Motorbikes

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

Belgian rider Laurent Hoffmann says he feels the North West 200 international road race is "a cool event to be part of".

Hoffmann is one of a contingent of European riders who have taken part in the event around the Triangle circuit in recent years and that connection is being formalised in 2026 as the North West forms a round of the newly introduced European Series Road Racing (ESR).

That series replaces the Superbike class of the International Road Racing Championship [IRRC] which concluded in 2025.

"For me as a European rider it's the jackpot, racing with the biggest stars in road racing, so it's a really cool event to be a part of," Hoffmann told the BBC Bikes Podcast.

"I'm happy that I can compete with these big guys.

"Northern Ireland is like the mecca so when a European rider comes to race here it is always hot news."

Hoffmann outlined some of the reasoning behind the new Superbike series to be staged across Europe.

"In Europe they have cancelled the Superbike class in road racing [IRRC] and we had no other options really, so firstly we decided to start our own championship, and then we started to talk to Mervyn [Whyte, NW200 Event Director].

"It all came together very fast and the North West 200 will be one of the races which will form part of the championship.

"There aren't so many tracks left in Europe so we have to use the tracks that are there.

"Every circuit has its own style, we have Hengelo in the Netherlands and Imatra in Finland, Chimay in Belgium, and the North West 200 is our biggest race in the series, and then Horice in the Czech Republic, which we will do twice."

North West 200 Event Director Mervyn Whyte has spoken of how the sometimes tragic side of the sport has "taken its toll" on him over the years.

The event has grown into a huge week-long spectacle but five competitors - Robert Dunlop, Mark Young, Mark Buckley, Simon Andrews and Malachi Mitchell-Thomas - have lost their lives at the race meeting during the period from 2001 when Whyte has been at the helm in succession to Billy Nutt.

While the international road race provides high-speed thrills for those who compete at and attend the event, the inherent dangers of racing on public roads, albeit with significant safety measures in place, mean deaths or serious injuries remain an ever-present possibility.

"Every race has its difficulties, especially if you have a red flag situation. I'm leaving the start and I don't know what the scene is going to be like when I get there," Whyte told BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson on The BBC Bikes Podcast.

"I've had a few of those and I've had five fatalities during my time at the helm.

"It hits you for six and for a two or three week period I don't want to go anywhere, I feel lost. It takes its toll on you."

Whyte explains on the podcast how he first became involved with the event as a marshal in the early 1970s and how plans are being put in place to mark the race's centenary in 2029.

He also outlines how the future of the meeting was in peril in 2023 as it faced an insurance bill of £140,000 for that year, but was saved thanks to the intervention of businessman David Keys.

Whyte pays tribute to the massive organisational team who make the event happen and explains some of the challenges they face, along with the numerous setbacks which have caused delays to the races.

"There's a massive amount of work to do in preparation and you're just going from one thing to another on a daily basis. The planning is progressing well," he explained of the build-up to the 2026 race.

"It is stressful. On the Saturday all I look forward to is the evening and getting it over safely. You breathe a sigh of relief."

Image source, Pacemaker

Northern Ireland rider Paul Jordan says he wants to achieve more success at the 2026 North West 200 after clinching his maiden win at the event in 2025.

The Magherafelt man took victory in the Saturday Supertwins race by almost 10 seconds from Michael Sweeney last year after Adam McLean and Richard Cooper collided and crashed out on the exit to Juniper Hill chicane on lap three.

"I'd been going to the North West for a very, very long time and to even imagine having a win beside my name is incredible," Jordan told BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson on The BBC Bikes Podcast, external.

"With the North West itself the win was incredible but there was more from the North West itself that made it special with the results in the other classes because in fairness I was handed the win.

"We just have to go back this year and do it properly. I want to go into 2026 a better Paul Jordan than I was in 2025."

Jordan added that he was thrilled to be following in the wheeltracks of the likes of legendary road racing star Joey Dunlop and the other members of the Dunlop family in competing successfully in road racing.

"When I was younger, we used to wave the programmes at Joey and all the local lads and now to be that local lad finishing that final lap around the Triangle is fantastic and something I'll always treasure," added Jordan, who will compete for the Jackson Racing team again this season.

"As a child I used to go to Cookstown, Mid Antrim, Tandragee, all the little road races, and you looked at those guys as icons, and to do what they're doing now, I still pinch myself that I'm living this childhood dream.

"Every day I get up I'm very blessed now that I get to do this as a full-time job. I never thought I'd be in the position I am now, I just enjoy racing motorbikes."

Image source, Pacemaker

Richard Cooper will ride a BMW in the Superstock class for the SMS/Nicholl Oils team at next week's North West 200.

The Nottingham rider, a two-time British Superstock champion, is also competing on an R9 Yamaha for the Russell Racing team in the Supersport class and a Suzuki GSX8R for the Powerslide Suzuki team in the Supertwins events.

Northern Ireland rider David Allingham rides for the SMS/Nicholl Oils outfit in the British championship, the Eglinton rider having finished second in the championship in the team's colours last season.

Cooper is a seven-time victor at the North West and has also racked up 17 podiums at the meeting since making his debut in 2019.

"It's a real late deal. I've been in contact with David quite a bit and he'd asked me a few times to ride the bike and circumstances weren't in the position to do so but this year a few things have changed and a few things have fallen into place," the 43-year-old told BBC Sport NI.

"I had a run out on the bike a few weeks ago and I was pretty comfortable, a few things I wanted to get over the line before I committed to the deal but now I'm looking forward to what's coming.

"We are going to take it step-by-step and hopefully be there when it counts."

Cooper raced a Suzuki Superstock machine on his first appearance at the North West and last competed in the class in 2022.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

Michael Dunlop secured a dominant win in Friday evening's red-flagged Open A Invitation race at the Cookstown 100 road races.

The 37-year-old Ballymoney rider had built up an advantage of 9.4 seconds over runner-up Michael Sweeney when the race was halted on lap seven of nine and a result later declared.

Riding his MD Racing BMW Superstock machine, Dunlop recorded a best lap speed of 91.322mph, marginally outside the lap record of 91.773 for the 2.1-mile Orritor circuit which he set last year.

Manx rider Marcus Simpson was third, with Ballymoney's Darryl Tweed fourth and Paul Jordan from Magherafelt fifth and Neil Kernohan sixth.

Dunlop was a late entry for the Cookstown Irish national meeting as he continues his preparations for the forthcoming North West 200 and Isle of Man TT international events, having taken part in the official test sessions at Oulton Park in Cheshire earlier this week.

As well as competing in the Open and feature races, the 33-time TT winner is campaigning a Honda in the Moto3 class for the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing outfit run by former racer John Burrows.

Earlier on Friday, Dunlop led the qualifying times for the Open class, ahead of Jordan and Sweeney.

Jordan was fastest in Supersport qualifying on his Jackson Racing V2 Ducati as he made his first appearance at the county Tyrone circuit in four years.

Tweed, Sweeney, Simpson and Keyes were next on the practice leaderboard.

Dunlop was quickest of the Moto3s, almost three seconds faster than second-placed Dan Sayle, with Sweeney topping the Supertwins timesheets.

Fifteen races are scheduled for Saturday, including a second Open A race, the feature race, a Supersport outing, the Supertwins event and a Moto3 class.

Open A Invitataion race result - 1 Michael Dunlop; 2 Michael Sweeney; 3 Marcus Simpson; 4 Darryl Tweed; 5 Paul Jordan; 6 Neil Kernohan

'Last minute decision' to race at Cookstown

Image source, Pacemaker

Dunlop was a double winner at the Cookstown 100 12 months ago, winning the Supersport and feature races.

"It was a bit of a late, last minute thing," Dunlop told BBC Sport NI of his decision to compete this year.

"We are so busy and we weren't going to come as the 600 [Supersport bike] is stripped to bits to get ready for the North West 200 as it is just around the corner.

"I brought my Superstock. I like it and I like riding Cookstown. It has always been nice to ride around here and it is a good thing to get out and get a bit of racing done. The weather is lovely and that is half the battle.

"The biggest thing with the Stocker is that we haven't had much time on it so it gives it a chance to get an outing."

Dunlop is enjoying a rare outing on a Moto3 bike.

"We had sort of done a gentleman's agreement, me and John Burrows, about riding his Moto3 months ago and I said if I was able to come, I would come and then I forgot clean about it.

"So, he called me again on Thursday and I was like 'aw, I forgot all about that!".

Dunlop added that a degree of caution had to be exercised with his two biggest events of the season just around the corner.

"At the end of the day, it is about staying out of trouble a little bit with the NW 200 just around the corner and the TT just around the corner from that as well so we are at a stage that you have to just watch yourself."

Jordan was pleased to be competing at the meeting for the first time since 2022.

"I've had a really good pre-season building up to it and I feel like I've stepped it up again from what we did last year, and we had a good year last year, so hopefully the momentum stays with me and we keep moving forward," he said.

Image source, Pacemaker

Lisburn rider Carl Phillips continued his perfect start to the defence of his Ulster Superbike crown by winning both races at the Temple Club's event at Bishopscourt on Saturday.

The BMW rider also won both big bike outings at the opening round of the series at Kirkistown on Easter Monday, after the Enkalon Trophy at Bishopscourt on Easter Saturday was called off and postponed until later in the year.

Phillips won the red-flagged first race on Saturday, with 2024 champion Jonny Campbell runner-up, also on a BMW.

In race two, Phillips had an advantage of two seconds over Campbell at the chequered flag, with Sam Laffins third and Ryan Gibson, Luke Jones and Derek Sheils completing the top six.

Thanks to his four wins from four, Phillips leads Campbell, who has finished second in all four races so far, by 20 points going into the next round of the championship at Kirkistown on 6 June.

Meanwhile four-time British champion Richard Cooper, on board a Yamaha R9, and Christian Elkin took a win apiece in the Supersport class, with Magherafelt's Paul Jordan the overall winner collecting the Davy Morgan Memorial Trophy thanks to two runner-up finishes.

Jordan, riding a V2 Ducati, and Jeremy McWilliams, came in behind BPE by Russell Racing rider Cooper in the first middleweight race, with Jordan again second and Caolan Irwin third in race two.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

Michael Dunlop has indicated that he is set to ride a Ducati V4 Superbike at this year's North West 200 and Isle of Man TT international road races.

The Northern Ireland rider successfully campaigned a Ducati V2 Supersport machine last year, winning a race on the bike at the North West, and following that up with a double in the middleweight class at the TT.

His victories at the TT gave the Italian manufacturer their first wins at the event since late New Zealander Robert Holden was victorious in a Singles race in 1995.

The 37-year-old will race a V2 again this season in conjunction with the Scars Racing team and his own MD Racing outfit, and has revealed on social media that he will continue his partnership with Hawk Racing to run the V4.

Posting under his Michael Dunlop MD Racing Facebook account, Dunlop said: "Our little V2 was getting lonely...so we went out and got her a best mate in the V4 RS!!!

"Huge thanks to everyone at Ducati Corsa, Ducati UK, and all our sponsors for helping make this project happen (even if it's come together a bit late!).

"Now it's back to the workshop, then off with the Hawk team next week for testing to see how we get on."

Dunlop extended his record number of victories at the TT to 33 last year by winning four races, while the Ballymoney rider also claimed a hat-trick at the North West 200 to record his first triumphs at that meeting since 2016 and take his overall tally over the Triangle circuit to eight.

He has won TT races aboard machinery supplied by seven different manufacturers - nine wins on Yamahas, seven each on bikes supplied by Honda and Paton, six aboard BMWs, two on a Ducati and one each on Kawasaki and Suzuki bikes.

His decision to ride a Ducati in the feature category in 2026 means he will have ridden for the three different manufacturers in three years on the Superbike, having ridden a Honda in 2024 and a BMW in 2025.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Michael Rutter has said that physically and mentally it has taken him "a long time to get over" the after-effects of his crash at the Isle of Man TT last year.

Speaking on The BBC Bikes Podcast, external, the veteran Midlands rider explained that the extensive injuries he sustained had been the worst of his career so far but he was aiming to return to competitive track action at this year's North West 200 in May.

The 54-year-old crashed at the 31st milestone on the final lap of the second Supertwins race at last year's TT and subsequently underwent surgery and a lengthy period of rehabilitation.

"I broke my L2, smashed it into four pieces. I was very lucky I didn't do more damage, and I broke the bottom of my leg, my foot, my wrist, it knocked me about, and knocked me mentally wise. It's taken me a long time to get over," explained Rutter.

"I'm still in a bad way with it but I am getting better. I've got a long way to go yet but I want to try and get out and race at the North West and that's my aim."

The 14-time North West 200 winner acknowledged that the incident was his own fault and it has given him a greater appreciation for riders who have bounced back from injury to race successfully again.

"It was my own fault, the crash. The thing ran out of fuel and it caught me out. I was just looking behind me, didn't want to get in anyone's way and I just ran off the edge of the track. It was my own stupid fault.

"I'd never had a big crash like that and it made me admire even more riders who have come back from big crashes and injuries like Ian Hutchinson, John McGuinness, Robert Dunlop and my dad. It makes you say, 'I tell you what, fair play to those people, they came back and did well'."

"I've been lucky throughout my career, I've got away with relatively low injuries, my dad taught me to leave a bit of space here and a bit of space there, but it caught up with me."

Rutter is the third most successful rider in the history of the North West 200 and made history in 2004 when he became the first rider to be officially clocked at 200mph or above on a section of the circuit.

"Doing that 201mph. I had that factory Honda, I was very lucky to have that, it was miles quicker than anything else out there," he explained.

"The aim was really keep myself going and interested in doing over 200mph. I'd asked my pit-board to tell me when I got it, but I knew already as it must have been announced and the next lap it came up on my pit-board saying I'd done 201.1.

"I think it was the second lap. I got a real good run through Station Corner, the bike was flying, the tyres were so grippy. You need that to do over 200mph.

"All the crowd were going mad and it was like wow, this is massive, a real big buzz. It's amazing how many people still remember it and come up and say to me."

Image source, Pacemaker

Australian Josh Brookes says he would like to add a North West 200 win to his personal racing CV as he returns to the event this year with the DAO Racing team he will also ride for in the British Superbike Championship.

A former lap record holder at the meeting, Brookes will ride Hondas for the team in the Superbike and Superstock races, plus a Suzuki in the livery of Uggly and Co in the Supersport category.

"I still haven't won a race at the North West and that bothers me a bit," Brookes explained on a recent visit to the Triangle circuit.

"Some riders like Alastair Seeley have lots of wins around here and although I don't see that as a target, there's still that thing inside you that thinks I could have, should have, would have won at least once by now. And I've still got that desire that makes me want to come back and try," added the double British Superbike champion.

After sitting out the event in 2024, Brookes returned to action on the north coast in 2025 with the Jackson Racing team, achieving four top-10 finishes across the classes.

"I will be 43 next month but I don't think the incentive to succeed dulls with age," said the former World Supersport and World Superbike competitor.

"The experience and knowledge you get from competing across a lot of different race series gives you something that you can bring to the party. But experience doesn't make you brake later or open the throttle earlier, it only helps provide a safer passage through tricky terrain."

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

The first scheduled round of the 2026 Ulster Superbike Championship has been called off because of the yellow weather warning in place for high winds on Saturday.

The Easter Saturday Enkalon Trophy meeting at the Bishopscourt circuit in county Down is the traditional curtain-raiser to the motorcycle tarmac racing season.

"Due to the Met Office weather warning put in place for tomorrow [Saturday] the MCRRCI club have no choice with our duty of care to competitors, officials and spectators to cancel tomorrow's 50th Enkalon Trophy event and first round of the USBK Championship," read a statement released by the MotorCycle Road Racing Club of Ireland on Friday.

"We will endeavour to reschedule the event asap," the statement added.

The opening race of the season is now set to be the Belfast and District Motor Club's event at Kirkistown on Easter Monday.

Practice is scheduled to commence at 09:00 BST on Monday morning, with a 16-race programme to start at 11:30.

Among the main races will be the first instalments of the 'Big 3' 'King of Kirkistown' Superbike series, the Supersport 'Prince of Kirkistown' and the Presidents Cup Supertwins.

The leading entries include reigning Ulster Superbike champion Carl Phillips, Jonny Campbell, Ryan Gibson, seven-time North West 200 race winner Richard Cooper, Mike Browne, Korie McGreevy, Luke Jones, Mark Conlin and Michael Sweeney.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Republic of Ireland rider Michael Sweeney says standing on the podium at the North West 200 in 2025, two years after he suffered serious injuries in an accident at the event, "meant the world" to him and his partner Emma.

The Skerries rider's extensive list of injuries sustained as a result of the crash included breaking his back in two places, fracturing 13 ribs, a broken collarbone, three broken bones in his hand, a dislocated leg, a dislocated knee, some internal bleeding and nerve damage to his left foot.

After a long period of treatment, recovery and rehabilitation, Sweeney returned to racing in 2024 and realised his dream of standing on the rostrum at the North West last year, finishing second in the second Supertwins event.

"Last year was a special year for us. It meant the world to me, and to Emma as well, it was a really proud moment for us," Sweeney told the BBC Bikes podcast.

"After the accident in 2023 and the comeback, to do that in the same race as I had the accident was a lovely time for us after all we went through.

"Especially for Emma, after all she did, she really looked after me, and she deserved it.

"It was the best moment I've had in racing. It tops everything. It was really special."

Sweeney explained that he considered quitting the sport while in hospital after his crash, but ultimately opted to continue his road racing career.

"Lying in the hospital bed I said, 'this is it, I'm not doing this any more' but Emma pushed me so that I'm back to where I am today.

"Physically I battled my way back but it was a mental block, I didn't think I'd get back over it, I got a lot of flashbacks of what happened, I couldn't get it out of my head.

"I didn't get knocked out in that accident, so I felt everything, saw everything. I was awake for the whole lot of it. Stuff like that you'd rather be knocked out and be unaware of what's happening."

Sweeney acknowledged that it was difficult to get over the psychological hurdle of returning to the North West the following year.

"It was a nervous time going back to the track in 2024 but it helped me a lot going through that part where I had the accident.

"We came back last year with a different frame of mind and it kind of worked out.

"All I ever wanted was to stand on the podium at an international race, at the TT or the North West or wherever, and I finally did it.

"I'm very happy to have done it but it's also given me that little bit of belief that you can have a go at this."

"I'm getting a little bit more work done to the bike, see if we can get a little bit more power out of it."