By One word to describe 2026 Northwest 200 race day, not one! Windy, prolonged, frantic!
Just three races reached full distance following various red-flag incident induced stoppages. Road Racing wishes those injured from incidents this week swift and speedy recoveries and once again we send our deepest condolences to Kamil Holan’s family and friends, a true Czech road racing legend, Manx Grand Prix winner, all round top person.
Five different riders secured victories yesterday with Triangle course newcomer Storm Stacey, the only double race winner.
It is fair to say Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing – Alpha Racing/GRYD BMW) brought his own unique style to race action yesterday, ruffling the roads scene establishment, thrilling the trackside fans.
The new Superstock lap-record holder, ending SBK Race 1 victor Glenn Irwin’s Superbike race winning streak (stretching back to 2017), his achievements, turn of speed proved firstly his raw, precocious talent.
Secondly, how favourable the Triangle course is to racers who have honed their racing skillset at BSB, high-level purpose-built circuit-based Championships.
This is not to detract anything from Stacey’s results, in-my opinion we witnessed yesterday, pending he keeps returning, the start of one of the all-time great NW200 careers.
Reflecting on a memorable first NW200 odyssey, the ebullient, popular rider said:
“I couldn’t ask for anymore. With two wins to my name already and a lap record it doesn’t really get much better.
Glenn (Irwin) did all the talking for me before this event and I did exactly what he said I was going to do.”
Outside the outstanding NW200 debutant of this year, Glenn Irwin (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing Ducati – Superbike Race 1 – hampered via an arm problem), now 131 times an Irish road race winner Michael Dunlop MBE (Scars Racing Ducati – Supersport Race 1), Peter Hickman (Swan Racing-PHR Performance Yamaha – Super Twin/Sportbike Race 1), Jeremy McWilliams (Flitwick Motorcycles-SMV Engineering Yamaha – Super Twin/Sportbike Race 2 – the oldest NW200 winner in history?) tasted victory success on Saturday.
For Honda Racing UK’s Dean Harrison (new Supersport lap-record holder) it was another near-misses story, taking three second place finishes.
Leading at the time of the feature Superbike race red-flag (competition halted after oil spillage adjacent to exit of Juniper-Chicane – results went back to positions racers held at lap three’s conclusion), Harrison up to eighteen NW200 rostrum finishes, pragmatically stated post racing:
“An eventful Northwest 200. I think that is what makes the Northwest what it is. I think it always throws up things a little bit unexpected, and I feel like I’m always there or thereabouts.
I am riding well at the minute. I have enjoyed my week. The weather has been a bit up and down throughout the week. Today’s been good, barring a little bit of wind.
The-event as-a-whole, I find it unbelievable to be honest, and I really do enjoy it. I’m still chasing a win, and I will keep trying, never stop trying, never give in.”
Josh Brookes gave DAO Racing their first roads ‘Major’ podiums since 2023 whilst the top speed registered through the speed-trap, on the run to University Corner was jointly- held by Michael Dunlop MBE and Peter Hickman, both recording 212.4 mph!
The NW200 has its intrinsicses, every year there seems to be topics dividing opinion, causing heated debates online.
Marshals putting themselves in harm’s way (during feature Superbike race), the way certain racers were-treated, outside racing activities perceived by a certain few to-be prioritised, your never short of new storylines.
Quotes courtesy of Stephen Davison.
Photo credit: Derek Wilson, Stephen Davison
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
