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Glenn Irwin says he considered withdrawing from this year's North West 200 because of the initial technical problems he was having with his new V4 Ducati at last weekend's opening round of the British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park.
Irwin was 12th in Sunday's race and failed to finish race two before improving to secure a fifth place in race three after becoming more satisfied with his machine.
The Carrickfergus rider is returning to the North West after a one-year sabbatical and will aim to improve on his record 11 Superbike wins at the event, which came in successive races between 2017 and 2024.
Asked by BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson if he considered pulling out of the NW200, Irwin replied: "Yes, that would be correct".
"Without going too much into it I had a really good conversation with the team and with Mervyn [Whyte, NW200 Event Director] on Sunday evening explaining what was going on.
"Teething is probably the correct word. Some things arrived on the bike that didn't work from the beginning," explained Irwin.
"We were still eradicating those up to race three at Oulton Park.
"Some of those, like missing gears and things like that, it's hard enough going round a short circuit running out of road, never mind here.
"But it's all rectified, there's no point touching too much on it other than it wasn't looking so good. We ended up almost as strong as anyone at Oulton in race three."
The 36-year-old says he is now feeling confident for the week ahead on the north coast of Northern Ireland.
"We're certainly there or thereabouts and my level is high to be able to be back challenging at the front in British Superbikes and coming into this week, which for me is very important," added the Nitrous Competitions Ducati rider.
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Irwin was 12th in Sunday's race and failed to finish race two before improving to secure a fifth place in race three after becoming more satisfied with his machine.
The Carrickfergus rider is returning to the North West after a one-year sabbatical and will aim to improve on his record 11 Superbike wins at the event, which came in successive races between 2017 and 2024.
Asked by BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson if he considered pulling out of the NW200, Irwin replied: "Yes, that would be correct".
"Without going too much into it I had a really good conversation with the team and with Mervyn [Whyte, NW200 Event Director] on Sunday evening explaining what was going on.
"Teething is probably the correct word. Some things arrived on the bike that didn't work from the beginning," explained Irwin.
"We were still eradicating those up to race three at Oulton Park.
"Some of those, like missing gears and things like that, it's hard enough going round a short circuit running out of road, never mind here.
"But it's all rectified, there's no point touching too much on it other than it wasn't looking so good. We ended up almost as strong as anyone at Oulton in race three."
The 36-year-old says he is now feeling confident for the week ahead on the north coast of Northern Ireland.
"We're certainly there or thereabouts and my level is high to be able to be back challenging at the front in British Superbikes and coming into this week, which for me is very important," added the Nitrous Competitions Ducati rider.
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