SUPERBIKE, SUPERSTOCK AND SENIOR TT RACES - 2026 Seeded Riders

With less than 25 days to go before qualifying gets underway for this year’s Isle of Man TT Races, anticipation and excitement continue to build, and that builds further today with the release of the top 20 start numbers for the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock and Milwaukee Senior races.

The 1000cc races continue to grab the most attention and capture the imagination, with Honda and BMW having contested the race victories in recent years. Across the Superbike, Superstock and Senior races the top twenty seeded riders are identical, the races will again be both fiercely competitive in 2026 with contenders and intrigue throughout the field.

The RL360 Superstock race will get proceedings underway and, for the third consecutive year, the number one plate is taken by John McGuinness MBE. The Honda Racing rider is set to celebrate his 30th anniversary of TT competition, and having made his debut in 1996, the 23-time winner now has 114 starts to his name. His appetite for the Mountain Course remains as strong as ever as he continues to inspire a generation.

One such rider inspired by McGuinness is local man Nathan Harrison, who arrives at the 2026 event on the back of his best TT campaign to date, having taken fourth in the RST Superbike race and seventh in both Superstock races twelve months ago. Those performances see him promoted to number two on the H&H Motorcycles Honda.

Nathan Harrison on the H&H Motorcycles Honda

That places him between his two former Honda Racing team-mates, with Dean Harrison once again starting at number three. Two Superstock victories last year, along with a personal best lap of 135.692mph, firmly establish him as one of the standout contenders. Still chasing a Superbike TT win, his sole Senior TT victory came seven years ago, making the big bike races a clear focus in 2026.

Jamie Coward returns to the number four position he has made his own in recent years after missing last year through injury. Now with Rapid Honda, having switched from BMW machinery, he will be aiming to quickly reacquaint himself with the Mountain Course and build on the consistent top six finishes he achieved between 2022 and 2024.

For the first time since 2019, James Hillier won’t be lining up at number five, his vast experience and knowledge instead being utilised by the new Isle of Man film being produced during this year’s event. His place is taken by David Johnson, who again starts on the Platinum Club Racing Kawasaki. Fifth in last year’s Superbike race was a superb result for the Australian and he’ll be hoping for more of the same this year.

Number six will again be taken by the most successful Isle of Man TT racer of all time – Michael Dunlop MBE. The 33-time winner has again been keeping everyone guessing with regards to his choice of machinery but recently announced a switch to the Ducati Panigale V4RS which will certainly represent a new challenge as the Italian manufacturer’s record in the Superbike races at the TT isn’t the greatest. Despite all his wins of late, Dunlop only has one 1000cc victory to his name from the last five editions of the TT, a statistic he’s keen to change and the switch to Ducati is all designed to get more big bike TT wins on his illustrious CV.

Second in the 2024 Senior race, Josh Brookes is another rider to assume his regular starting position, the Australian ace once again taking the number seven plate which he’s used to great effect since 2023. With two podiums in his TT career so far, Brookes still has plenty he’d like to achieve around the Mountain Course with this year’s campaign seeing him ride his British Superbike Championship DAO Racing Honda, the Isle of Man-based team making a welcome return to the TT.

Josh Brookes with his DAO Racing Honda

Number eight will be last year’s Superbike race winner Davey Todd on the first of the two 8TEN Racing BMW’s with all eyes keen to see if the three-time TT winner will be back to full fitness when the event commences. The 30-year old suffered several injuries at the Daytona 200 in March but has been working hard ever since all with the TT in mind as he looks to continue his superb run of success.

Ten seconds behind Todd will be Mike Browne, another rider to come into 2026 on a new machine, the Republic of Ireland rider this time on the Boyce Precision Engineering by Russell Racing Honda, and then it’s the turn of Todd’s team-mate Peter Hickman.

Starting from his usual number ten position, Hickman returns after missing last year’s races following a crash in practice, with his most recent of his 14 race wins coming in the 2024 Superbike TT he comes into this year with plenty to prove. He’ll no doubt be targeting more victories but rebuilding during qualifying will be his initial aim along with getting back on to the podium.

At numbers 11 and 12 will be two more BMW riders, Conor Cummins the first to head down Glencrutchery Road on the Bathams AJN Racing machine. The Manxman’s will be looking to return to the podium for the first time since 2022, with former race winner Michael Rutter now part of the team setup, he’ll be looking to tap into that knowledge to get him back to the sharp end.

He’s followed by Team RST’s Ian Hutchinson, the 16-time winner, putting in some strong rides last year. Showing more than a glimpse of his old form then, Hutchy finds himself in his best position coming into a TT for a long time and that makes him a definite dark horse for podium positions.

Ian Hutchinson in at number 12

There are no less than ten BMW’s in the top twenty with two more set to line up at numbers 13 and 14, the first of whom is Dominic Herbertson who, arguably, has his best chance of getting in amongst the top six finishers in the 1000cc races as he rides this time for the KTS Racing powered by Stanley Stewart team. Shaun Anderson, starting ten seconds after Herbertson, will also have high hopes on the Penz13.com entry.

Just like last year, ‘130mph Club’ member Rob Hodson starts at number 15 on the SMT Racing Honda, the Wigan rider no doubt targeting a return to the top ten of a big bike race, with Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing powered by Prosper2 Honda) and Michael Evans (Dafabet Racing Honda) follow at numbers 16 and 17 respectively both deservedly promoted up the order after excellent performances across the classes last time out.

Rounding out the top twenty are Phil Crowe (Handtrans/Nigel Appleyard/AgriWash UK BMW), Brian McCormack (Roadhouse Macau BMW) and Austria’s Julian Trummer (Smith Racing BMW). All three riders have featured inside the top 15 finishers in recent years so further improvement and progress will be high on their respective agendas this year.

2026 1000cc TT Seeded Top 20

Date: 1st May 2026

WORDS: Phil Wain

2026 ISLE OF MAN TT RACES

SUPERBIKE, SUPERSTOCK AND SENIOR TT RACES - 2026 Seeded Riders

You might also like

PARTNERS