TT 2026: BEYOND THE TOP 20 | NON-SEEDED SPOTLIGHT
Your guide to TT 2026’s riders outside the top seeds - dark horses, rising names and consistent performers ready to make big steps…
With 66 days to go, excitement is continuing to build ahead of this year’s Isle of Man TT Races with the first important date coming in the final week of April when the much anticipated top twenty seeded riders will be revealed.
But the TT is about much more than just the top twenty riders. Every rider is as important as the next, every rider in the field will have their own goals and aspirations, however big or small. Personal bests in both results and lap speeds will no doubt be at the top of their priority list, as will consistency, progression and enjoyment.
As with our Non-Seeded riders, each will be continuing their own journey as they make significant strides forward to one day becoming a seeded rider themselves. The TT rewards patience, preparation and respect for the course, and for many riders the climb towards the top twenty is built year by year as experience and confidence grow.
1000cc: Superbike, Superstock and Senior - Who’s Knocking on the Door?
Speeds across the 1000cc field have continued to rise in recent years, to the point where riders now need laps in excess of 128mph to sit inside the top twenty. Just behind that group sits a highly competitive tier of riders who are edging closer each year.
The French pairing of Amalric Blanc and Eddy Ferre have both operated in the 127mph bracket, while Marcus Simpson isn’t too far behind. Fellow Manxman Jamie Cringle being another to have steadily advanced himself up the leaderboard in recent years.
There’s plenty of international strength in the mix too as David Datzer, Erno Kostamo and AJ Venter continue to impress. Datzer has an excellent opportunity in 2026 with Brian McCormack’s Roadhouse Macau team, while Kostamo’s pedigree speaks for itself, with his success on road courses elsewhere including at the Macau Grand Prix.
Kevin Keyes, Joey Thompson, Darryl Tweed and Jonathan Perry all recently broke the 125mph barrier, forming a group that is now pushing towards the ‘seeded rider’ bracket. Elsewhere, Thompson’s performances in the smaller categories sees him achieve seeded status for the Supersport and Sportbike races in 2026.
Kevin Keyes 2025 RST Star of Tomorrow
Supersport: Building Momentum
Many of the same names will be looking to make their mark and impress in Supersport class, and for some, this is where their TT story can really accelerate.
Shropshire rider Barry Furber has already proven his capability in the formerly named Supertwin class, with top ten finishes in each of the last three years, and he will be seeded in the new Sportbike class for TT 2026. He’s not far away from matching that impact on the 600 machinery too, having narrowly missed out on a seeded Supersport position following a personal best lap last year. Furber continues to build steadily, also setting his fastest ever lap of the Mountain Course in the 2025 RST Superbike TT.
Mitch Rees, last year’s best newcomer, adds another dimension to his 2026 campaign by tackling the Monster Energy Supersport TT Races for the first time with the multiple race-winning Milenco by Padgetts Honda team.
Mitch Rees, 2025’s best newcomer
Also entering his second year of TT competition is former British Superbike Championship regular Barry Burrell, riding a Triumph prepared by Peter Hickman’s PHR Performance set-up, alongside the returning Frenchman Pierre-Yves Bian, the class will offer valuable track time as both riders continue to deepen their understanding of the Mountain Course. As always at the TT, laps, and as many as possible, are key to progression.
Sportbike: Opportunity on a Level Playing Field
The new Sportbike class, which replaces the outgoing Supertwin category in 2026, should provide riders outside the top twenty with one of their best opportunities to shine. Like its predecessor, the class offers a more cost-effective route to competition, where parity between machines allows riders to compete on more equal terms.
Riders such as Furber, Adam McLean, Joe Yeardsley and Czech rider Michal Dokoupil have all recorded top-ten finishes in recent years and will be seeded for 2026.
Barry Furber excelled in the Classic Superbike races
Simpson, Tweed, Datzer and former Manx Grand Prix winner Francesco Curinga are just outside the top twenty once more as is Daniel Ingham. The Leicestershire rider, Ingham, makes the step up to the TT after winning the Senior Manx Grand Prix two years ago so progress will be his undoubted aim.
Likewise for Croatian Loris Majcan, the best TT newcomer in 2024, this year marks his third year at the TT and focusing on the Supersport and Sportbike classes this time around, his efforts will be centred on the machinery he’s arguably most suited to.
Meanwhile, another former Manx Grand Prix winner, Victor Lopez, returns on the back of a low-key 2025 meeting. The Spaniard is capable of laps in excess of 117mph, and he’ll be looking to get back to this kind of form in 2026.
Riders to Watch: Looking for the Breakthrough
So who are the main riders to keep an eye on outside the top twenty at TT 2026? Many have been making significant progress in recent seasons, none more so than Frenchman Amalric Blanc.
The first rider outside the seeded group in the 1000cc races, Blanc narrowly missed out on a top-twenty position for 2026 and it’s perhaps only a matter of time before that possibility becomes a reality,
Having contested several rounds of the International Road Racing Championship, Blanc’s Mountain Course debut came at the 2022 Manx Grand Prix where he finished an impressive eighth in the Senior race as the highest placed newcomer.
He stepped up to the TT the following year, and although it was a relatively low-key TT debut, he made significant progress in 2024. Riding for Team B&M, Blanc secured a top-twenty finish in the Superstock race with a best lap of 127.078mph recorded in the Superbike race, making him the fastest French rider ever to lap the Mountain Course.
That progress continued in 2025 with two further top-twenty finishes, including an impressive 12th place in the opening Superbike race where he increased his speed to 127.726mph. Another top-twenty followed in the Superstock race with a lap of 127.742mph.
If there’s one area Blanc will be keen to improve, it’s reaching the chequered flag more consistently, as he’s had seven DNF’s from his 16 starts, missing out on crucial track time.
The fastest Frenchman Amalric Blanc at the TT
After four years with Team B&M and Honda, the 38-year-old switches both team and manufacturer for 2026, joining Never Be Clever Racing to ride the Yamaha R1. The change could yet help him move closer to the 130mph mark and perhaps deliver that elusive top-ten finish.
Eddy Ferre’s journey has followed a similar path and trajectory to that of his countryman Blanc. Tenth on his Manx Grand Prix debut in 2023, his first appearance at the TT came a year later with his debut seeing him line up as part of the highly professional Optimark Road Racing outfit and remains with the team heading into 2026.
Eddy Ferre PB lap speed – 127.106 mph
Supplied with competitive machinery for both the 1000cc and 600cc classes, Ferre has more than repaid that faith with impressive consistency. In his ten TT starts to date, he has finished every race, collecting a bronze replica on each occasion showing the type of consistency required to succeed around the Mountain Course.
Completing every racing lap has allowed Ferre to maximise his course knowledge and, as that experience has grown, so too have his results and lap speeds. With six top 25 finishes, including a personal best 18th place in the second Superstock race last year. Ferre upped his pace to 127.106mph and is now only five seconds away from Blanc’s fastest lap. If he can maintain the progress already shown, a top 15 finish could well be on the cards, as could wrestling the accolade of fastest Frenchman away from Blanc.
Just behind Blanc and Ferre, if only on lap times, is Manxman Marcus Simpson, the now 27-year-old another rider to have honed his skills at the Manx Grand Prix.
Making his MGP debut in 2023, the Douglas rider immediately impressed, breaking the 120mph barrier and finishing second in the Senior race. That potential quickly transferred to the TT, making his debut in 2024. A 12th-place finish and near 126mph lap in the Superbike race marked a remarkable start to his TT career, perhaps exceeding everyone’s expectations. The remainder of the week proved more challenging, however, requiring Simpson to regroup and refocus ahead of his 2025 campaign.
A switch to the WH Racing team ultimately proved successful as Simpson completed all five races, finishing inside the top twenty three times. 14th and 18th came in the two Supertwin races alongside 16th in the Superbike, but arguably his strongest performance came in the second Superstock race where he increased his pace to 126.998mph.Learning from experience and working closely with an established team allowed Simpson to take a significant step forward, and the partnership continues into 2026, continuity that should help support further progress.
MARCUS SIMPSON LOCAL MAN ON AN UPWARD TRAJECTORY
Finland’s Erno Kostamo is arguably the most high-profile non-seeded rider, having won the 2022 Macau Grand Prix and third there last year behind Davey Todd and Peter Hickman. He’s also won several road races in Europe, including dominance of the Imatra Road Races in his homeland, as well as taking several top six finishes at the North West 200.
Erno Kostamo has contested the road circuits in mainland Europe since 2016
His TT journey has been measured and patient, with the Finn building steadily while ignoring outside expectations. A near-127mph lap last year represented another step forward. Continuing with a 1000cc BMW for the big-bike races and adding a Ducati V2 for the Supersport class, further progression looks entirely possible in 2026.
Mitch Rees is another overseas rider with strong pedigree, having dominated the Wanganui Street Races in his native New Zealand as well as the National Superbike Championship. His results last year met all expectations and a second year with the Padgetts team should stand him in good stead. New Zealand riders have a tremendous track record at the TT and Rees is the latest to demonstrate his ability around the Mountain Course.
Mitch Rees comes from a family steeped in motorcycling
Returning to the TT for a second year can sometimes prove a tricky proposition for a rider, with confidence naturally increasing as familiarity grows. Maintaining the same measured approach as last season will therefore be key, and there are few better people than Clive Padgett to ensure Rees continues to build in exactly that way.
Meanwhile, Manxman Jamie Cringle lines up for his fifth year at the TT, so his knowledge and experience on the Mountain Course is ever increasing. After initially running his own team, he benefitted last year from a late opportunity with Bathams Racing as a substitute for Craig Neve. Working alongside team manager Michael Rutter, Cringle was able to draw on a wealth of experience, the reward being 17th place in the Superbike race and a personal best lap in the second Superstock race.
Manxman Jamie Cringle lines up for his fifth year at the TT
After three years on Honda, Cringle now switches to BMW machinery and a new set-up with Cosmic Racing for 2026. Led by former Classic TT podium finisher and near 129mph lapper of the Mountain Course Derek Sheils, Cringle has another opportunity to learn from a highly successful road racer. Having riders of that calibre in your corner at the TT can be invaluable.
Graduates: Making the Step Up to TT
There are numerous Manx Grand Prix graduates, preparing to make their TT debut in 2026. Although they will already be familiar with the Mountain Course, the TT requires a significant step up in standards and professionalism, and with it, the opportunity to further develop both speed and race craft.
The learning curve will inevitably be steep, but experience will be the priority for many, particularly for last year’s Manx Grand Prix winners who step up to the TT in 2026. Their previous form already marks them out as riders to watch — Manxman Jamie Williams alongside Lewis Arrowsmith and Caomhan Canny.
Canny lapped at almost 121mph on his way to victory in the Senior Manx Grand Prix and was rewarded with a ride at the highly respected Scott Racing team. Williams, meanwhile, will return for a second attempt at the TT after previously competing in 2018. The more experienced, polished and quicker version of Williams should be capable of making a stronger impression this time around.
Personal Milestones: Each Rider is on Their Own Journey
So while the spotlight naturally falls on the top seeds circulating at lap record pace, there are plenty of stories unfolding throughout the rest of the field. For many riders, qualifying week is about building rhythm and confidence, making small steps forward in each session with consistent laps and speeds each time being key to their progress.
Each competitor arrives with their own ambitions and personal targets. Their own journey. Their own milestones to reach. And their own mountain to climb as they aim to conquer the Isle of Man TT.
