Motorbikes

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

Storm Stacey scored a sensational win in the Superstock class on his North West 200 debut on Saturday.

The 23-year-old English rider, a regular frontrunner in the British Superbike series, saw off the challenge of runner-up Michael Dunlop to win by 1.26 seconds after a breathtaking last-lap battle between the two.

The lead swapped between the pair at the front before Stacey pulled clear of his rival and fellow BMW rider with a new class lap record of 124.498mph on his final circuit.

Stacey became the 27th rider to win a North West race on their debut, and the first since Christian Elkin achieved the feat in 2007.

Australian Josh Brookes was also in the mix for the victory but fell behind in the latter stages and had to settle for third spot on his DAO Racing Honda.

Ian Hutchinson, John McGuinness and Mike Browne rounded out the top six, with leading contender Dean Harrison retiring on lap two.

The race was restarted over a reduced four-lap distance, rather than the original six, after the first running was red-flagged after an incident at University Corner.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

Michael Dunlop took victory in a twice red-flagged Supersport race at the North West 200 to claim the ninth win of his career at the event.

The first attempt to run the race was halted when Ian Hutchinson came off without injury at the Mill Road roundabout and then the second staging was stopped on the fifth lap after an incident at the same section involving Richard Cooper and Paul Jordan, both also unhurt.

The results were taken after four laps, leaving Dunlop the winner on his V2 Ducati, his third Supersport victory over the Triangle circuit.

His triumph took him above Ian Lougher and Steve Plater in terms of wins at the meeting, and level with the total achieved by Tony Rutter and Davey Todd.

The Ballymoney rider led at the end of each lap and enjoyed a 0.3-seconds advantage over runner-up Dean Harrison when the riders completed their fourth circuit.

Josh Brookes completed the rostrum places after Cooper and Jordan were excluded from the results after their incident, followed by Alastair Seeley in fourth, Carl Phillips fifth and Mitch Rees sixth.

Dunlop and Harrison were involved in a titanic tussle at the front, with the English rider emerging with a new lap record for the class at 118.748mph.

Dunlop was also inside his previous benchmark for the middleweight category with 118.683.

It was a 17th podium finish for Harrison at the North West.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist at the North West 200

Image source, Pacemaker

Glenn Irwin held off the challenge of Dean Harrison to seal his 12th race win at the North West 200 in the first Superbike race of the day.

The Northern Ireland rider had won 11 races in a row in the feature class between 2017 and 2024 before deciding to opt out of the event last year.

Riding a Nitrous Competitions Ducati, he marked his return by taking victory by 0.18 seconds from Honda Racing rider Harrison, with Michael Dunlop a further 14.4 seconds adrift in third position.

Irwin led for the vast majority of the race, with Harrison giving chase throughout as he went after his maiden win over the Triangle circuit.

The Yorkshireman briefly hit the front at the end of lap four after a stunning takeover move at Juniper Hill but in the end, after a thrilling battle, had to settle for a 16th podium finish of his career at the meeting.

Irwin set the fastest lap of the race at a speed of 124.997mph.

Peter Hickman, Josh Brookes and Ian Hutchinson made up the top six, with newcomer Storm Stacey in seventh after the six laps.

Stacey obliterated the previous best lap by a newcomer at the event when he circulated at 123.725.

The race had to be re-started after a minor incident at Church Corner in the initial running.

Image source, Pacemaker

Charley Boorman has discussed following lap record holder Glenn Irwin on a parade lap of the North West 200 Triangle circuit on the latest edition of The BBC Bikes Podcast., external

A television presenter, travel writer and actor, Boorman is making his first visit to the iconic international road race and is impressed by the event and the hospitality he has received.

A motorbike enthusiast, he has made four long-distance motorcycle rides with his friend Ewan McGregor, documented in Long Way Round.

Boorman and Irwin rode their motorcycles around the 8.97-mile course behind the safety car when the roads were closed on Wednesday.

"In Northern Ireland they really love their motorcycles. You can see it and they have been so welcoming," he explained.

"We were quite relieved that we had to follow the safety car. From never having been on this track I can see how terrifying it is when it's wet and dry and super slippy.

"Every fan here would love to be in my position, to follow Glenn on a beautiful bike on an amazing track."

Irwin, an 11-times NW200 winner said he was pleased to show Boorman, who he met on a factory Ducati trip, around the circuit.

"To share some of the energy, the feelings and the love of this event has been a pleasure for me," said Irwin.

Image source, BBC Sport

It's North West 200 time!

Live coverage from the 8.9-mile Triangle circuit on the north coast of Northern Ireland begins on Wednesday with BBC Sport NI taking you to the heart of the action.

Join us on the BBC Sport NI website from 09:30 BST as we build-up to our live stream coverage, which will start at 09:45 BST approx.

Stephen Watson will be joined by the usual expert pundits including Larry Carter, Phillip McCallen, Lee Johnston and Alanna Maher.

For international viewers, the BBC Sport NI website is the place to follow all the action as our live stream here will be available worldwide.

Viewers in the UK can also follow all the action on BBC iPlayer.

Here's a reminder of the schedule for Wednesday (all times BST):

ROADS CLOSED - 09:00 to 15:00

PRACTICE FROM 09:45

Newcomers

Superbike

Supersport

Superstock

Supertwin/Sportbike

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

Glenn Irwin says he considered withdrawing from this year's North West 200 because of the initial technical problems he was having with his new V4 Ducati at last weekend's opening round of the British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park.

Irwin was 12th in Sunday's race and failed to finish race two before improving to secure a fifth place in race three after becoming more satisfied with his machine.

The Carrickfergus rider is returning to the North West after a one-year sabbatical and will aim to improve on his record 11 Superbike wins at the event, which came in successive races between 2017 and 2024.

Asked by BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson if he considered pulling out of the NW200, Irwin replied: "Yes, that would be correct".

"Without going too much into it I had a really good conversation with the team and with Mervyn [Whyte, NW200 Event Director] on Sunday evening explaining what was going on.

"Teething is probably the correct word. Some things arrived on the bike that didn't work from the beginning," explained Irwin.

"We were still eradicating those up to race three at Oulton Park.

"Some of those, like missing gears and things like that, it's hard enough going round a short circuit running out of road, never mind here.

"But it's all rectified, there's no point touching too much on it other than it wasn't looking so good. We ended up almost as strong as anyone at Oulton in race three."

The 36-year-old says he is now feeling confident for the week ahead on the north coast of Northern Ireland.

"We're certainly there or thereabouts and my level is high to be able to be back challenging at the front in British Superbikes and coming into this week, which for me is very important," added the Nitrous Competitions Ducati rider.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker

John McGuinness is hoping to achieve another notable milestone in his decorated motorcycle racing career by chalking up his 100th start at this year's North West 200.

Owing to a miscalculation, the 54-year-old believed he was about to reach the landmark figure at last year's event, but official records show that the Morecambe rider currently sits four short of his century, having competed in 96 races.

The 23-time Isle of Man TT winner will take in the three Superbike races and two Superstock events in 2026 as part of the Honda Racing team.

His CV over the Triangle circuit includes six victories, achieved between 2000 and 2012, and 22 podium finishes, the most recent of which came in the second Superstock race in 2024.

"It was embarrassing when we got it wrong," said McGuinness of the miscalculation around his ton.

"I had a helmet all painted for the occasion and we had to leave it at home on the shelf," he added.

Image source, Pacemaker

The former British 250cc champion says the event is one he really enjoys.

"The North West is a big event and in that atmosphere, and when everyone is back safe in the paddock, it is very hard to replicate that feeling.

"It is an event that keeps on giving for me, one I still look forward to coming to, bang on top of the calendar.

"I've won a few and arguably been in the hunt to win a few more that we didn't. But to win six around here is hard work."

McGuinness indicates that retirement is not on the horizon at the moment as he continues to achieve impressive results and lap times.

"I sort of think I should stop but then I think, why?," he smiles.

"I'm riding a factory Honda with Dean Harrison and sometimes I think that maybe that bike should go to someone else.

"In last year's Superbike race I finished sixth and was holding my own in the field. I think I was warranting the ride and then I thought, come and get it from me!".

Image source, Pacemaker

Jeremy McWilliams has made a last-minute change to his machinery for the upcoming North West 200.

The 62-year-old will now ride a CD Racing/MSS Kawasaki 636 machine in the two Supersport races over the Triangle circuit.

The Glengormley rider previously switched to a Yamaha R7, provided by Flitwick Motorcycles, for the two Supertwins outings.

McWilliams is replacing Adam McLean in both teams after the Tobermore rider was ruled out of action for this year's North West and Isle of Man TT events.

"It has all been last minute," the three-time North West winner explained.

"It was nice to get the phone call from a long-established team like Steve Linsdell's Flitwick outfit which has a good pedigree. And now I'm joining Nick Morgan and Chris Dowd for the Supersport races who I have also known for many, many years and I'm happy to join forces with them.

"The CD Racing/MSS Kawasaki package comes with two fully prepared bikes plus a support crew. It is a good option that is difficult to look over for the North West which is tough on machinery.

"When you are riding in two classes you get much more track time so it's a win/win situation."

The former grand prix rider has racked up a total of 13 podium finishes in his North West career, having collected five second places and five third-place finishes in addition to his three victories.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Darryl Tweed says he was inspired to compete in motorcycle racing by his proximity to the famous Dunlop racing family, who like him hailed from the County Antrim town of Ballymoney.

Tweed began racing on short circuits in 2010 and four years later switched much of his focus to racing on closed public roads.

He was named man of the meeting at the recent Cookstown 100 meeting after collecting two second places, a third and two fourths over the Orritor circuit.

"I grew up in the shadow of some of the greatest road racers in the world, like Robert and Joey Dunlop, and I grew up with Michael - he was at school with me, a year or two above me," said Tweed on the BBC Bikes Podcast.

"I was awe of them in many ways and I just thought. 'I want to be like them some day'.

"I lived on the Garryduff Road, same as Joey, and you passed his house every day. So you were like 'one of the greatest motorcycle racers in the world lives there', so it was always a big thing for me.

"It makes me proud to be from Ballymoney. Michael is probably the best rider of our generation and William [Robert's son and Michael's brother who died in a crash in July 2018] was a great rider too.

"I'm the third generation of motorcycle racer in my own family. My uncle and my grandfather did it before me and it just continued through the bloodline."

Tweed was crowned IRRC Superbike champion in 2025, a series which is held on road circuits in Europe.

"I was very proud to achieve that. It took a bit of luck and it took a bit of skill and it came together pretty well for me.

"It's a pity it was the last year of the IRRC Superbike class as I feel it gave it a bit more exposure but it is nice to have a Superbike championship to my name and be the last-ever champion out there.

"I would like to keep my momentum going from the IRRC Championship and show the people at home how much I have progressed, open a few eyes and see I did learn a bit competing in Europe, show that I'm not here just to mess about."

The Ballymoney rider hopes for better fortune than he enjoyed in 2025 at this year's North West 200 from 6-9 May.

"I had bad luck last year, I dislocated my shoulder in the first Superbike race in a crash at Mather's Cross chicane," he explained.

"I managed still to get a fifth place in a Supertwins race but it did hinder my North West and my TT so hopefully this year I don't do anything stupid, because it was my fault entirely.

"Hopefully I can have a better year there this time and show what I'm capable of."