Will Irwin rack up more wins on his return?
Dean Harrison leads Peter Hickman during a Superstock race at the 2025 North West 200
The 2026 North West 200 is set to deliver a range of compelling narratives as the annual road racing event takes place on Northern Ireland’s north coast from 6-9 May. A strong lineup of riders and some of the most advanced motorcycles in international road racing will compete across nine races on the famed 8.9-mile Triangle circuit, which connects Portstewart, Coleraine, and Portrush.
Before the races commence, NI examines key storylines likely to influence this year’s event.
Glenn Irwin’s return to the North West 200 after missing the 2025 meeting has been welcomed as a significant boost. The record 11-time Superbike winner had retired from road racing in October 2024 but will now compete on a Ducati V4 for the Nitrous Competitions team, having ridden Yamaha machinery in last year’s British Superbike Championship.
Irwin’s remarkable record of 11 consecutive victories in the premier class from 2017 to 2024 positions him as a favourite to extend his tally. Of these wins, eight were on Ducati bikes, two on Honda, and one on Kawasaki.
The 36-year-old also has the opportunity to become the most successful rider in any individual class at the event, a record currently held by fellow Carrickfergus rider Alastair Seeley, who has 13 Supersport and 12 Superstock wins.
Can Seeley add to his record number of victories?
Alastair Seeley’s name has been closely associated with the North West 200 for nearly 20 years. The 46-year-old from County Antrim aims to increase his 29 victories, the highest in the event’s history.
Seeley’s latest wins were a Superstock double in 2023. After missing the 2024 event due to a lack of suitable machinery, he returned to the podium with a third-place finish in the Superbike class in 2025.
For 2026, the former British Superstock and British Supersport champion will concentrate on the Supersport and Supertwins classes, supported by Binch Racing, a team he raced with on UK short circuits two years ago.
He will compete on a Ducati V2 in the two Supersport races and an Aprilia in the Supertwins/Sportbike category, aiming to reach a milestone 30 wins.
Seeley’s dominance is highlighted by his record of winning at least one race in 11 consecutive North West 200 events from 2008 to 2018.
Will Michael Dunlop build on his treble?
Michael Dunlop ended a long winless period at the North West 200 in 2025 by securing three victories: one each in the Superbike, Superstock, and Supersport classes.
The Ballymoney rider continues to accumulate wins at the Isle of Man TT but had not won at the North West since 2016 until his 2025 treble.
At 37, Dunlop is determined to add to his eight North West wins on Ducati motorcycles, supported by Hawk Racing, Scar Racing, and his own MD Racing team.
His connection with Ducati deepened after winning both Supersport races at the 2025 Isle of Man TT, marking the manufacturer’s first TT success since 1995.
In 2026, Dunlop will also compete in the Superstock class aiming for further success before returning to the Isle of Man to increase his all-time record of 33 TT wins.
Any first-time winners?
Dean Harrison, riding for Honda Racing, is among the most likely candidates for a first North West 200 victory in 2026. The Yorkshire rider achieved five podium finishes at the 2025 event, bringing his career total to 15, but has yet to secure a win.
At 37, Harrison has finished as runner-up eight times and third seven times. He will draw confidence from his two Superstock TT wins last June, which brought his TT victories to five.
Other contenders for a maiden win include Australian two-time British Superbike champion and former North West 200 lap record holder Josh Brookes, who rides for DAO Honda Racing on both road and short circuits this year.
Newcomer Storm Stacey, with a strong British Superbike pedigree and riding for Bathams Ducati, also presents a notable challenge. While winning on debut at the Triangle is rare, Stacey’s potential should not be underestimated.
More success for multiple English victors?
Davey Todd of Yorkshire has become a prolific winner at the North West 200, securing his first victory in 2019, a double in 2023, and hat-tricks in both 2024 and 2025.
The 30-year-old is set to ride BMW motorcycles with the 8Ten Racing team and a Triumph in the Supersport class. However, he may still be recovering from injuries sustained in a crash at Daytona in March, which could affect his performance.
Nottingham’s Richard Cooper has also excelled at the Triangle circuit, winning seven races and achieving 17 podiums. The multiple British champion will continue his partnership with BPE by Russell Racing on a Yamaha in Supersport, while also competing with Powerslide Suzuki in Sportbike/Supertwins and SMS/Nicholl Oils BMW in Superstocks.
Todd’s teammate Peter Hickman, who has four North West wins (two in Superstock and two in Supertwins), will aim for additional victories, particularly in the Superbike class. After missing the 2025 Isle of Man TT due to injuries from a qualifying crash, Hickman is eager to return to winning form on the roads.
Veteran multiple winners Ian Hutchinson, John McGuinness, and Michael Rutter will also seek to impress fans as they continue their distinguished road racing careers.
