Road Racing Weekly Roundup
Monday 09 November 2026
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Honda Racing UK Confirms John McGuinness MBE and Dean Harrison for 2027 Campaign
Honda Racing UK has officially confirmed that John McGuinness MBE and Dean Harrison will spearhead the factory squad’s international road racing assault at both the 2027 Isle of Man TT Races and the North West 200.
The deal sets up a historic milestone at next May's North West 200, where 54-year-old McGuinness is scheduled to make his 100th career start around the 8.9-mile Triangle circuit. Both riders will campaign an evolved Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, with Harrison also taking on a development role in the British Superbike Championship alongside incoming teammates Kyle Ryde and Ryan Vickers.
John McGuinness MBE: "I'm really pleased that I'm staying with Honda for 2027. We were fast in 2026 and, if the weather had played ball at the TT, we'd have had more seat time. It wasn't to be though, so to be heading back as teammate to Dean [Harrison] and with an all-new bike to race is fantastic. I have my 100th race start at the NW200 to look forward to as well, so it's going to be an excellent year for road racing."
Dean Harrison: "My performance at the TT in 2026 was, in my opinion, the strongest I've ever been. The confidence that gives me for next year should not be underestimated. I have no worries at all about developing the new Fireblade to suit my style, and I can't wait to see how we cope with the demands of a new bike. My crew chief Stew Millen and our data man Bob Grey are excellent; we work really well together and I know that we'll be in a good place."
Double Winner Storm Stacey Returns to North West 200 with GRYD Racing
Following his sensational roads debut earlier this year, where he became the first newcomer to win a 1,000cc race at the North West 200 since Bruce Anstey in 2002, Storm Stacey has officially signed to return to the Triangle circuit in 2027.
Stacey, who took Superstock and Superbike victories on the north coast, will pilot BMW M1000RR machinery for Michael Laverty’s GRYD Racing outfit. He partners the event's all-time win record holder Glenn Irwin, backed by factory technical support from Alpha Racing, creating one of the most formidable Superbike line-ups on the roads.
Storm Stacey: "It was always going to be hard to keep me away from here to be honest. The feeling, the sensations, it's just magical when this event is on. If you haven't been, you haven't witnessed it, you've only seen it on the telly, it doesn't do it justice. It's unbelievable. You're five abreast doing 200mph. You just don't get it anywhere else. It's a mega event."
2027 International Road Racing Championship Calendar Confirmed
Organisers of the International Road Racing Championship (IRRC) have released their complete six-round schedule for 2027, securing early dates across the premier closed-public-road circuits of continental Europe.
The championship will open at the Varsselring in Hengelo, Netherlands, before heading to the iconic 300 Curves of Gustav Havel at Hořice in the Czech Republic on 22–23 May. The tour then visits the Circuit de Chimay in Belgium, the high-speed streets of Imatranajo in Finland, and concludes at Germany's Frohburger Dreieck in September. Series organisers confirmed that the newly introduced Sportbike regulations will run alongside the flagship Superbike and Supersport categories across all rounds.
Macau Grand Prix Paddock Enters Final 10-Day Countdown
With less than a fortnight remaining until opening practice gets underway for the 58th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix (19–22 November 2026), teams and riders are beginning their long-haul journeys to the Far East.
Four-time winner Peter Hickman heads the 20-rider entry list aboard his Zeeco BMW by 8TEN Racing M1000RR, aiming to capture his fifth victory between the Armco barriers following defending champion Davey Todd's regulatory exclusion. Heavy interest surrounds the six debutants taking on the 3.8-mile Guia Circuit, led by Northern Ireland's Dean McMaster (Air NI Racing Kawasaki), European Series champion Fedrik Matthys (Hoffmann by MRP BMW), and Irish national road racer Kevin Keyes (Daracore Racing Honda).
Sources
Honda Racing UK Media, Crash.net, Visordown, Road Racing News, BikeSport News, Motorcycle News (MCN), Isle of Man TT Races Official, Manx Grand Prix Media, Road Racing Ireland, Cycle News, Bennetts.
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