Superbike/Senior:
Three of Mountain Course racing’s ‘Big Four’ of recent TT’s, wins record-holder Michael Dunlop MBE, Dean Harrison, Peter Hickman start favourites to capture 1000cc field crowns.
Honda Racing UK’s Harrison, runner-up in both Northwest 200 SBK races, enters in arguably-the best form.
Deemed by a chosen few a ‘Dark Horse’ for victories, which seems strange given he is already a five times race winner, thirty-five times rostrum finisher, the Bradford racer now resident on IOM shores has the machinery at his disposal to excel.
Respected rival, three times Senior race winner, outright lap-record holder since 2018, 8TEN Racing’s Peter Hickman, will be looking to recapture the form, scintillating turn of speed that made him so difficult to beat in the early part of this decade.
BMW’s anticipated top challenger, Hickman despite not showing it’s fair to say top draw form throughout opening BSB rounds, the Briggs Equipment Northwest 200, still is worthy of prospective race wins, front running contender status, he has shown time and time again the ability to find something special when needed.
Fellow TT ‘King Pin’ Michael Dunlop MBE, event preparation as seems the case virtually- every year, is one of a kind.
Before the NW200, he seemed all set to race factory backed V4 Panigale Ducati apparatus, only to then make a late switch to Honda metal, which went through the run to university speed-trap at 212.4 mph!
At this moment in time, nothing is official regarding decided big-bike TT equipment. No matter what he pilots, the Ballymoney roads scene icon will be a prime factor across race week.
Outside Dunlop MBE, Hickman and Harrison, the next batch of racers with designs on tumultuous two-week IOM racing stints are post positive NW200 ventures Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda), Ian Hutchinson (Team RST BMW), SBK race top four finisher in 2025 Nathan Harrison (H&H Motorcycles Honda), new Bathams AJN Racing signing Conor Cummins, No.1 plate holder John McGuinness MBE (Honda Racing UK).
Jamie Coward (Rapid Honda with DriveLife), Kawasaki’s sole seeded rider representative David ‘Davo’ Johnson (Platinum Club Racing), Michael Browne (Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing Honda).
Remaining ‘130 Mph Club’ members competing Dominic Herbertson (KTS Racing Powered by Stanley Stewart BMW), Rob Hodson (SMT Racing Honda), Dafabet Racing’s Michael Evans, Penz 13 BMW’s Shaun Anderson.
Added ones to watch amongst the fifty-five racer, just thirteen nations represented SBK/Senior entry-lists include:
Jackson Racing Powered by Prosper2’s Paul Jordan, Michael Sweeney (Martin Jones Racing BMW), Smith Racing’s Julian Trummer, Phil Crowe, Brian McCormack, last year’s quickest solo newcomer Mitch Rees (Milenco by Padgetts Honda).
AJ Venter (Future Exotics BMW), Kevin Keyes (Daracore Racing), Barry Burrell (Halliwell Jones BMW/PHR Performance), Sam West, Jamie Cringle (Cosmic Racing BMW), Marcus Simpson (WH Racing Honda), Jonathan Perry (Gordon Huxley Racing Honda).
2024 IRRC Superbike Champion David Datzer (Roadhouse Macau BMW), Imatranajo maestro Erno Kostamo (RVS Motorsport BMW), Italian hero Stefano Bonetti, fitness permitting Amalric Blanc (Never Be Clever Racing Yamaha), Eddy Ferre (Optimark Road Racing Honda).
James Chawke (Chawkie Racing/Lyonara Coldstores), Joey Thompson (Team York Suzuki), Maurizio Bottalico (Crowe Performance BMW), Manx GP to TT graduates Caomhan Canny and Ryan Whitehall, Rhys Hardisty (Reps Motorcycles Honda), Joe Yeardsley and Doncaster’s Mark Goodings (LMT Motorsport BMW).
The most notable non-starter is reigning SBK race winner Davey Todd whilst Darryl Tweed, Don Gilbert join him on the sidelines following Northwest 200 incidents.
Another fact worth stating in relation to the much-anticipated Superbike/Senior races, is no solo debutants are-entered (according to TT 2026 programme).
We all have our crystal balls, saying this will happen, that could happen, they will win, they won’t win but the TT is unique, there is so many variables, you’d be brave to predict with exact certainty race results.
Intriguing 1000cc TT races ahead, could tyre decisions play a part, overheating engines, shrewd decisions during pit-stops, we will all know very soon.
Superstock:
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.
Supersport:
Year in year out producing top draw racing across the unparalleled Mountain Course, you would be brave to accurately predict the final top five finishing order from next month’s four-lap, Monster Energy Supersport races.
Unbeaten within the SSP class since 2022, 33 times TT winner Michael Dunlop MBE, has his ambitions on more victorious TT odysseys.
As in 2025, ‘Maverick’ is V2 Panigale Ducati propelled, competing under his own teams MD Racing banner in conjunction with British Supersport Championship Leaders Scars Racing.
Winner earlier this month of the sole NW200 SSP race, the 131 times Irish road race victor looked ominously at ease with Ducati exotica.
If pre-racing predictions are determined by NW200 pace, then Dunlop MBE’s likely lead challenger will be Honda Racing UK’s Dean Harrison.
Just 0.292 behind Dunlop MBE in the four-lap Triangle course SSP contest, Harrison a recent first-time British Supersport podium finisher, ended with a new middleweight category lap-record of 118.748 mph (4 minutes 31.938 seconds).
Arguably-in-the best-form of his life, astute road racing insiders believe his TT wins tally of five is more than likely due to increase.
Added prospective front running contenders include:
Outright lap-record holder Peter Hickman (Trooper Triumph/PHR Performance), a class conqueror in 2019, the only rider aside from Dunlop MBE to register a 130-mph lap astride SSP apparatus.
No.1 plate-holder Michael Browne (Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing – Yamaha), Ian Hutchinson (Burrows Engineering Racing/Richardson Kelly Racing – Ducati), Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing Powered by Prosper2 – Ducati).
Josh Brookes (Uggly & Co. Racing – 750 Suzuki), Jamie Coward (Rapid Honda with DriveLife) and David Johnson (CD Racing – Kawasaki).
Others expected to battle for impressive finishes include IOM roads royalty Conor Cummins (North Lincs Components – 750 Suzuki), KTS Macadam Triumph pilot Dominic Herbertson, Rob Hodson (SMT Racing – Ducati).
Shaun Anderson (Stanford Racing by ARD – Suzuki), Michael Evans (Dafabet Racing – 765 Triumph), Nathan Harrison (H&H Motorcycles – Honda).
Laxey’s Joe Yeardsley, TH Racing’s Joey Thompson, Michael Sweeney, Pierre-Yves Bian (Swan Racing/PHR Performance – Triumph), Erno Kostamo (Zerowaste Motorsport – Ducati).
Marcus Simpson (D&D Buckley Racing – Triumph), Sam West (Prosperity Racing – Ducati), Barry Furber, Julian Trummer (Smith Racing – Triumph), Mitch Rees (Milenco by Padgetts – Honda), Brian McCormack, twice TT winner Gary ‘AKA Driver’ Johnson (Team Schleizer Dreieck – Suzuki) and South Africa’s top pure road racer AJ Venter (TH Racing – Honda).
The sixty-four-racer, fourteen nation represented entry, additionally includes:
Never Be Clever Racing’s Amalric Blanc, Kevin Keyes (Daracore Racing – Yamaha), Rhys Hardisty, Jamie Cringle, Maurizio Bottalico (Crowe Performance/Basomba Racing – Yamaha).
Jonathan Perry, Michal ‘Indi’ Dokoupil (Indi Racing – Yamaha), Tom Weeden, James Chawke, Martin Morris, Jorge Halliday, Stephen ‘Trevor’ Parsons (Parsons Racing – Triumph).
Manx GP to TT graduates Caomhan Canny, Ryan Whitehall, Ryan Garside, Michael Gahan, Dan Forbes, Mike Mace, Craig Szczypek, Dan Ingham, and Cowton Racing’s Toby Shann.
Croatian history maker Loris Majcan (Bihui Yamaha Racing Team), who stated the following when looking towards his third TT expedition:
“I’m really pleased to be returning to the TT for a third year.
Each visit has been about learning and improving, and I feel like I’ve built a strong- foundation over the last two years. For 2026 I am fully focused on Supersport.”
Just one newcomer is-entered, Gary McCoy (Mad Bros Racing – Suzuki) in what will certainly be Monster Energy Supersport race thrillers.
Sportbike:
Thought provoking, intriguing competition is pending next month, with a host of roads scene giants, allied to Manx GP winners, rising talents, improving event exponents all tackling the Carole Nash Sportbike races.
Whilst titled a new category, the three-lap encounters will still include conventional, ultra expensive Super Twins tackle.
With this in-mind, class lap-record holder, Mountain Course supremo Michael Dunlop MBE, starts again the one to beat.
As during previous class successes in 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024 and last year, he sticks with S1-R Paton metal.
Joining the history-making Ballymoney rider in racing Paton’s are four times TT Privateers Champion Jamie Coward (Milenco by Padgetts), Rob Hodson (SMT Racing), Michael Browne (Melbray Racing-Laycock Racing).
Newcomer Franco Bourne, Team ILR with Frog Vehicle Developments team-mate, Masayuki Yamanaka plus Classics racing specialist Andy Hornby and Andrea Majola.
No less than twenty-three riders have Aprilia’s World Sportbike Championship winning RS660 model at their disposal, including one of the unquestioned favourites for honours, Jackson Racing Powered by Prosper2’s Paul Jordan.
Close earlier this month, to the existing NW200 Twins lap-record, the Magherafelt rider is ready for the next steps in his TT career.
One rider, already firmly established amongst the TT winners club is Mountain Course racing goliath, recent Northwest 200 winner Peter Hickman.
Hickman, riding again under the Swan Racing/PHR Performance umbrella, will be pending all factors slotting together sweetly, a prime race winning challenger.
Michael Evans (Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV Engineering) deputising for Adam McLean, Joe Yeardsley (Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV Engineering), Barry Furber (DC Motorcycles Newtown) all potential podium finishers join Hickman in being R7 Yamaha vaulted.
Competitors not highlighted yet, who feature within the fifty-six-racer starting list, include:
Moto12 CF Moto Team’s Shaun Anderson and Jamie Cringle, Michal ‘Indi’ Dokoupil, Joey Thompson, AJ Venter, both, of the TH Racing fold.
KTS Macadam Triumph Factory Racing’s Dominic Herbertson, PHR Performance team regular Pierre-Yves Bian, Michael Sweeney, Francesco Curinga (Delmo Racing Team – Yamaha), Sam West, former IRRC Superbike Champion David ‘Datziii’ Datzer.
Julian Trummer, Marcus Simpson, Stefano Bonetti (Ducoli Corse – Aprilia), Chris ‘Rabbit’ Moore, Jack Fowler, Kevin Keyes (OCR Racing – Yamaha), Cowton Racing’s Toby Shann, James Chawke (RL Racing – Aprilia).
Manx GP winners last year Preston’s Lewis Arrowsmith, Caomhan Canny (Scott Racing – Aprilia), fellow MGP to TT graduates, Ryan Garside (It’s Legit Racing – Triumph), Dan Ingham (Castings Technology – Aprilia), Michael Gahan, Anthony Stephens.
Chasing 100 TT starts, Mark Parrett (Reckle55 Racing – Aprilia), debutant Rocket Racing’s Rhys Stephenson, Tom Weeden, Brian McCormack (Global Robots – Aprilia), Jonathan Perry (Obsession Engineering – Aprilia) and the only American entrant through all solo classes, Pete Murray.
All the factors are slotting into place, for three-lap Sportbike race bursts to pulsate, thrill, most-of all enthral those watching trackside around the unique Mountain Course.
Sidecars:
Modern era superpowers, ambitious new wave drivers/passengers, former World Champions, the 2026 Sidecar TT line-up whilst totalling only thirty-five crews, is-filled with quality.
Tweaked regulations should mean closer competition at the pointed end of the leaderboard.
Uncatchable throughout the past two TT’s, the Crowe brothers Ryan & Callum (Opul-Kelproperties – Louis Christen Racing Honda), again arguably start favourites for victories.
Calm, cool, collected, TT 2025 saw them record the first 121 mph-lap by a Sidecar team. Post this achievement, driver Ryan, stated to Road Racing News that it felt like the perfect lap.
“You are in the flow state, nothing can distract you, your 110 percent focused on where you’re going and where you want the bike to go.
Gear position choice where and where to change gear, sometimes you don’t need to change gear, but you do just to keep it driving, it’s been a good day.”
Runner-up x2 last year, fourteen times TT winner Ben Birchall (Hager-Wyckham Blackwell – Louis Christen Racing Honda), TT 2026 tilt sees him joined by a third new passenger in three years, twice rostrum finisher Mark Wilkes.
The Mansfield racer, the second most successful three wheeling driver in TT Races history, stated last month, that the desire for reigniting Mountain Course victory sensations, continues to burn brightly.
“We’ve worked hard over the winter to make sure everything is in place for this year, and bringing Mark on board is a big part of that.
We have been riding together since the end of last year, and we clicked instantly. Since then, we’ve put lots of mileage in and been across to the Island together in preparation for the TT.
His experience speaks for itself, and the aim is simple – to get back to the top step of the podium.”
‘120 Mph Club’ members Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley (Marin Motorsport-AWB Engineering – Honda powered) will be hoping for better luck compared to 2025 experiences, when their TT came to an abrupt halt post an incident (Rhencullen located) within qualifying week.
P3 x2 in 2025, Lee Crawford/Scott Hardie (Team ARC-SJH Bodyworks – Louis Christen Racing Kawasaki), twice World Champions Todd Ellis/Emmanuelle Clement (Brookland Sand & Aggregates – Christie Engineering Services Yamaha), eight times World Champion, welcome TT returnee Tim Reeves/Melanie Farnier (Carl Cox Motorsport – Louis Christen Racing Honda) all start as additional, potential front-runners, top three finishers.
The same is applicable to fellow seeded crews Lewis Blackstock/Oscar Lawrence (DAO-Dave Holden Racing – Louis Christen Racing Yamaha), Steve Kershaw/Rhys Gibbons (Express Tyres-Quattro Group – Louis Christen Racing Honda).
George Holden/Jake Lowther (Barnes Racing – Louis Christen Racing Honda) and protégé of Eddy Wright, Kieran Clarke/Andy Johnson (Eddy’s Moto Tadcaster – Christie Engineering Services – Yamaha).
Retirement u-turner, twenty times podium finisher, two times winner, John Holden (Carl Cox Motorsport – Dave Molyneux Racing Yamaha) linking up with Phil Hyde, the Ramsdens Steve & Matty (FSRA British F2 Championship leader alongside Ben Stell), Rob Dawson/Matt Sims, back to driver duties Daryl Gibson/Sarah Stokoe, Greg Lambert/Andy Haynes, Wayne Lockey/Matty Rostron, have the tenacious, canny race craft to attain prominent leader-board results.
The 103rd Anniversary Sidecar TT field, also features:
Belgian aces, the Van Der Donckt siblings Renzo & Vale, Darren Hope/Lenny Bumfrey, Oliver’s Mount front runners Carl Fenwick/Jake Roberts, Alun Thomas/Andrew Sigsworth.
Michael Russell/Alice Smith, Dutch German pairing of Wiggert Kranenburg/Kevin Kolsch, Derek Lynch/Anthony McDonnell (Eclipse Racing), Gordon Shand/Frank Claeys.
James Saunders/Rob Coppock, Craig Currie/Justin Sharp (Crowe Racing), Maria Costello MBE/Shaun Parker (OMG-Galgorm Resort), the Moore’s Bruce & Ashley.
Rob Handcock/Basil Bevan, Andy King/Andrew Miller and sole driver newcomer, protégé of Greg Lambert, Jamie Hanks/Jonathan Kirk (JHM Racing).
Sidecar racing around the unparalleled Mountain Course, provides something different from the norm, mixing specialist engineering, proper old school racing with moments of absolute motorsport brilliance.
Long may it continue. Once times change, they rarely change.
Quotes courtesy of TT Races press team.
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler, Derek Wilson, Tommy Vennard, Mark Corlett