Glenn Irwin has today confirmed he will put his family ahead of road racing and won’t take part in the Isle of Man TT next year.

The Irishman, who has signed to ride for Paul Bird’s Ducati team for 2023, has a third child due in the middle of this month and believes being a father is currently more important than the riding at the TT - and the extra money it brings in.

“I was told by Paul there was no TT and there are two ways you can look at that. You can be selfish and say,‘Fuck no, I want to do the TT’. Of course, I enjoyed doing it, it was incredible but there was a golden ticket in terms of the BSB title above me that is keeping me away. I don’t know if that short term or forever, you can’t say. But as a father it is the right choice.

“I love Twitter and all the people that say I should stay where I am because I could win as many TTs as John McGuinness. I say to that, ‘How many kids do you have, mate?’ That’s not a good option for me as a dad. People have also said I have gone to PBM for the money, also wrong because it’s not an extra five grand to do the TT, it’s a good chunk more.”

Irwin made his Isle of Man debut in 2022 after years dominating the North West 200 Superbike class and set a newcomer lap record of 129.85mph on his way to eighth in the Superbike TT. He was forced to retire from the Superstock and Senior events.