BSB @ Brands Hatch GP, October 2023. Where do you start???
Ironically the very end might be the best place to begin (y’all know the results after all). After eleven rounds, thirty-three races, eight different circuits, the title was won by one half of one point. You see it’s not entirely accurate to say there were thirty-three races because race one at the first visit to Brands was cut short and delivered only half points. Hence Glenn finishing on 454.5 points to Tommy’s 455.
It was drama to the very end, quite literally. Last race, at the start of the last lap, had they finished in that order Glenn would have been Northern Ireland’s first ever BSB champion. But half way through the lap Tommy moved from third to second by passing Kyle Ryde and secured himself just enough points to win. There were other mad moments – like hailstones and torrential rain coming from nowhere literally five minutes before qualifying. The whole season just seemed like a never-ending stream of drama, to the point where if you had predicted the events of the season nobody would believe it possible.
There were six race winners in the whole season. Top three of those were Ryde (6), Bridewell (8) and Irwin (10). Glenn and Tommy stood on the podium eighteen times each. It was an amazing season for the PBM Ducatis and there was going to be something badly wrong if one of them wasn’t going to win, but who could predict 0.5 points? All Glenn could do at the last round was win and hope Tommy wasn’t right behind him. Glenn managed a 3/1/1 to Tommy’s 2/2/2.
There are a million ‘if only’s to consider, but what is the point? What this will mean is that next season Glenn will be even more aware that every single point – and every single half point – at any point in the season could make the difference.
I’m delighted for PBM for having such an amazing result in a season which dealt them a cruel blow with the loss of Paul. I’m happy for Tommy for making good on his promise to his late brother to win the title. I’m happy that there were some standout performances from other riders with Lee Bob Jackson, Ryde, Vickers and Haslam coming to mind.
Ultimately all my support was behind Glenn for the last two years and whilst it is frustrating that he missed by so small a margin, it is also something to be immensely proud of. He took it to the last lap of the last race against someone who is an incredibly talented and experienced rider. He behaved professionally throughout the season despite a lot of goading, he threw himself into a very new and different mental and physical regime in order to get the best of himself. If Glenn can do the same thing next year I wouldn’t want to bet against him.
For us it was incredibly sad to see the season end, we’ve had so much fun this year. We followed Glenn to every race weekend, including NW200, apart from Knockhill. We’ve enjoyed great hospitality from FHO and PBM throughout the year and made a lot of new friends. This year we felt the highs and lows so much more acutely, it really was quite a ride. But it’s also a relief to have a few free weekends and have the time to regroup and consider next year.
Massive thanks to Glenn, Westy, Laura and the Irwin family for making us feel so much a part of it all. To FHO for looking after us so well and PBM who were great hosts. To the friends who came along through the year to share the experience and to the regulars we spend time with at every round. It has been a great year and we can’t wait to see what Glenn can pull out of the bag next season.
I shall dwell no more, instead I’ll share some photos of the last round that should give a feel for the level of craic to be had trackside, even when you don’t quite get the result you want.
dezooracing 