MOTORBIKES: Ex-Grammar pupils Irwin and Rea back in action

The Gearlink Kawasaki rider left Silverstone with a win and a third place to his credit and feels he has hit some good form.

“I believe I have hit a bit of form and even though I am 16 points behind Kyle Ryde I don’t see any reason why I can’t take that second place in the championship. Put it this way, I will be giving my all at Brands,” said Glenn.

His next home race will be the Sunflower Trophy meeting on Saturday, October 24 where he will ride the Gearlink Kawasaki in the Supersport races as well as the Superbike races and John Burrows Supertwin bike.

“The plan is to win both Supersport and Supertwin races then see how the Superbike races pan out. If the Kawasaki is on the pace and we are running at the front in the Sunflower race we’ll get stuck in and see what happens.”

On the same subject, Alastair Seeley will be hoping to lift his first Sunflower Trophy at Bishopscourt but before that he has a small matter of Brands Hatch where he will renew his rivalry with Josh Elliot, the man who pipped him to the Superstock title.

The Carrick man will be planning to win the final race of the year for Tyco BMW.

Andrew Irwin will be hoping for at least a rostrum in the 600 Superstock class.

Another Grammar old boy, Jonathan Rea, launched the all-new Ninja ZX-10R Kawasaki in Barcelona last week. He will use the new bike to defend his World Superbike championship in 2016.

“It’s been great,” said Rea. “As soon as I rode the bike in November last year I made some comments on areas which we should improve. Clearly this new bike has addressed many of the problems we suggested.

“We need good winter testing, because the bike is quite different to understand the balance of the bike and get myself comfortable on it. After that, hopefully we can make a step forward with performance and try to go even faster.”

Ballyclare man Rea now has to carry on with his day job as the series reaches its climax under the floodlights of Qatar this weekend.