What can we expect from the 2026 motorcycle road racing season? By Richard Petrie BBC Sport NI Journalist
Fans of motorcycle road racing can look back on a 2025 season filled with excitement, thrilling achievements, controversy, and disappointment. But the anticipation is already building for what 2026 has in store.
Michael Dunlop and Davey Todd emerged as standout performers at the North West 200, each claiming a hat-trick of wins. Dunlop further solidified his record-breaking legacy at the Isle of Man TT in June, securing his fifth four-timer on the Mountain Course, bringing his total victories to 33.
Todd added to his impressive resume with a Superbike TT race victory, success in the Southern 100 Solo Championship in July, and a triumph in the Macau Grand Prix in November.
While some top riders and teams have already mapped out their strategies for the upcoming campaign, race organizers have announced significant changes to schedules, additions to the calendar, and updates to racing classes for the 2026 events.
BBC Sport NI offers a glimpse into what we can anticipate in the upcoming season.
The North West 200 is poised to kick off the international road racing season with its traditional flair, scheduled for May 6-9. This year, the event will host the second round of the new European Series Road Racing Superbike Championship (ESR), a development expected to enhance the international appeal of the gathering.
Honda Racing's duo, Dean Harrison and John McGuinness, will represent the Japanese manufacturer for a third consecutive year. Harrison, seeking his maiden victory after five second-place finishes, and McGuinness will fly the flag.
Meanwhile, Todd and Peter Hickman have confirmed their continued association with the BMW marque through their 8TEN Racing team.
Dunlop is expected to pursue more race wins after breaking a nine-year victory drought at the event with a spectacular treble in May. While many team and rider combinations remain undecided, Glenn Irwin, a 11-time Superbike race winner, hinted at a potential return to the event after a one-year absence in an interview with BBC Sport NI in August.
Irwin, who will ride a Ducati for his Nitrous Competitions Racing team in British Superbikes in 2026, expressed openness to competing at the Triangle circuit again, provided safety improvements are made.
The Isle of Man TT continues to be a dominant platform for Dunlop, who secured doubles in the Supersport and Supertwins events this year, extending his winning streak in those classes to eight consecutive races. Dunlop's primary focus is on adding to his Superbike race wins, with speculation surrounding the machinery he will choose for the larger capacity classes.
The spotlight will be on 14-time winner Hickman, who aims to regain the form he demonstrated in previous years after recovering from significant injuries sustained in a crash during qualifying at this year's event.
Harrison, who secured a Superstock double in 2025, will strive to add to his existing total of five wins. Todd, another standout performer, seeks to increase his tally of three victories accumulated over the past two years.
While these four riders are likely to remain in the spotlight, established stars like Conor Cummins, James Hillier, and Josh Brookes, along with rising talents such as Paul Jordan, Jim Hind, and Nathan Harrison, who is recovering from an injury setback, contribute to the depth and quality of the field.
The 2026 edition of the Manx event, scheduled from May 25 to June 6, will introduce increased rest days, more contingency periods, and a switch in the race order for the Superstock and Supersport classes. An update to the Supertwin class will allow Sportbike specification machines to compete for the first time.
This development aligns with the broader evolution of the Sportbike class internationally and its integration into the World and British Superbike Championships. Eligible Paton, Aprilia, Kawasaki, and Yamaha machines will now be joined by Triumph, Suzuki, and the Chinese CF Moto 675SR-R.
Race organizers are optimistic about better weather conditions compared to 2025, a disrupted fortnight that culminated in the cancellation of the Senior event on the final scheduled day due to high winds.
The road racing scene in Northern Ireland appears to be on a stronger footing following a period of uncertainty caused by insurance issues in 2023. The Armoy road race continues to thrive in late July, while the Cookstown 100 maintains its traditional role as the curtain-raiser to racing 'between the hedges' in late April.
The Tandragee 100 returned to the calendar in 2025, with Dunlop claiming top billing and a big bike double just weeks after his TT triumph. Dunlop also won two races at Cookstown.
Irish rider Mike Browne secured four victories at Armoy. The Mid Antrim 150 is set to return to the road race schedule on July 31-August 1, following a failed attempt in 2022 when the event was canceled due to the presence of oil, glass, and nails on the Clough circuit.
There's a realistic possibility of road race meetings resuming in the Republic of Ireland in 2026 under the Motorcycling Ireland banner, following a four-year hiatus primarily due to exorbitant insurance costs.
In November, positive news emerged for road race enthusiasts with plans to restore the renowned Ulster Grand Prix international road race, targeting 2027 as the potential year for its revival, following a funding boost from the Northern Ireland Executive.
