Irwin feels he has 'new lease of life' in BSB

British Superbike rider Andrew Irwin believes he has been given "a new lease of life" after making the decision to run his own team with the help of title sponsors in the forthcoming season.

Speaking to the BBC Bikes Podcast, the 31-year-old said he had endured "sleepless nights" after his three-year partnership with Honda Racing came to an end at the end at the end of the 2025 campaign.

Irwin will switch to Ducati machinery for 2026 under the banner of MET fonaCAB Racing.

"There has been something missing over the past few years. I don't know what it is.

"I had so many sleepless nights, what am I going to do, we had just had a second baby, and it's my family's income.

"I knew I could go and get a normal job, I'd done that before, but racing motorcycles beats a normal job. I couldn't stop, I knew I wanted to keep going and try and realise my unfulfilled potential.

"That was the motivation in putting this team together. It's just about doing it week in, week out. I have so much belief in myself that I can do it."

Irwin added that he believes a fresh approach and a new challenge can only benefit him in the year ahead.

"I was looking round for something else. I needed a change of direction, I needed a change of motivation I feel.

"It's probably the best thing that's happened to me, I feel like I've got a new lease of life. We haven't gone racing yet but I feel like I can go back to being myself."

Among the other subjects Andrew discusses on the podcast are being part of the famous Irwin racing family and his thoughts on his brother Glenn's decision to return to the North West 200 after a one-year sabbatical.

Speaking to BBC Sport NI, Irwin also explained that the discovery of an underlying finger injury has had an effect on his riding.

"I had a bit of an underlying injury from 2023, that has been niggling me over the last couple of years too, but without finding out about that I think I would never have been able to do what I need to do in BSB," he explained.

Among the tough opposition the County Antrim native will face in 2026 will be former champions Scott Redding and Brad Ray, and back-to-back winners of the past two years, Kyle Ryde.

"I think we are going into one of the most competitive BSB seasons that there has ever been. Obviously my brother Glenn, Scott Redding is back for a full season, they're both on Ducatis, Kyle Ryde is on a Ducati, Bradley Ray, lots of really talented riders.

"I grew up riding against the likes of Bradley and the likes of Kyle and I used to beat them as much as they used to beat me so there's no reason why when I put everything together, the best version of Andrew Irwin, that I can't be fighting with them week in, week out.

"That's what the goal is and that's why I'm putting so much effort into my racing, to be able to do that. I think we will have a bike to do as good a job, if not better, than anyone."