Fearless Irwin hopes to shine on NW200 debut

Glenn Irwin will approach his debut at the Vauxhall International North West 200 next year without any fear.

The British Supersport Championship star has already had his first taste of roads action at the Ulster Grand Prix and made his mark by finishing fifth in the Supertwins class at Dundrod.

And now Irwin is looking ahead to the famous Northern Ireland road race in May, when he will ride his Gearlink Kawasaki Supersport machine in addition to competing again in the Supertwin 650 class on a Kawasaki ER6 for VRS Racing.

"I want to ride the North West and be competitive," said the 24-year-old, who will be joined at the event in 2015 by team-mate Ben Wilson, who will also ride in the Supersport and Supertwin races.

"I did the Ulster on a bike that I hadn't ridden before against the big names and got a lap record so why can't I do it at the North West?

"In the 600cc class I will be on a bike I know and hopefully by the time the North West comes around I will have had some British championship wins under my belt," he added.

"I like the format with Thursday and Saturday racing as it gives me time to suss things out and I just need to pick my dad's brains to make sure that I am competitive."

Irwin, whose father Alan was a top road racer in the 80s and 90s, says he doesn't feel 'threatened' by taking on some of the best road racers in the world at their own game.

"The roads guys know their game and we know ours," he said. "I had a really good battle with Keith Amor at the Ulster and I have a lot of respect for all of them. But I won't feel threatened.

"I just want to enjoy it because I never thought I would get the chance to race against legends like Keith and Ryan Farquhar."

Irwin finished fourth in the British Supersport Championship this year, winning five times on the Gearlink ZX-6R.