Glenn Irwin discharged after Donington crash, with Brands Hatch fitness review pending

Glenn Irwin has been discharged from hospital after a crash at Donington Park prompted concern about a possible spinal fracture, BBC Sport reported. The Northern Ireland rider will undergo a fitness review before returning to action at Brands Hatch, so his hospital discharge does not yet confirm his participation in the British Superbike season finale.

Watch the highlights:

The 36-year-old crashed at Starkey's Bridge on the penultimate lap of Sunday's third race. According to Crash.net, he high-sided while accelerating through the fast right-hand corner and tumbled onto the grass. The race was subsequently stopped with a red flag. Championship officials said Irwin remained conscious and stable during his assessment at the circuit's medical centre.

Irwin was transferred to Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham for specialist assessment and imaging because of the suspected spinal injury. A subsequent championship statement, carried by BBC Sport and Crash.net, confirmed that further scans had led to him being cleared and discharged. Officials said his fitness to ride at Brands Hatch would still be reviewed, leaving that decision outstanding.

This was Irwin's second hospital visit following a racing crash this season. BBC Sport reported that he suffered pelvic and neck injuries at Snetterton in July and missed the remaining two races of that weekend. Crash.net noted that the Ducati rider, a 27-time British Superbike race winner and twice championship runner-up, has yet to record a podium finish in 2026.

The Donington weekend also changed the title battle. Irwin's team-mate Kyle Ryde won the opening two races but retired from the third with a technical problem. The championship's official race report identified it as his first non-finish in 89 races, dating back to Oulton Park in May 2024. Scott Redding won ahead of Max Cook and Ryan Vickers.

Redding's victory cut Ryde's championship advantage from 78 points before the final Donington race to 53. The official standings put Ryde on 509 points and Redding on 456, with Bradley Ray third on 405. Three races remain at Brands Hatch, with a maximum of 105 points available. BBC Sport lists the final race weekend as 17-18 October; Irwin's own involvement remains dependent on the fitness assessment.