Glenn Irwin is set t๊o miss the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike championship season opener after suffering a neck injury during the first free practice session at Donington Park.

The Be Wiseꦑr Ducati rider suffered a high-side off at Goddards during the closing minutes of the opening free practice session and was left stricken on the track which triggered a red flag stoppage.

After being attended to by the trackside medical team, Irwin has been transported to Queens Hosꦡpital for further assessments after suffering neck pain.

Irwin is e❀xpected to sit out the opening races due to the injury but is already focusing on a quick comeback once a recovery timetable can be decided.

“I’m okay, got a broken neck on way to hospital to check my neck an🌳d back. I’ll be back ASAP,” Irwin tweeted.

In cold and wet conditions, Irwin’s Be Wiser Ducati teammat🌳꧙e and defending BSB champion Shane Byrne topped the opening session by over a second from Jake Dixon on the RAF Reserves Kawasaki.

Last year, Byrne missed the opening round after suffering concussi༒on during morning warm-up on race day which left Irwin to battle alone for the PBM-run Ducati squad with the Northern Irish rider securing a podium finish in race two.