Irwin Racing to contest Thundersport and Masters in 2017

Donegal brothers set to run with Family Team

Two of Ireland’s most promising young Motorcycle Racers, Rhys and Caolán Irwin have announced that they will run under the Irwin Racing banner for their 2017 campaigns.

The Donegal brothers, who will continue to compete across the water in the Thundersport GB Championship and at home in selected Masters Superbike Championship events, will both step up a class for next season. Caolán will move into Supersport, while Rhys will tackle the Aprilia 450RRV challenge and the Masters Supertwin series.

Following two seasons running with Scott Racing the Irwin family have decided to set up their own team to run their two sons. A Yamaha R6 has been acquired for eighteen year old Caolán’s assault on Thundersport’s ‘Supersport Elite’ championship and he will use the same machine in all of the non-clashing Irish Masters Superbike Championship events.

Fourteen year old Rhys will continue to ride Aprilia machinery following his very successful campaign in 2016, which saw him win the Masters Production class, finish second in the UK Superteen Championship, receive an invitation to the Red Bull Rookies selection event in Spain and qualify as a finalist for the Young Motorcycle Racer of the Year award. Having ridden 125cc production machinery up till now Rhys will be making the biggest step forward as he rides a more physically demanding four-stroke machine for the first time.

For Irwin Racing 2017 will be a major commitment, with both riders tackling multiple championships as the team runs independently for the first time. Funding as always will be an issue and the team is currently looking for additional backers. A number of new funding, PR and promotion initiatives will be unveiled in the build up to the new season and details of these will be available through the teams’ soon to be launched web site and social media channels over the coming weeks.