to give me a bike I could win on.
“The bike felt so good and the hard work paid dividends in the first race. I was able to go flat out from the word go with some incredibly fast laps and we were ultimately rewarded with the victory.
“The final race of the weekend was just one of those you’re glad to be involved in. And whilst I would have been happy with any of the top four positions, I feel it should have been a podium.
“On the plus side, it was my first win on the GP circuit and we’ve extended our lead in the championship so on we go. I feel great and I’m enjoying the pressure of being the championship leader.”
The next round takes place at Knockhill on June 14-16.
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