Motorbikes

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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 Elkin the overall winner collecting the Davy Morgan Memorial Trophy.

Paul Jordan and Jeremy McWilliams came in behind BPE by Russell Racing rider Cooper in the first middleweight race, with Jordan again second and Caolan Itrwin third in race two.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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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."

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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

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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

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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.