Tyco BMW splits with Glenn Irwin after just four rounds together

Tyco BMW has announced it has parted company with its rider Glenn Irwin after only four events together following Round 10 of the 2019 British Superbike Championship.

The Ulsterman joined the TAS Racing-run team from Thruxton as a replacement for the injured Keith Farmer, but with two rounds of the 2019 season remaining he is back on the sidelines.

Coming a year on from reaching the Title Showdown with Be Wiser Ducati – a campaign that yielded his maiden win – Irwin has endured a trying 2019 season. He began the year with Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki as the rider charged with defending the 2018 riders’ title it clinched with Leon Haslam. 

However, a series of lacklustre results saw rider and team part ways ahead of Round 7, with Irwin moving on to Tyco BMW.

Despite recording his best finishes of the season with the team and largely matching the performance of the experienced Christian Iddon, Irwin will not see out the year.

“TAS Racing would like to thank Glenn Irwin for his input over the past four rounds with the Tyco BMW British Superbike team,” read a statement from the team.

“Following discussion, both parties have mutually agreed to terminate the current agreement with immediate effect. TAS Racing wish Glenn every success with his future plans.”

No replacement has been announced as yet

Irwin split comes after ‘most testing weekend in 17 years’

The Ulsterman’s premature exit comes as Tyco BMW looks back on another season where it has fallen short of expectations. 

Though injuries and the late delivery of its new BMW S1000RR have hampered its efforts, this is the third season in succession the ‘factory’ effort has missed the Title Showdown and been humbled by Peter Hickman on the satellite Smiths Racing entry.

The frustration towards the riders was certainly palpable following the most recent Assen round. The team scored just one point from two races following crashes for both Irwin and Iddon on Sunday, leading team boss Philip Neill to intimate it was TAS Racing’s worst weekend in 17 years.

“It’s fair to say our trip to Assen certainly didn’t go to plan. Unfortunately, we once again suffered an untimely crash for both riders, causing a significant setback to our potential.

“I would like to pay tribute to our hard-working crew and suspension partners K-Tech who produced another fine effort to rebuild the bikes on three separate occasions.

“I honestly don’t recall a more testing weekend in our 17 years in BSB, and it goes without saying that Donington Park can’t come quick enough.”