NW200: Storm Stacey came, saw and outwitted the elite of road racing

Storm Stacey achieved at the legendary North West 200 what no other newcomer had managed since 2007. The young Brit came, saw and claimed victory in the Superstock race, setting a lap record ahead of Michael Dunlop. To round off the event, he also left all the favourites behind in the Superbike race in front of tens of thousands of enthusiastic spectators. “If I’m not mistaken, no rookie has won two races at the North West 200 since 1955,” he said on his return to the scene of his triumph, where – much to the delight of race director Mervyn White – he confirmed he would be back in 2027.

The 23-year-old rider from Staffordshire recalled the decisive moment of the Superstock race: “I would have loved to have had a camera in my helmet. On the straight leading up to the first chicane, I glanced over at Michael Dunlop. I saw his gaze flick towards me and then return to the track, and all I thought was: ‘You’re going to brake, and then I’ll brake.’ And that’s exactly how it played out. Michael is an incredible rider. Coming here and beating him is something very special – it’s the sort of thing you can only dream of, and I don’t think I’ve woken up from that dream yet.”

“Storm’s performance in 2026 was one of the biggest surprises we’ve seen at the North West in many, many years,” says Whyte, who was awarded the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to motorcycling. “What the young Englishman achieved was extraordinary. He came in as a rookie and electrified the whole event. That sort of thing is good for the sport. Next year, he’ll be competing in the NW200 with Michael Laverty’s GRYD BMW team. His team boss knows how to lead a team. Together with Storm and Glenn Irwin, he forms an excellent combination.”