LIGHTWEIGHT AND ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT CLASSIC TT SEEDING ANNOUNCED

The Lightweight and Ultra-Lightweight Classic TT races will run concurrently over three laps of the 37.73-mile Mountain Course, but with separate classifications and podiums. The returning Lightweight class is reserved exclusively for 250cc two-strokes, while the new Ultra-Lightweight category will feature 400cc four-strokes alongside 125cc two-stroke machinery.

Leading the Lightweight field away with the number one plate will be Stuart Hall on the Whippet Racing Yamaha. Fifth last year, Hall finished third in both 2022 and 2024, and the Wakefield rider can be relied on to chalk up regular 114mph+ laps so another rostrum finish will be firmly in his sights.

Underway at number one will be Stuart Hall on the Whippet Racing Yamaha

Next away will be one of the pre-race favourites Mike Browne on the Laycock Racing Yamaha, the Republic of Ireland rider having won the corresponding race in 2022 and 2023. He’s been out of luck for the last two years though, retiring early from the races so will be hoping for better fortune this time around.

Numbers three and four will be regular Lightweight front runners Dan Sayle (John Chapman Racing Honda) and Chris Moore (Outhwaite Plant/Silverstar/iHeat Yamaha) with the number five plate taken by Michael Sweeney on the IMS/CSC Racing Yamaha.

A big race favourite will be last year’s winner Michael Dunlop MBE who starts from his regular number six position. Having ridden his own machine in recent years, he lines up this year on the Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles Honda which Bruce Anstey took to three victories between 2016 and 2019. Anstey still holds the class lap record with his stunning lap of 120.475mph in 2017, the only 120mph+ lap by a 250cc machine.

Bruce Anstey still holds the class lap record with his stunning lap of 120.475mph in 2017.

Having finished sixth twelve months ago, another leading 250cc rider, Rhys Hardisty, lines up at number seven on the GATC/Phil Anslow Yamaha and he’s followed by another TZ250 runner Michal Dokoupil, the Czech rider again riding for Cookson Travel. He finished seventh last year.

Starting at number nine is another pre-race favourite, Paul Jordan who rides the second Laycock Racing Yamaha with Ryan Whitehall’s Mountain Course education continuing with the Isle of Wight rider starting at number 10 on the Yellow House/DB Moto Yamaha.

Newcomer last year. Michael Grigson (QRG/MG Road Racing Yamaha) follows Whitehall, and he starts ten seconds ahead of Gerald Dath who’s also Yamaha-mounted.

With number 13 empty, the Lightweight entry is completed by Will Loder (CKS Precision Yamaha), newcomer Steve Bayley (UK Import Services Yamaha), David Glover (DA-GLO Racing/Yellow House Yamaha) and Belgium visitor Jeffrey Vromant (MGB Moto Yamaha).

The first of the Ultra-Lightweight runners was set to be Joe Yeardsley but he’s been a late withdrawal so first away at number 22 will be his fellow Manxman and expected podium contender Nathan Harrison on the H&H Motorcycles Kawasaki.

First away in the Ultra-Lightweight class will be expected podium contender Nathan Harrison at number 22

He’ll be followed down Glencrutchery Road by Joey Thompson (EM Plastering powered by Genertech Honda) and Paul Cassidy (Green Racing/Island Fuels Yamaha), the Manxman having been the second highest placed 400cc runner for the last two years. He was the best placed 400cc rider though in 2023 so will have designs on the number one spot again this year.

With number 25 empty, another local rider, Jamie Williams, will start at number 26 on the BPR Honda and he’ll be aiming to keep Owen Monaghan (DB Telecom/RLR Transport Kawasaki), Calum Pert (Hedzup ACR Oil Slick Dispersants Honda) and Harley Rushton (IMS/CSC Racing Yamaha) behind him, both on the road and on time.

There are also several 125cc machines amongst the entry including Tom Snow (Phil Price Sculpture/Cord Warneke/ABSAF Honda), Italian Tizano Rosati (Deep X Zero-Bar Coffee Aprilia), Adrian Skaife (Motofix Otley/DJ Byers Security Solutions Aprilia) and newcomers Kyle Parkes (Torry Hill Chestnut Fencing Ltd Honda) and Germany’s Chris Meyer (MYR Racing Honda).

Classic TT 2026 Lightweight and Ultra-Lightweight Seeded Riders

LIGHTWEIGHT

ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT