At the age of just 56, the head of the BeerMonster Ducati Team in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship has passed away. Paul Bird’s team made the announcement on September 1, 2023.
Paul Bird’s family is asking for privacy during this period. As such, the details surrounding his death are being kept secret for the sake of privacy and respect.
Bird’s team, Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM), has been leading the British Superbike Championship with Tommy Bridewell. On board his Ducati Panigale V4R, he and his teammate, Glenn Irwin, are leading the championship. The two BeerMonster Ducati riders are currently in positions one and two. Although the two are in top form for the championship, there’s no denying the impact this could have on the team in the remaining races of the season. The next round is scheduled for September 15-17, 2023 at Oulton Park.
PBM has enjoyed many victories in the British Superbike Championship, winning eight riders’ titles. Going back to the start of PBM’s successes in the series, the late Steve Hislop won the first of his five titles in 2003. Shane Byrne replaced him and won for the team in 2012, adding three more titles to his tally in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Finally, PBM would become champions again in 2019 with former MotoGP rider Scott Redding on the Ducati, along with Josh Brookes.
PBM also managed Kawasaki’s factory campaign in World Superbike from 2009 to 2011, until responsibility was passed to Provec in the following years.
The team then reached the big classes of MotoGP in 2012 and, in the following years, a campaign at the Isle of Man TT with Ian Hutchinson in 2015. Bird’s team also scored TT victories with the likes of John McGuinness and Joey Dunlop.
One of the details that was leaked before Bird’s death was that he had been in hospital for a short time with an illness. Not all the details about his state of health have been revealed to the public. Our sincere condolences to all his family and friends.