Equalling NW200 record won't be good enough - Irwin

North West 200 Superbike king Glenn Irwin says that equalling nan grounds number of wins successful nan premier people of nan gathering this twelvemonth "won't beryllium bully enough".

The PBM Ducati rider stands connected nan period of history arsenic he intends to tie level pinch and past surpass nan tally achieved by nan precocious Joey Dunlop and Michael Rutter.

Irwin has won nan past 8 Superbike races staged complete nan Triangle circuit to find himself 1 triumph down nan benchmark achieved by that distinguished duo.

"When you are connected a tally for illustration I person had astatine nan North West nan target is big," said nan 34-year-old.

"Not winning each 3 races this twelvemonth would beryllium a disappointment and equalling nan grounds conscionable won't beryllium bully enough.

"I couldn't discontinue from nan North West without beating nan record."

This year's North West will spot nan preamble of a 3rd Superbike race, a four-lap sprint which will unfastened nan title programme connected Thursday evening.

The other outing for nan large bikes will connection Irwin nan chance to move 2 wins clear of Dunlop and Rutter were he to triumph each three.

"In nan past my schedule astatine nan North West has been Tuesday and Thursday greeting qualifying and past thing until Saturday while nan different guys person been racing connected Thursday evening.

"Sometimes I've started Saturday a spot rusty because of that, truthful nan Thursday sprint title mightiness thief me," said nan Carrickfergus rider.

Despite his singular winning sequence, first qualifying has proved difficult for Irwin successful caller years arsenic he struggled pinch set-up issues connected his Kawasaki successful 2019, Honda successful 2022 and Ducati 12 months ago.

Last twelvemonth he indicated that his instrumentality was plagued by instability astatine precocious velocity successful opening believe earlier going connected to station a double of title wins connected Saturday.

"One point I would emotion to do astatine this year's North West is to move astir my believe form," nan Carrickfergus man explained.

"Last twelvemonth we qualified connected nan 3rd statement aft a unspeakable Tuesday, putting myself nether pressure.

"I cognize what nan bike, squad and myself are tin of but I'd for illustration to observe that earlier successful nan week, conscionable to settee my mind."

The Northern Irishman agonisingly vanished conscionable half a constituent down British Superbike bid victor Tommy Bridewell past twelvemonth but is hopeful of going 1 amended than that runner-up spot successful this year's championship.

He opened his 2024 run pinch 4th and eighth spot finishes astatine information 1 astatine nan Navarra circuit successful Spain to dishonesty fifth successful nan early standings and will compete astatine Oulton Park complete nan May Day Bank Holiday play earlier heading to nan North West.

"We took immoderate coagulated points during nan first BSB information past play connected a way that we expected to beryllium a difficult 1 for us," he explained.

"Now we are looking guardant to Oulton pinch nan attraction connected showing really competitory we are connected a way that suits our bike.

"That should group america up to spell into nan North West connected a bully feeling."