By Celebrating this week, it’s 103rd Anniversary the much-loved Manx Grand Prix continually produces new Mountain Course racing superheroes.
Agonisingly close to Senior race glory last year, Chris Cook’s strive for MGP winners club membership burns brightly.
Piloting the STS Racing Kawasaki, Hawick’s Cook the P2 plate carrier for Supersport, Senior race tilts, is one of just two ‘Tommy Club’ members competing.
The other, Skerries speedster Andy Farrell (Smith Racing), starting ten seconds ahead of him, knows what it takes to win an MGP.
Lightweight contest winner x2 in 2018, fans favourite Farrell has designs on adding extra chapters to an already storied meeting CV.
Others widely thought as potential podium finishing candidates include Galashiels Johnny Stewart, equipped with LPA Racing’s V2 Panigale Ducati.
2024 Junior Classics race winner Harley Rushton (Allspeeds Racing), second fastest MGP newcomer of 2025, Eddy Wormald.
Fitness permitting Don Gilbert (Parker Car Transport Racing), Ulster Road Race Classic Superbike Champion Graham McAleese, twice fourth place finisher last year Liam Chawke.
Extra names to look out for include Dan Sayle, Oliver’s Mount Scarborough front-runner Stephen Gorton, Calum Pert, Mid Antrim 150 Supersport race runner-up Lee Hara.
Owen Monaghan, Cowton Racing’s William Grant, European Hill Climb Superbike Champion Salvatore Sallustro, British Supersport regular Craig Kennelly, Nicolas Therouin (Scott Racing).
Will Burchell, Ulster Road Race Senior Support Champion Brandon Kavanagh (Roadhouse Macau), American riders Rick Kay and Dave Thomas.
The vastly experienced quartet of Dennis Booth (MGP debut 2005), Rad Hughes (MGP debut 2012), Rodger Wibberley (MGP debut 2002) and Shaun Evans (MGP debut 2011).
Onto MGP newcomers, many of them already top calibre international road racers.
ESR series runner-up, twice IRRC Supersport Champion Laurent Hoffmann returns to Mountain Course rider ranks for the first time in twelve years.
Winner of both Superbike races at the Czech TT in Horice, the Belgian roads great possesses the core pace, roads scene knowledge, experience to fare impressively this month.
Same applies to Sweden’s top IRRC/ESR competitor of recent years Markus Karlsson, IRRC Sportbike title contender Wally Jacobs, Scott Racing’s Mauro Poncini.
Armoy Junior Support and Senior Support race winner Bailey Harker (Cowton Racing), Thomas ‘Uccio’ Altendorfer (Roadhouse Macau), Illiam Quayle, Daniel Pearson (Pearson Racing).
Ulster Road Race Lightweight Supersport Champion Ashley Robson, Gabriel ‘PonPon’ Pons and Tandragee 100 Super Twins contest runner-up, Kevin Lavery.
Kevin ‘Ago’ Murphy supported Aaron West, a national Endurance Champion back home in America, is an extra one to watch.
Quicky timely reminder, if your still not aware, 2026 Manx GP qualifying stints thrust into fruition on Sunday, 16th of August (proposed start time 1:30 PM – mandatory lap for newcomers opens proceedings).
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
