Road Racing Weekly Roundup
Peter Hickman Clinches Debut Podium at Belgium's Chimay Open Trophy
International road racing star Peter Hickman wrapped up an impressive debut outing at the historic Circuit de Chimay in Belgium over the weekend (25–26 July), securing a well-earned third-place podium finish in the second Be Ne Lux Trophy/ESR Superbike race.
Riding his 8TEN Racing BMW on the 4.420km natural road circuit, the 14-time Isle of Man TT winner made an immediate impression by grabbing the early lead on lap one. Hickman set the early tempo for three laps before Belgian rider Yan Ancia fought through to take the win. Despite a late-braking moment on lap seven that dropped him to third, Hickman maintained a strong pace into the 1:37s to cross the line in 3rd place, fending off Swiss ace Lukas Maurer.
Michael Browne Makes History with Back-to-Back 'Race of Legends' Victories
Cork’s Michael Browne produced a composed and relentless display to retain the prestigious Armoy 'Race of Legends' title on Saturday, 25 July. Riding for Boyce Precision Engineering by Russell Racing, Browne led the restarted six-lap feature encounter from flag to flag, becoming the first rider since Michael Dunlop MBE to claim consecutive victories in the event's flagship race.
Browne pocketed the £2,500 feature prize pot and the 'Man of the Meeting' accolade after fending off a fierce challenge from Jackson Racing’s Paul Jordan, crossing the line just 0.520 seconds ahead. Phil Crowe rounded out the podium on his first roads appearance since the Isle of Man TT, with Manxman Conor Cummins placing fourth.
Michael Browne: "To win the Race of Legends last year was a dream, but to come back and retain it against a field of this quality is unbelievable. The Russell Racing Honda was running on rails all afternoon. Paul pushed me every inch of the way, but I managed to hold my lines and keep the gap. Massive thanks to the Armoy club for getting all the racing run under tricky skies."
Paul Jordan and Richard Cooper Deny Browne a Full Armoy Clean Sweep
While Browne claimed four victories across the meeting, including the Open, Supertwin, and Race of Legends encounters, he was denied a complete clean sweep thanks to heroic rides from Paul Jordan and Richard Cooper.
Magherafelt ace Jordan produced a tactical masterclass in Friday evening's opening Ducati Antrim Supersport race, snatching a popular victory aboard the Jackson Racing Powered by Prosper2 Honda. On Saturday, KMR Kawasaki’s Richard Cooper went toe-to-toe with Browne in the Supertwin encounters, ensuring the middleweight battles were among the most closely contested races of the entire Irish national season.
Chris Meyer Leads German Double at Armoy
International competitors made a major mark at Armoy this year, spearheaded by German road racer Chris Meyer. Meyer enjoyed a dream outing around the 3.03-mile circuit, securing a double victory in both the 125cc/Moto3 and 250cc encounters.
Fellow countryman David Datzer also impressed the local crowds. Overcoming severe arm-pump issues during Saturday's early sessions, the Roadhouse Macau BMW rider fought through the field in the Essence Vault Open Race to secure a commendable sixth-place finish, cementing his status as the fastest international newcomer at the meeting.
Marcus Simpson Triumphs in Classic Superbike Showdown
Isle of Man Manx Grand Prix winner Marcus Simpson put on a display of pure road racing precision to capture the Classic Superbike race victory at Armoy. Simpson held off strong pressure from veteran Phil Crowe and Matt Stevenson to take the top step of the podium.
Despite a minor, harmless slide at Church Bends in a subsequent big-bike encounter that brought out a temporary red flag, Simpson's speed throughout Friday and Saturday firmly establishes him as one of the red-hot favourites heading into the classic road races on the Isle of Man next month.
Paddock Eyes Shift to Aberdare Park and Manx Grand Prix
With the Armoy Road Races and European outings wrapped up, the international road racing paddock turns its attention toward mainland tarmac for the upcoming Aberdare Park Road Races in South Wales (1–2 August). Teams are completing final chassis setups for the unique, tree-lined 0.9-mile parkland circuit before logistics transition to the Isle of Man for the start of qualifying at the 2026 Manx Grand Prix later in August.
Sources
Road Racing News, Speedweek, Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club, BikeSport News, Motorcycle News (MCN), TBNI Blog, Crash.net.
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