2026 North West 200
Storm Stacey has claimed his debut North West 200 win in the Superstock race, riding the MLav BMW M 1000 RR. However once again, there was a stoppage to the proceedings when one of the pre-race favourites, Richard Cooper, had a nasty fall at University on lap two. The race was halted to allow officials to rearrange track infrastructure that had been disturbed by Cooper’s fall, rather than due to serious injury to the #47.
The Nottingham man tipped-off when exiting the 90 degree left turn while contesting the lead and slid down a grass bank. Thankfully he was ok and was seen up on his feet later in the paddock, limping but otherwise ok. It was his second crash in as many races, and with him using the stock bike in the Superbike races, it meant he was also out of the final big race.
The new race was reduced to four laps and when restarted, it was frantic from the outset. Stacey took the lead off the line with Josh Brookes second. Michael Dunlop and the rest of the usual suspects were also in contention and it was almost impossible to keep track of who was where and what was going on, such was the chaotic nature of the opening lap.
Indeed, Brookes was on the grass at Juniper but quickly regained his composure and lost very little time with Stacey leading over the line.
However, it was Dunlop who was first into University on lap two with Dean Harrison also making progress. Unfortunately for Deano, his race would be all but done just a few miles later when he overshot Magherabuoy, promoting teammate John McGuinnes into fourth.
At that point Brookes hit the front and excitement was building at the prospect of a first ever Australian victor.
But as the race progress into the second half, it looked as though Dunlop might be on for his second win of the day, looking strong and riding with a fluid style that suggested he might just be the man.
It was two-time BSB star vs road racers, and the full-time circuit riders clearly had an advantage on the brakes over the #6, and he couldn’t quite manage to give them the slip. Michael had his nose in front but the three were together as they began the fourth and final lap.
Stacey was gaining track knowledge all the time and growing in confidence. He stuffed it up the inside of Dunlop on the brakes into York to take the lead. But Michael slipped back past on the 200 mph run to Coleraine, although it was noted at the time that he was ‘fiddling’ with his helmet – possibly opening a vent on his Arai.
Stacey retook the lead at the Magic Round-about and the large crowd couldn’t believe what they were seeing as Stacey attacked the course on the final lap. He managed to hit Metropole in front and just as Michael was sizing him up for one final go on the coast road, the MD Racing BMW flicked him out of the seat at Metropole. Thankfully he landed back in the seat, but he lost momentum and Stacey was away.
That allowed Brookes past, but Michael would get him back into Juniper. Stacey, however, now had clear air between himself and the chasing pair and from then on the race was his.
He crossed the line in style and headed straight for the grandstand where he promptly did a burnout. It was then announced that not only had he taken his first race win on his debut year; he’d also broken the lap record with a lap of 124.498 mph on the final circuit. And just like that, there was a new hero in town… unbelievable stuff; the crowd lapped it up. There was a real sense of occasion – history in the making.
Stacey couldn’t believe he’d got the lap record sharing:
“Oh my God! In my first year? That’s crazy! I just gelled with the bike… so good. It just felt phenomenal. I thought when they kept passing me, I need to keep fighting back at them. They were a lot better than me into Magherabuoy, I didn’t fancy braking that late. I knew I could draft them back on the way down to Metropole cause you can see what’s coming… really happy with that, you can’t not be can you? Not bad for a novice!”
Michael Dunlop managed his third podium of the day but described some grip issues he was experiencing when asked about his flick at Metropole.
“I just seemed to struggle all week with the big bike rear tyre for some reason and I don’t know why, we just haven’t got to the bottom of it.”
Josh Brookes bagged his second podium of the day and said that while he was slightly disappointed not to win, he wasn’t willing to take any more risks and that essentially, he was on his limit so had to be happy. He also spoke of 2025 and how he had struggled to get into the top 10. With two podiums this year he said he was, “really pleased that the performance has come back in my favour.”
CP Hire Superstock Race Results
 |
||||
|
Pos
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
Time/Gap
|
Speed
|
|
1
|
S. Stacey
|
BMW
|
17m21.681
|
124.498
|
|
2
|
M. Dunlop
|
BMW
|
+1.260
|
123.926
|
|
3
|
J. Brookes
|
Hon
|
+1.499
|
123.997
|
|
4
|
I. Hutchinson
|
BMW
|
+15.896
|
121.973
|
|
5
|
J. McGuinness
|
Hon
|
+16.102
|
122.135
|
|
6
|
M. Browne
|
Hon
|
+23.457
|
121.317
|
|
7
|
D. Herbertson
|
BMW
|
+31.696
|
121.148
|
|
8
|
P. Hickman
|
BMW
|
+37.299
|
120.770
|
|
9
|
M. Simpson
|
Hon
|
+38.836
|
119.897
|
|
10
|
M. Rees
|
Hon
|
+39.756
|
119.744
|
|
11
|
D. Johnson
|
Kaw
|
+40.772
|
119.834
|
|
12
|
M. Bottalico
|
BMW
|
+41.687
|
120.450
|
|
13
|
C. Phillips
|
BMW
|
+50.700
|
119.612
|
|
14
|
M. Evans
|
Hon
|
+51.137
|
118.169
|
|
15
|
K. Keyes
|
Hon
|
+51.643
|
118.310
|
|
16
|
J. Trummer
|
BMW
|
+51.839
|
118.324
|
|
17
|
S. West
|
BMW
|
+52.177
|
118.988
|
|
18
|
J. Chawke
|
BMW
|
+58.072
|
118.025
|
|
19
|
P. Crowe
|
BMW
|
+1m05.883
|
116.911
|
|
20
|
J. Perry
|
Hon
|
+1m13.425
|
115.575
|
|
21
|
M. Hewitt
|
BMW
|
+1m14.849
|
116.149
|
|
22
|
E. Ferre
|
Hon
|
+1m15.745
|
116.113
|
|
23
|
R. Hodson
|
Hon
|
+1m20.765
|
115.476
|
|
24
|
D. McMaster
|
Kaw
|
+1m21.508
|
115.014
|
|
25
|
A. Spence
|
Hon
|
+1m22.088
|
114.865
|
|
26
|
D. Brook
|
BMW
|
+1m23.476
|
115.179
|
|
27
|
R. Hardisty
|
Hon
|
+1m24.401
|
115.142
|
|
28
|
F. Matthys
|
BMW
|
+1m26.054
|
114.998
|
|
29
|
I. Caljouw
|
Kaw
|
+1m34.840
|
114.249
|
|
30
|
B. Furber
|
Hon
|
+1m50.241
|
112.352
|
|
31
|
W. Bourgeais
|
Yam
|
+1m53.684
|
111.911
|
|
32
|
M. Morris
|
Hon
|
+1m58.532
|
111.086
|
|
33
|
C. Kennelly
|
Hon
|
+2m04.383
|
111.550
|
|
34
|
D. Cleary
|
Suz
|
+2m07.111
|
110.787
|
|
35
|
O. Lupberger
|
Yam
|
+2m21.193
|
110.063
|
|
36
|
K. Brockie
|
Suz
|
+2m26.037
|
108.413
|
|
37
|
E. Krchnavy
|
Kaw
|
+2m37.986
|
108.479
|
|
38
|
L. Thornton
|
Hon
|
+2m51.611
|
108.362
|
|
39
|
J. Polet
|
BMW
|
+2m51.952
|
106.115
|
|
DQ
|
S. McTaggart
|
BMW
|
4:41.218
|
114.829
|
|
DNF
|
G. McCoy
|
BMW
|
4:33.600
|
118.026
|
|
DNF
|
D. Harrison
|
Hon
|
5:12.832
|
103.225
|
|
DNF
|
N. Kernohan
|
BMW
|
4:52.030
|
108.852
|
