Double podium for Rhys Irwin at Snetterton

Rhys Irwin was on the podium twice over the weekend at Snatterton.

The Kilmacrennan rider has been on the crest of a wave lately with four consecutive podium finishes including a win in the premier class at British Superbikes and points in his first World Superbikes Championship in the last three weeks.

The Supersportt class has seen a surge in talent this past three years with British Champions and World Superbike racers re-joining the full grids of over 30 bikes delivering superb racing in the bid to progress on to Superbike rides at BSB and WSB.

Irwin began this weekend on a high from his first World Superbikes race the week before and kept the momentum going with P2 in FP1 & 2.

Five Donegal jockeys toast victories

It has been a successful few days for Donegal jockeys with five of them in the winners' enclosure

The Donegal man backed this up with a consistent qualifying on the front row of the grid and was second in race one, just behind World Supersport contender Booth Amos.

Sunday began with an unfortunate incident in morning warm-up with another racer making a mistake, hitting Irwin side on leaving him in the medical centre and with a damaged bike.

Despite limited time before the race, the team pulled it out of the bag to get the bike on the starting grid for race two, ending with a triumphant Irwin a brave second, just behind British Champion Stapleford and in front of Amos.

In his post race interview with Shaky Byrne, Irwin paid tribute to his team for the amount of work that they all put all weekend, but especially to get the bike to the grid for race two.

He said: “I really am enjoying my racing. I have a super team and I am having the best year of my life. I am just so grateful for all the support that I am getting from everyone I can't thank everyone enough.”

Irwin will be back in action at Brands Hatch in two weeks’ time.