Big Read: BSB’s Bird talks turning things around in 2023

Paul Bird, the flamboyant Northerner, written off by many following his disastrous 2022 season in Bennetts British Superbikes, is back with new riders, new bikes and new sponsor BeerMonster.com. But, asks Bikesportnews.com, can even the most successful team owner in the BSB paddock make it back onto the podium in the 2023 series, even with two great riders and the backing of Ducati? And how has he done it?

“I don’t know really,” Bird replied, unusually modest. “Perhaps more good luck than good management.

“We lost six paying sponsors in one year which shows it’s all based on results.

“It’s a bit like football I suppose but locally we’ve got some very good friends with businesses and a few rallied round so we seemed to have pulled most of it together. Otherwise I’d have to foot the rest of the bill myself.”

BSN: “You’ve got two good riders in Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin, and you snatched them early on, so they give you every chance of winning yet another title. But are the bikes good enough you are getting from Ducati?

Bird: “100 per cent. We’ve got great reports from the boys at the tests. We went to Italy to build them and then went straight to the first test. The boys were over the moon. Tommy said his new bike was at a different level to what he’d been riding for the last few years so it looks promising to be fair.

“But we had to get out of the blocks pretty early thinking that some riders might be going to the world scene and talent might be thin on the ground. Obviously we had two riders who didn’t turn up at enough of the races last year and we still have one of the bikes for sale by the way! But that’s closed now. We’ve now two younger riders, one I’ve worked with and the other I’ve always wanted to work