Irwin and McManus to make BSB debuts in 2026

Rhys Irwin and Eugene McManus will make their British Superbike debuts in 2026 with MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing.

Donegal rider Irwin was the British Supersport champion in 2025 after a superb campaign.

McManus, from Northern Ireland, took part in the Sunflower Trophy for the team in October and won a thrilling Superbike race.

The 2026 British Superbike season begins at Oulton Park at the beginning of May and the 11th and final round takes place at Brands Hatch in October.

Irwin, 23, claimed the British Supersport title in the final race of the season to triumph with a four-point margin over Ben Currie.

He says it is an "unbelievable opportunity" to step up to British Superbikes with Hawk Racing, who ran Charlie Nesbitt and John McPhee in the series in 2025.

"I won the British Supersport title, which was lovely and a lifelong goal accomplished, but this is the next natural step," Irwin said.

"As a rookie you can't have any expectations, so we'll keep chipping away and keep learning."

After making his debut at the Sunflower Trophy at Bishopscourt in November, when he won the Superbike race and was second in the feature race, McManus will step up to BSB.

He finished sixth in the British Supersport standings in 2025 and said it was a "great opportunity" to take the next step in his career.

"This is the best domestic championship in the world," said McManus, whose father brother raced alongside him in the Supersport championship in 2025 and father used to race motorbikes.

"It's not going to be easy by any means, but I'm ready to learn and take it step-by-step each race to improve. I'm really excited."

Steve Hicken, team manager of Hawk Racing who previously gave future BSB champions Bradley Ray and Kyle Ryde their full-time debuts in the series, said Irwin and McManus were the "two hottest prospects".

"The message to them is that anything is possible, but to enjoy it," Hicken said.

"They'll settle in and see where they pan out. Brad took podiums in his first season and Kyle won races, and these two lads definitely have a chance of doing that".