New deal for Carrick rider Andrew Irwin

He will join forces with Team Appleyard / McCadam Racing, run by multi-British champion and ex-Grand Prix rider Robin Appleyard, to race the R6Yamaha’s.

Irwin began negotiations with the West Yorkshire team at the end of 2015 and it didn’t take long before the talented Carrick man signed on the dotted line.

“I believe that this is the team that can take my racing to the next level,” he said. “Robin has raced and knows what it is all about so with his and my dad’s help we won’t be far away and I’m sure my older brother Glenn, who came close to the Supersport title last year, will be on hand to pass on some help and knowledge throughout the season.”

Andrew heads off to Spain for a four-day test on the new bike at the start of March before returning home to do the official BSB Silverstone and Donington tests, then into round one of the series at Silverstone in April.

He finished fourth in last year’s Pirelli Superstock 600 championship and along the way took two rostrums, the first at Knockhill where he was second, and Brands Hatch where he was third. So, can he do better in 2016?

“I think I can honestly do a good job. My goal by the end of the season is to finish top six. The plan is to improve throughout the season. If I’m 10th in race one then I want to be ninth in race two and hopefully make the podium by the end of the year,” he said confidently.