MX Diary: Graeme Irwin re-signs with Buildbase Honda
By Team TMX on 7th Sep 16
Pirelli Masters and MX Nationals champion Graeme Irwin has re-signed for Dave Thorpes Buildbase Honda Racing team for 2017.
The Irishman put his name to a new one-year contact on Monday and will ride Honda's radically revamped CRF450RW in the UK next season with the possibility of racing selected GPs.
"I'm more than happy to be staying and I think the 2017 450 Honda is a real game-changer,” he said. "I haven't had a chance to ride one yet but everything I hear about it is very good. It sounds like they've improved the bike in every way –suspension, everything – and I'm definitely looking forward to getting on it.
"Dave's team is really professional and I'm happy with the option of doing three GPs if everything's going good which I think will help us as a team. If we've got a few weeks break and there's a GP on it'll keep us in there and I feel every time you go to a GP you're constantly learning and it makes you just that little bit sharper.”
Since joining the team at the end of last year Irwin's been in great form, winning the first two major titles of his pro career and emerging as the only consistent threat to the GP regulars in the Maxxis.
"It's been a good season apart from picking up the thumb injury towards the end which was a bit of a bummer but I've still won the two national championships and haven't given up on getting third in the Maxxis. It's still not over yet.
"The thumb's not too bad – I've had surgery on it now and I'll be fine for Foxhill.
"I'm really excited by the prospect of racing a few GPs. People are always saying to me ‘you should be doing GPs' and at the end of the day in the British championship I'm the only rider who's been at the front who hasn't been doing GPs.”
With their existing one-year contract coming to an end, team owner Thorpe was keen to quickly to re-sign Irwin.
"For me Graeme ticks all the right boxes,” said the three-time world 500cc champion. "He's completely dedicated, extremely talented and always gives 100 per cent. We've had a great first season together and I'm confident that armed with the 2017 CRF450RW he'll continue to progress.”
