Road Racing Weekly Roundup: Heartbreak for Todd and Future Dates Confirmed as TT 2026 Beckons
Reigning Senior Champion Davey Todd Ruled Out of TT 2026
The biggest story in motorcycle road racing has been confirmed: reigning Senior TT champion Davey Todd will not defend his crown at the 2026 Isle of Man TT. Following a
medical assessment by the event's chief medical officers, the Yorkshireman was officially ruled unfit to compete due to the lingering effects of the severe leg injuries he suffered at the Daytona 200 in March. Despite an intensive, global rehabilitation programme that saw him testing a bike in Valencia just weeks ago, the physical rigours of the 37.73-mile Mountain Course were deemed too great a risk.
MGP Champion Jamie Williams Withdraws from 2026 Entries
In another significant blow to the middleweight grids, reigning Supersport and Junior Manx Grand Prix winner Jamie Williams has withdrawn all of his entries for the 2026 TT. The Douglas rider, who was slated to campaign a "next-generation" Suzuki GSX-R750 for the JLG Racing Powered by NCE Racing team, pulled his entries just days before the event. The decision leaves a highly anticipated vacancy in the seeded ranks of both the Monster Energy Supersport and Carole Nash Sportbike encounters.
John McGuinness MBE: "The Journey That Keeps on Giving"
As he prepares to lead the field down Bray Hill as the Number 1 seed, John McGuinness MBE has spoken emotionally about reaching his 30th anniversary on the Mountain Course. Having made his debut back in 1996, the 23-time winner remains as motivated as ever. Driving further excitement on the Island, his consistency is undeniable—McGuinness has finished inside the top ten in 11 of his last 14 TT race finishes since 2022. John McGuinness: "It's the journey that keeps on giving; it's been like Christmas day over and over again. I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to do so much in my career to date. The bike feels fantastic, the team is working brilliantly, and I’m ready to give these fans something to cheer about for my 30th year."
Organisers Lock in Isle of Man TT Dates for 2027 and 2028
In an unprecedented move ahead of this year's practice week, the Isle of Man TT organisers have officially confirmed the event dates for the next two years. TT 2027 will run from Monday, 31 May to Saturday, 12 June 2027, while provisional dates for 2028 have been locked in for 29 May to 10 June 2028. The early announcement is designed to give international fans, commercial partners, and steam packet travellers maximum time to coordinate logistics for the world's premier road race.
Quick Digest: The North West 200 Aftermath
The dust has finally settled on a historic Briggs Equipment North West 200. While Glenn Irwin rewrote the record books with an unprecedented 12 consecutive Superbike victories on the Nitrous Competitions Ducati, the week belonged to sensational newcomer Storm Stacey. The BSB regular pulled off a stunning double-victory, claiming the Superstock race and the Feature Superbike race on his debut. Meanwhile, Michael Dunlop leaves Ireland with massive momentum after taking a dominant Supersport win aboard the Scars Racing Ducati Panigale V2.
Sources
Road Racing News, Motorcycle News (MCN), Visordown, Manx Radio, BikeSport News, Isle of Man TT Official, Crash.net, TBNI Blog.
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