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Road Racing News previews series for motorcycle racing’s biggest challenge, opens today, profiling the RST Superbike, Milwaukee Senior encounters.
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.
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler, Derek Wilson
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
