By Excitement is building around the Briggs Equipment Northwest 200’s involvement (as previously reported by Road Racing News), amongst the newly created ESR (European Series Road Racing) Championship (disclosed prize-fund totalling 30,000 Euros).
Irish road racing’s biggest event will host the second ESR round of 2026 (4th-9th of May).
News Reaction:
Race director for the Northwest 200, Mervyn Whyte:
“This is a very exciting development for the Briggs Equipment North West 200. Laurent Hoffmann is an experienced competitor on the roads having competed at the NW200, the Macau GP and in the International Road Racing championship.
Changes to the IRRC series for 2026 created an opportunity for us to host a round of the new ESR series and I am certain this will attract a lot of interest from European competitors who now have an extra incentive to compete at Portrush.
It will strengthen the international character of our event, and the new competitors can be assured of a warm welcome on the north coast.”
Third place finisher in this year’s IRRC Superbike Championship, prospective Triangle course newcomer, Fedrik Matthys:
“I was with Laurent Hoffmann’s team at last year’s Northwest, and I had never seen anything like it before with the crowds and the two waves of riders in each race.
The biggest names and the lesser-known riders were all there, close to the fans and free for everyone to talk to.
There was great organisation and spectacular racing and I can’t wait to get out on track and be part of it on my M1000RR BMW.”
Quotes courtesy of Stephen Davison.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Davison.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
