Storm Stacey leads elite newcomers for 2026 North West 200

The 2026 Briggs Equipment North West 200 on May-4-9 will see several exciting new recruits make their debut on the famous 8.9 mile Triangle course during the May 4-9 race week.

Heading the impressive list debutants which was unveiled at the BBC’s NW200 Live event in Belfast on Thursday evening was exciting new British Superbike talent, Storm Stacey. The 22 year old Staffordshire rider has established himself as a leading prospect in the British Superbike championship after claiming a maiden victory at Snetterton during the 2024 campaign.

Competing under Michael Rutter’s Bathams AJN Racing banner, Stacey will ride a V4 Ducati in this year’s Superbike races at Portrush. He will also have a R6 Yamaha at his disposal for the Supersport events alongside probable outings in the Superstock class with machinery details to be released soon.

“I came over to watch the North West two years ago and again last year and I loved it.” Stacey, who raced a superbike-spec machine in anger for the first time when he was just sixteen years old, explained.

“The Irish fans are really cool, they get right behind you, and the atmosphere was amazing. The course is fast and I want to get out there and see what it feels like to go down a ‘B’ road, five abreast, at 200mph on a superbike!”

Stacey, who has also enjoyed between the hedges outings at Scarborough’s Oliver’s Mount, comes with a strong recommendation from North West 200 legend, Michael Rutter, who has been mentoring the rising star.

“Storm is a real talent.” the 14 times NW200 winner says.

“He can go fast on anything and is good at everything, not just the racing but dealing with the media side too. The fans love him. He came over last year and watched me race at the North West and asked if he could race here himself. I said yes but I told him he just has to come and enjoy it first. He’s got the right attitude and his style- the way he rides and particularly how he gets the bike to stop- suits the North West 200.”

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Rutter, who made his own debut on the famous Triangle course in 1992, has almost fully recovered from the injuries he sustained in a crash at the Isle of Man TT last June. Set to celebrate his fifty fourth birthday a month before this year’s NW200, Rutter says he also hopes to join his young protégé on the grid at Portrush aboard a V4 Ducati superbike in May.

“I love riding Superbikes and I really want to race at the North West again. I love the place! And hopefully I can help Storm a bit as well.”

Wigan’s Rob Hodson is also set to make his North West debut in May. The vastly experienced 38 year old, whose road racing CV sports a TT podium finish plus Manx Grand Prix and Southern 100 victories, says he has delayed taking on the north coast challenge until now because he didn’t previously have the set-up he currently enjoys with Robin Croft’s SMT Racing squad.

“I’ve always wanted to race at the North West and I get asked a lot why I haven’t.’ Hodson explained.

“This is my fourth year with SMT and we are sorted early with bikes and engines. We will have Hondas in the Superbike and Superstock classes, a Ducati for Supersport and a Paton in the Twins races plus spare engines for all the bikes. So we are in the position now to come over and give the North West a good go and I can concentrate on the racing.”

With newcomers only permitted to compete in three races in one day under MCUI Regulations, Hodson and the other newcomers will have to make a call on which classes they want to focus on.

“I’m not sure yet what our schedule will be.” Hodson explained but the Supertwin class is likely to be high on his list of priorities after enjoying an impressive run of success on the Paton last season. The Wigan rider claimed a runner-up finish in the opening Supertwins race at the TT before leading Davey Todd home in both Twins races at the Southern 100. A fine fourth place finish in November’s Macau Grand Prix on his SMT Honda superbike rounded off a successful season for the Englishman who is hoping to repeat that success in 2026.

“I am in a good position with the team and the bikes this year.” Hodson says.

“I couldn’t ask for much more. The absolute dream now would be a podium finish on the Paton but I know that is a tall order especially when I have to learn a new circuit. I’ve never experienced the slipstreaming there is at the North West either so if I was going home with a top five in the Twins race and finishing in the top ten of the other races I would be happy because I am up against the best riders in the world.”

The 2025 Senior Manx Grand Prix winner, Caomhan Canny, will also make his North West 200 debut this May. The Donegal rider, who was injured in a Tandragee 100 crash earlier in the season, triumphed by just half a second in a dramatic finish after the Scottish rider had led throughout the four lapper.

“The North West is my local race and it is one of the biggest road races in the world, part of the premier league of the sport if you like, so I want to be there.” Canny says.

Riding a Scott Racing Aprilia RSV4 in the Superbike and Superstock races and a 660 Aprilia in the Supertwins class, Canny will compete on his own Suzuki in the Supersport events.

‘I want to get to know the circuit, to feel comfortable with it before I think about pushing on.” he said.

Also set to line-up on the 2025 NW200 grid in bright orange newcomer bibs are Iliam Quayle, the son of TT winner Milky Quayle, Franco Bourne, Sean Brolly, Lee Hara, Lee Osprey, Kieran Brockie, Grant Thomson, Eddy Wormald and Chris Cook. They will be joined by new recruits from the European Series Road racing championship, Fredrik Matthys, Florian Astner, Rutger Peersman and Anssi Koski as the NW200 hosts a round of the new race series.