By Perpetually considered the most prized race for manufacturers, expect intense competition of the highest echelon, when in relation to 2026 Superstock vibed Mountain Course thrills.
The contest for race honours in next month’s three-lap race tilts, looks firmly Honda vs BMW (all but one seeded rider, either astride Honda or BMW metal).
Clear-cut pre-race favourites as in SBK, Senior contests include SSTK winner x2 last year, Honda Racing UK’s Dean Harrison, 8TEN Racing BMW’s Peter Hickman and Michael Dunlop MBE (MD Racing BMW).
Combined ten times Superstock category winners, it is going to take tens of aspects slotting into place, superhuman efforts to thwart them.
The last racer outside the ‘Big Four’ (Harrison/Dunlop MBE/Hickman/Davey Todd) hegemony to claim SSTK victory laurels, Ian Hutchinson (Team RST BMW) looks well positioned to push for podiums after a productive Northwest 200 race day.
Same applies to 2017 Senior Classic TT winner Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) currently on BSB duty at Donington Park.
Others with rostrum attainment aspirations include Conor Cummins (Conrod Motorsport BMW), Rapid Honda’s Jamie Coward, Nathan Harrison (H&H Motorcycles Honda), John McGuinness MBE (Honda Racing UK), and Kawasaki’s foremost charger David ‘Davo’ Johnson (Platinum Club Racing).
The likes of Dominic Herbertson (KTS Racing Powered by Stanley Stewart BMW), Michael Browne (Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing Honda), Mitch Rees (Milenco by Padgetts Honda), Julian Trummer, Brian McCormack (Roadhouse Macau BMW), Phil Crowe.
Shaun Anderson leading Penz 13.com BMW’s challenge, SMT Racing’s Rob Hodson, Jackson Racing Powered by Prosper2’s Paul Jordan, Dafabet Racing’s Michael Evans, Marcus Simpson (WH Racing Honda), AJ Venter (Future Exotics BMW), Sam West (THWG Construction BMW), Michael Sweeney all have the aptitude, core pace to rack up impressive results.
Additional racers progress to monitor closely include:
European aces Eddy Ferre (Optimark Road Racing), Maurizio Bottalico (Crowe Performance), David Datzer, Erno Kostamo (RVS Motorsport BMW.
Timothee Monot, Never Be Clever Racing’s Amalric Blanc (fitness permitting) and Italian riders Stefano Bonetti, Andrea Majola.
Manx GP to TT graduates Caomhan Canny (fitness permitting), Dan Forbes and Ryan Whitehall (WR Racing/Soil Safe Ltd Suzuki), Laxey’s Joe Yeardsley, Barry Furber, Kevin Keyes (Daracore Racing).
James Chawke, Rhys Hardisty, Barry Burrell, Cosmic Racing’s Jamie Cringle, versatile solo/three wheeling competitor Michael Russell, Joey Thompson (Team York Suzuki).
Tom Weeden (Southern & Country Roofing – Club 77), Sam Johnson (Peoples Bike Team), newcomers Gary McCoy (MadBros Racing BMW) and Franco Bourne (Team ILR with Frog Vehicle Developments Honda) who earlier this month surmised his upcoming event debut.
“The Pilot Lap in 2025 (at the Manx Grand Prix) was good in helping me understand more about what the TT demands.
That experience made the decision clear, and now it’s about coming back to the Island well prepared.
I am already looking forward to TT 2026 under the mentorship of road racing legend Ian Lougher and everyone at Team ILR.”
Record-breaking, history making Superstock races in prospect? If everything, the weather, course conditions, riders unlocking the flow state mentality, extra factors unite, its’ a definite yes.
No matter the scenario, riveting, absorbing Royal London 360 Superstock tussles are pending.
Quotes courtesy of TT Races press team.
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler, Tommy Vennard, Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
