Irwin feels he has 'new lease of life' in BSB
Northern Ireland's Andrew Irwin tells the BBC Bikes Podcast that he endured "sleepless nights" after he lost his ride with Honda Racing at the end of the 2025 British Superbike season.
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.