Motorbikes

Image source, Pacemaker

Richard Cooper is to compete with a new team and a new manufacturer in the Supertwin/Sportbike class at this year's North West 200 international road race.

Having previously ridden Ryan Farquhar-prepared KMR ER6 Kawasakis, the Nottingham rider will campaign a new GSX8R Suzuki for Brad Clarke's Powerslide Suzuki team this time round.

The machine is eligible to compete in the class this year following an amendment to the regulations to allow Sportbike machines to participate, along with Supertwins.

The 43-year-old secured single Supersport and Supertwin victories at the event last year to take his overall tally of race wins over the Triangle circuit to seven.

"Being the first person to make the jump to the Sportbike category is an important one. Equally, it is a risky one. But I do believe we will be on a competitive bike and hopefully keep my podium presence," said Cooper, who win the British Superstock title in 2011 and 2019.

The English rider stood on the podium on a Buildbase Suzuki on his first appearance at the North West in 2019.

"This will be me returning with Suzuki, yes, in a different class, but I think one of equal importance to the manufacturer and a step towards the future as to what is going to happen with this class," he added.

Clarke, who also competes at the North West 200, runs Suzuki's Sportbike effort in the British championship.

Cooper will also be on board Yamaha bikes in the Supersport class with Alister Russell's team.

North West 200 Superbike wins record holder Glenn Irwin has told the BBC Bikes podcast that he is ready to write a new chapter in his distinguished career when he returns to the international road racing event this year.

The Carrickfergus competitor called time on his road racing career in October 2024, a decision which saw him sit out the 2025 edition of the North West.

It was revealed in January however that he had reversed his decision and would return to race at the Triangle circuit, over which he racked up 11 straight victories in the feature class between 2017 and 2024.

"I think my chapter was very much unfinished. Maybe this is the next chapter. Chapter two you arrive knowing that you can win at the North West," said Irwin on The BBC Bikes Podcast.

"Maybe we can double the amount of wins I've got, I don't know.

"I've led 47 out of 59 Superbike laps at the North West 200 from my first win in 2017. That blows my mind probably more than 11 race wins."

Irwin adds that he has developed "an obsession of winning" at the North West and welcomes the expectation that comes with his prolific run of successes.

"People try to create pressure but mind games never work with me. I thrive off expectation in that pressure cooker environment.

"The good thing for me is I don't feel like I've been away. I don't feel like I've had a year away. I just love the event and love how well we have done at it.

"I like entertaining people, I enjoy the craic, I enjoy stirring the pot, but I enjoy all that when I can back it up on the track.

"The actor thrives in Hollywood, I thrive at the North West 200. It gives me a place to play, to have fun, to narrate a little bit, to annoy people, to perform."

The 35-year-old has been on board a Ducati for eight of his NW200 wins to date and believes he has the machinery at his disposal to add to his tally in May.

"I go with the BSB bike with no electronics, it's a great bike. It's the new V4 R, which is probably the best bike I've ever taken to the North West," explained the 36-year-old British Superbike rider.

Irwin believes the addition of BSB rival Storm Stacey to the field this year represents a major threat to his dominance of the big bike category.

"He has the charismatic approach that has won him a fanbase like he is a 10-time [BSB] champion and he has won one race.

"He is a showman and quite a character, someone I like, and I expect Storm to arrive in race three at the North West this year.

"We hope to go 12, 13, 14 [in terms of Superbike wins] this year but he has the potential to go on and do what I've done. He will be there in his first year."

Image source, Pacemaker

Alastair Seeley is to make his debut in the Supertwin class at this year's North West 200.

The Carrickfergus rider, who has won a record 29 races around the Triangle circuit, will campaign an Aprilia for the Binch Pro Racing by 3B Construction in two Twins outings at the event.

The 46-year-old recently announced that he will ride a Ducati in the Supersport category for the same team at the North West in 2025.

"I've never ridden a Supertwin before so it will be something new," said Seeley.

"Maybe I can try to knock out some wins in the smaller cc classes rather than searching for wins in the bigger bike classes where all the big hitters who regularly compete in BSB are."

But he acknowledges there are no easy wins at the North West.

"The Supertwin class is a fiercely competitive class and I know that Richard Cooper will be having a good go again and with riders like Paul Jordan, Peter Hickman, Adan McLean and Jeremy McWilliams in the class, there will be plenty of competition."

Seeley, who now works as a postman when he isn't racing, feels the smaller classes will offer some advantages.

"I am not a full-time racer now and I am not training as much as before," he said.

"The smaller bike will be easier physically for me to ride compared to the bigger bikes in the Superstock and Superbike classes, which take a lot of wrestling.

"The more races I have, then I am getting mileage that I otherwise wouldn't get."

Image source, Pacemaker

Jamie Coward is to ride a Paton for the Milenco by Padgett's Racing team in the Supertwin and Sportbike races at the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT respectively.

Coward missed last year's TT after crashing out of the Saturday Supertwin race at the North West 200, the Yorkshire rider suffering head and leg injuries after an incident at the Quarry Hill section of the Triangle circuit.

The Hebden Bridge rider, a former podium finisher at both the NW200 and TT, will be joined in the team by New Zealander Mitch Rees, who will again compete in the two international road races after making his debut at both meetings in 2025.

Rees' first visit to the North West saw him come off on the approach to Church Corner, leaving the Kiwi with broken fingers and ribs.

The 33-year-old will take in the Superbike and Superstock events at both of the big road races this year, plus a Supersport machine at the TT.

Image source, Burrows Engineering Racing

Jack Burrows is to contest a third consecutive season in the newly branded British Moto4 Championship in 2026 with the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing team.

The teenager finished the 2025 season strongly and took overall 12th position in the British Talent Cup series.

Both rider and team believe they can build on the experience gained in the category for another year, before potentially moving up to the Sportbike class in the future.

"Staying in the newly branded British Moto4 class I feel is the best option for me in 2026," explained Jack.

"We could have moved up to the Sportbike classes and my dad [former racer John Burrows] very much left that decision to me, but after two years of learning the bikes, tracks and championship, I decided that going for a third and final year in Talent Cup was the best option.

"It is no secret that I'm not the ideal size for the bike, however Lucas Brown won this championship in 2024 at the same height, so that isn't an excuse I will use.

"Towards the end of 2025 my confidence was massively boosted with the help of Richard and Keith from Mortimer Racing, who transformed the way I rode the bike and also how I approached sessions and races. I am very much looking forward to having them in my corner again for 2026."

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

Ulster Superbike champion Carl Phillips says he is excited about his plans for the 2026 season which will include racing in the National Superstock 1000cc championship on UK circuits and returning to compete at the North West 200 international road race, as well as defending his domestic title.

The 32-year-old made a successful return to the track this year as he raced for the first time since 2022, collecting the Ulster SBK title for the second time on his SBT Racing Kawasaki.

The Lisburn rider finished his season in style by winning the coveted Sunflower Trophy at Bishopscourt in October and now has a busy schedule planned for next year as part of the Lion Heart Moto Racing team.

He will be joined in the team by fellow Ulster Superbike rider Ryan Gibson.

"We set out to win the championship and the way everything worked out was amazing," reflected Phillips.

"To win two races at the resurrected Celtic Races and then pick up the Sunflower Trophy put the icing on the cake of a successful season," he told BBC Sport NI.

"Next year I plan to do the first Ulster Superbike round at Easter, then the first round of BSB [at Oulton Park in early May], and then the North West 200, then take it as it comes. I'll see how we get on in the first few rounds at the BSB."

Phillips has previously participated in the Superstock 600cc class, the Superstock 1000cc category and the feature Superbike events in BSB, the latter with the renowned Gearlink Kawasaki team in 2018.

For next season, he will switch to BMW machinery, and will also have a Ducati at his disposal for the Supersport outings at the North West 200 in May.

Phillips made his North West debut in 2019, achieving an eighth place finish in the first Supertwins race and returned in 2022, finishing seventh in the opening Superstock event.

"The bike I rode this year was quite old but the BMW has a lot of speed to it so I'm confident we can go well.

"I last rode at the North West in 2022 so to be going back there is a big bonus."

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

The Mid Antrim 150 has been confirmed as an addition to the Irish motorcycle road racing calendar for the 2026 season, with the long-established event to be held over the traditional Clough circuit on 31 July and 1 August.

The meeting was last staged successfully in 2016, after which a number of setbacks, including financial difficulties, led to it disappearing from the sport's annual roster.

The most recent attempt to revive the meeting in September 2022 had to be abandoned after sabotage because oil, glass and nails were deposited in parts of the circuit the night before the main Saturday race day.

It was the second time the Mid Antrim race day had to be cancelled because of oil and other substances being deposited on the track, with a similar scenario having unfolded in 2011.

Jack Agnew, the treasurer of the Mid Antrim 150 Club, told BBC Sport NI that the organisers were satisfied that any problems had been put behind them, the financial resources are in place to run the event and local residents have been positive in their response at a recent meeting.

"We had a meeting with the residents which was all very positive, the dates have been confirmed, and the local people were very keen to see it back again and are really behind us," he said.

"2022 was a difficult year for us and it left us struggling financially but now we feel that we are in a position with drawing on our reserves, and with other support, to run the race next year.

"And we're not just looking to run it in 2026, we have a five-year plan and we want to run it for the duration of that time, minimum."

A new team of organisers will take over the running of the event.

"While we have run successful short circuits in recent years, we are a road race club and the aim of the club is to run a road race," he added.

The Tandragee 100 was restored to the Irish road race calendar this year for the first time since 2022 after essential resurfacing work on a section of the circuit was completed, while preliminary plans are in place for the Ulster Grand Prix international event to return over the Dundrod circuit in 2027 after it was last held in 2019.

Image source, Pacemaker

The 2026 North West 200 is set to host a round of the European Series Road Racing Superbike Championship (ESR).

The road race, which will run from 4-9 May on Northern Ireland's north coast, will be the second round of the new six-round series.

The championship, which replaces the International Road Racing Championship (IRRC), will race at Hengelo in the Netherlands before Thursday's Superbike race and the feature North West 200 Superbike race on Saturday count towards standings.

The series will then have two rounds at Horice in the Czech Republic and also race at Imatra in Finland and Chimay in Belgium to round out the season.

Belgium's Laurent Hoffmann, Finland's Erno Kostamo and Switzerland's Lukas Maurer are all regulars at the North West 200 and are set to race for the 30,000 euro prize in the ESR.

Mervyn Whyte, the race director at the North West 200, said it was a "very exciting development".

"Changes to the IRRC series for 2026 created an opportunity for us to host a round of the new ESR series and I am certain this will attract a lot of interest from European competitors, who now have an extra incentive to compete at Portrush.

"It will strengthen the international character of our event and the new competitors can be assured of a warm welcome on the north coast."

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

Northern Ireland motorcycle racer David Allingham has said that a series of injuries caused by crashes have often led him to think about quitting the sport.

The 30-year-old was speaking after announcing that his SMS/Nicholl Oils team would receive official BMW backing for the 2026 National Superstock series on UK circuits.

He finished runner-up in his 2025 campaign behind champion, Ukrainian Ilya Mikhalchik, and achieved a double race win at the Brands Hatch round of the championship in late July.

"I came home after breaking my leg and said, 'I don't know if I can do this any more'," reflected Allingham of the aftermath of one of his crashes.

"It was really hard. A lot of people didn't realise I was really depressed at that time. It was hard to get back on track.

"It [quitting] was on the cards loads of times. My body was too sore and I just couldn't go through another crash."

The Eglinton rider added that his "focus is now on trying to win the championship" after being chosen to fly the flag for the German manufacturer next season.

"Really exciting times and I think we deserved it after second place in the championship. It's really good to get that deal put to bed.

"The BMW M1000RR is such a good bike and it suits my style. If we could make this year's bike finish second imagine what we can do next year with the support from BMW. Ilya really raised the bar this year, he was really fast, and I really learned a lot from him so hopefully I can take that into next year.

"I'm just the kid who gets to ride the bike and without the team I can't go and do my job. The guys put everything into it. I pulled the team together and I can't believe the chance that they are giving me."

"My first win at Brands Hatch was really emotional, especially having come through all the injuries and the tough times. There was a lot of doubting and not believing in myself but that felt like I got the monkey off my back."

Allingham's team provided a Superstock bike for North West 200 wins record holder Alastair Seeley at last year's international road race and says that a similar arrangement is already on the cards for the 29-time victor in 2026.

"Alastair finished third on a Superstock bike in the Superbike race [at the North West] which was absolutely amazing.

"We need to sit down and have a good chat to Alastair and see if we could put a Superbike together for him. If he was third on the Stock bike he could only do better on the Superbike.

"Everyone on the team enjoyed it. It was a great week and if we can get that deal over the line it would be great."

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

English rider Davey Todd produced a dominant performance to romp to victory in the Macau motorcycle grand prix on Saturday.

The Yorkshire rider finished 10 seconds ahead of Zeeco 8TEN Racing BMW team-mate Peter Hickman, with Finnish rider Erno Kostamo, also BMW-mounted, a further 14 seconds in arrears in third.

Todd was in control of the 12-lap race over the armco-lined 3.8-mile Guia circuit throughout and managed the gap over his rivals to claim an emphatic success.

Polesitter Todd also set the fastest lap of the race at two minutes 23.702 seconds, marginally outside Stuart Easton's 15-year-old lap record of 2:23.616 seconds.

The 30-year-old three-time Isle of Man TT winner had been awarded the win on the basis of setting the fastest qualifying time 12 months ago, after the race was cancelled because of extreme weather conditions caused by a passing typhoon.

The victory completes a successful year on public road circuits for the Saltburn-on-Sea rider, who sealed a hat-trick of triumphs at the North West 200, a Superbike race win at the TT and took the honours in the feature race at the Southern 100.

Hickman, a four-time Macau GP winner, battled for second place with 2022 winner Kostamo in the early stages but the Finn lost a number of positions after overshooting at the Lisboa section of the circuit, before recovering to claim the final podium spot.

Wigan rider Rob Hodson clinched his best finish at the event by taking fourth, with Swiss rider Lukas Maurer and Italy's Maurizio Bottalico completing the top six.

Australian David Johnson, New Zealand newcomer Mitch Rees, Manx rider Michael Evans and Phil Crowe from England rounded out the top 10.

Northern Ireland's Paul Jordan, Michael Sweeney from the Republic of Ireland and England's Sam West all retired from the race, with the remaining 17 riders completing the event.

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Honda Racing have retained the services of Dean Harrison and John McGuinness for the 2026 North West 200 and Isle of Man TT international road races.

Harrison enjoyed a successful 2025 campaign at those major events, taking double success in the Superstock class at the TT in his second season with the Japanese manufacturer.

At the North West, the Yorkshire rider secured runner-up finishes in two Superbike races, both Superstock events and a Supersport race.

'I'm excited to stay with Honda for another year and keep building on all of the hard work we have already done," Harrison explained as the team announced the Bradford rider would make the shift from the Supersport class to the National Superstock series in the 2026 British championship series.

"Winning at the TT again is an obvious highlight from this year and to step back onto the top step of the podium as a factory Honda rider just shows what we are capable of when we put all of the pieces together."

Veteran John McGuinness, a 23-time TT winner, will join Harrison once again on Honda machinery.

The Morecambe man is set to celebrate the incredible milestone of 100 NW200 starts during 2026 race week.

"The position I am in is so unique, to be able to keep on going, keep on doing the speeds we are doing and to keep getting the chance to go and ride my bike, it's unique, and I couldn't be prouder to keep on going and be a part of this team," said McGuinness.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

Carl Phillips added his name to the list of illustrious winners of the Sunflower Trophy when he edged out Eugene McManus to collect the coveted silverware at Bishopscourt on Saturday.

Kawasaki-mounted Lisburn man Phillips got the better of Hawk Racing's MasterMac Honda rider McManus by just four tenths of a second at the chequered flag after a race-long battle in the restarted 12-lap race at the County Down circuit.

Jonny Campbell, Dan Brooks, Rhys Irwin and Ryan Gibson made up the top six.

Earlier Randalstown rider McManus, having his first outing on the Honda Fireblade after finishing sixth in the British Supersport series, won the second Superbike race of the weekend from Campbell and Korie McGreevy.

Donegal's Rhys Irwin was a comprehensive victor in Saturday's Supersport 10-lapper, gaving 21.5 seconds to spare over McGreevy, followed by Caolan Irwin, then Darryl Tweed and Christian Elkin.

Cameron Dawson got the better of Elkin by 0.7 seconds in the second Supertwin outing of the weekend.

Phillips took the honours in the opening Superbike race of the weekend on Friday.

Having already clinched this year's Ulster Superbike Championship crown, his second after an initial success in 2019, took victory by 6.9 seconds from BMW-mounted Campbell, with McManus third.

Brooks, McGreevy and Rhys Irwin completed the top six.

Newly crowned British Supersport champion Irwin was a comfortable winner of Supersport race one.

Riding a Suzuki, he enjoyed an advantage of 15.5 seconds over McGreevy at the chequered flag, with Phillips making up the rostrum positions and Elkin fourth.

Adam McLean won the Supertwin race one outing on a Yamaha, ahead of Elkin on a Kawasaki and Dawson on a Triumph.

Tobermore rider McLean had 4.7 seconds to spare over his nearest challenger at the conclusion of the race.