STAR-STUDDED LINE-UP FOR 2026 FORMULA ONE CLASSIC TT

The Formula One race is, arguably, the showpiece event at the Classic TT and this year will be no exception with a star-studded field set to tackle the world-famous Mountain Course on iconic machinery from the 1980s and 90’s.

The majority of the field are also expected to feature in the closing Senior Classic TT race, and with no less than four former race winners on the entry, both races promise to be mouth-watering affairs.

Four-time race winner Michael Dunlop MBE heads the line-up with the Northern Ireland rider again riding for Team Classic Suzuki starting from his familiar number six. He’ll be on board the Suzuki GSX-R750 SRAD machine he piloted to victory three years ago whilst other wins were chalked up for Steve Wheatman’s team in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Heading the field away from number one will be Nathan Harrison, the Manxman campaigning the Greenall Racing Kawasaki ZX7R once more. He finished second for the team in 2022 whilst twelve months ago he was second quickest in qualifying at 127.204mph so he’ll join Dunlop amongst the pre-race favourites.

Nathan Harrison will lead the field away aboard the Greenall Racing Kawasaki ZX7R

So too will Mike Browne, the Killeagh rider starting from number two. He’s yet to confirm his machinery but having won two years ago, the Irishman is sure to be challenging for race honours once again.

He’s followed at number three by another former race winner, David Johnson. His victory came in 2019, and he’ll be on a familiar Kawasaki ZXR750 again this time around as he rides for the Steadplan Racing team.

At number four will be Jamie Coward who joins Harrison at Greenall Racing albeit on the slightly older Kawasaki ZXR750 machine. He was third quickest in qualifying twelve months ago with a lap of 126.245mph and with the bike being a proven race winner, the Yorkshireman’s threat is considerable.

The other previous race winner takes the number five plate, Rob Hodson riding the CK Racing Ducati 916. The Wigan rider came out on top in 2022 with other podium appearances coming in 2023 and 2024 and he’ll be keen to take a second Classic TT victory. Having topped the qualifying leaderboard last year with an impressive lap of 127.402mph, he’ll be looking to convert that speed into another race win.

2022 race winner Rob Hodson will be keen to take a second Classic TT victory

With Dunlop at number six, number seven will see Dominic Herbertson on yet another Kawasaki ZXR750. He rides for Adam Hewitt Racing with support from TAS Racing as Hector and Philip Neill’s team dip their toe back into road racing.

With no one, as of yet, at numbers eight or nine, next to go will be Peter Hickman, the Louth-based rider returning to the Classic TT for the first time in more than a decade. It was in 2015 when he made his one and only previous CTT appearance, but he returns this year to ride the legendary Norton WRS588 for WizNorton Racing.

Dunlop rode the bike last year, recording a lap of 123.505mph in qualifying, the quickest ever lap of the Mountain Course by the rotary machine so Hickman will no doubt have that speed in his sight. His Dad Dave, winner of the 1977 Lightweight Manx Grand Prix, was a mechanic for the Norton team in the 1980s and 1990s when they enjoyed vast success on the various UK circuits.

Hickman will be one to watch on the legendary Norton WRS588

A second Steadplan Racing Kawasaki ZXR750 will line up at number 11 in the hands of Conor Cummins, a rostrum finisher in both 2013 and 2018, whilst ten seconds later a third Greenall Racing Kawasaki will get underway, this time with Brian McCormack – fourth in 2023 – on board.

With number 13 vacant, next to go at 14 will be Michael Evans, the Santon rider again running the Good with Wood Racing Suzuki GSX-R750 SRAD and he’ll be quickly followed down Glencrutchery Road by Michael Sweeney (Mistral Racing Kawasaki) and Julian Trummer (TC Racing/DP Coldplaning Kawasaki).

Ever-present Barry Furber starts at number 17 on the DC Auto Repairs Newtown Suzuki GSX-R750

Two more Suzukis will be next with Barry Furber (DC Auto Repairs Newtown) and Shaun Anderson (Stanford Racing by ARD) set to go at numbers 17 and 18 respectively and the top twenty seeded riders are completed by Joe Yeardsley on a second Mistral Racing Kawasaki and leading Frenchman Amalric Blanc (Hampe Racing Team).

Outside of the top twenty, there are plenty more Kawasaki runners including Marcus Simpson, Kevin Keyes, Paul Williams and Timothee Monot whilst Joey Thompson, Matt Stevenson, Michal Dokoupil and Tom Weeden add to the Suzuki challenge. Rhys Hardisty is again riding the only two-stroke, the Welshman riding the sweet-sounding Reps Motorcycles Suzuki RG500.

Classic TT 2026 Formula One Seeded Top 20

Date: 7th August 2026

WORDS: Phil Wain

2027 ISLE OF MAN TT RACES

STAR-STUDDED LINE-UP FOR 2026 FORMULA ONE CLASSIC TT

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