What can we expect from the 2026 road racing season?

Press of Peacemaker

Fans of motorcycle road racing can look back on the 2025 season, which featured plenty of excitement, thrilling accomplishments, controversy, and disappointments, but the year is already shaping up for what 2026 might bring.

At the North West 200 this year, Michael Dunlop and Davey Todd were the standout performers, each bagging a hat-trick of victories, and Dunlop continued his world-record-breaking run at the Isle of Man TT in June, taking his fifth four-time winner of his career over the Mountain Course to increase his total victories to 33.

Todd added to his growing resume with victories in the Macau Grand Prix, Southern 100 Solo Championship victories, and Superbike TT race victories in the fall of 2017.

Top riders and teams have already made plans for the upcoming campaign, while race organisers have made schedule changes, calendar additions, and racing classes in advance of the competitions of the following year.

NW200 is gearing up for a successful international season.

Dean Harrison on board a Honda FirebladePacemaker
The North West 200 traditionally marks the start of the international road racing season’s busiest month, and on-track action will take place between June and May.

The North West will host the second round of six of the new European Series Road Racing Superbike Championship (ESR), which is expected to improve the meeting’s international appeal.

John McGuinness and Dean Harrison of Honda Racing, who are still searching for their first victory after five second-place finishes this year, will fly the flag for the Japanese manufacturer for the third year in a row.

Todd and Peter Hickman have also indicated that their 8TEN Racing team will once again compete for the BMW marquee.

After a nine-year winning drought at the meeting with his famous treble in May, Dunlop is anticipated to win more races.

Although the team and rider match-ups are still a major piece of the puzzle, Glenn Irwin, the record-breaking 11-time Superbike race winner, teased a potential return to the sport in an interview with BBC Sport NI in August.

Irwin, who will compete in British Superbikes on a Ducati for his Nitrous Competitions Racing team in 2026, said he would not consider running a Ducati again.

We had a meeting with Event Director Mervyn Whyte over the summer, and we discussed a lot of issues with the North West, including safety improvements.

You never know if these guys can make the event even safer by removing my excuse for not racing because there was a risk associated with having a family. I couldn’t rule it out for the following year if they could continue to make steps.

    • December 19

There are numerous TT stories and TT changes taking place.

Peter Hickman on board his BMW Superstock bikePacemaker

Dunlop continues to dominate the Isle of Man TT, winning both the Supersport and Supertwins events this year to extend his winning streak in those disciplines, which was the previous record of eight races in a row.

The Northern Ireland rider is looking forward to the addition of more victories in Superbike races, but there is always rife rumors about what kind of machinery he will choose for the larger capacity classes.

After recovering from serious injuries sustained in a crash during qualifying for this year’s event, much will be focused on whether 14-time champion Hickman can regain the form he has previously displayed.

Harrison will aim to increase his winning streak to five, resembling the form he did in 2025 when he won the Superstock double.

Another contestant will attempt to increase his three victories total, which he has already accumulated over the past two years.

While those four are likely to be around to watch, the entry’s emergence adds depth and quality to the cast, along with returning riders Paul Jordan, Jim Hind, and Josh Brookes, who are all recovering from another injury setback.

The Manx event’s 2026 edition will have more rest days, more emergency time slots, and Superstock and Supersport classes switching places in the standings for the race running order due to changes to the schedule.

Sportbike-specific machines will be able to compete for the first time thanks to a Supertwin class update.

This action is in line with the wider expansion of the sportbike category internationally and the introduction of the World and British Superbike Championships.

Triumph and Suzuki bikes, as well as the Chinese CF Moto 675SR-R, will now be available to Paton, Aprilia, Kawasaki, and Yamaha customers.

Irish racing’s future appears promising.

Mike Browne flanked by Michael Sweeney and Paul Jordan at Armoy road racesPacemaker

The road racing scene in Northern Ireland appears to be back on much stronger ground after a period of uncertainty brought on by insurance problems in 2023.

The Cookstown 100 serves its long-established function as the “traditional curtain-raiser” to racing “between the hedges” in late April, and the Armoy road race continues to prosper in its late July slot in addition to the North West 200.

In 2025, Dunlop made a top-notch appearance just a few weeks after his most recent TT tour de force and claiming a big bike double. Additionally, the Ballymoney rider had won two Cookstown races.

Mike Browne, a rider for the Republic of Ireland, won four times at Armoy.

Following an unsuccessful attempt to resurrect the road race in 2022 when the event had to be postponed due to oil, glass, and nails accumulating on parts of the Clough circuit, the Mid Antrim 150 is now set to be reinsated into the road race running order on July 31 through August 1.

After a four-year absence due primarily to exorbitant insurance costs, there is also the likely possibility of road race competitions taking place in the Republic of Ireland again in 2026.

Following a funding boost from the Northern Ireland Executive, plans were being put in place to restore the renowned Ulster Grand Prix international road race, with 2027 the potential year for that to take shape, which provided more positive news for road race supporters in November.

related subjects

  • Motorsport
  • Northern Ireland is a sport
  • Motorbikes

Key Bolsonaro ally arrested in Paraguay while trying to flee to El Salvador

According to the country’s immigration agency, a former Brazilian police chief was detained in Paraguay after being found guilty as an accomplice in the far-right ex-President Jair Bolsonaro’s plot to overthrow him.

The Paraguayan National Migration Directorate (DNM) announced in a statement posted on its website that Silvinei Vasques had been detained on Friday at the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion, Paraguay.

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After “attempting to evade immigration controls by impersonating a Paraguayan citizen,” Vasques was detained for “identity theft.”

According to the DNM statement, Vasques was detained as he attempted to board a plane to Panama, declaring El Salvador as his final destination.

According to DNM, the wanted police chief “clandestinely” entered Paraguay “as he evaded justice in his home country.”

Vasques’s arrest and identification were depicted in an image that Paraguayan immigration authorities published on X.

At the Friendship Bridge border crossing, which connects Brazil’s Foz do Iguacu and Paraguay’s Ciudad del Este, Vasques was shown being turned over to Brazilian federal police in a separate video clip posted on the same account.

Silvinei Vasques was expelled from the nation by the National Directorate of Migration (DNM). Silvinei Vasques (50) was recently expelled from the nation and handed over to Brazilian Federal Police at the Friendship Bridge border crossing.

Former Brazilian highway police chief Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is now president and former president of Brazil, was charged with employing officers to obstruct voters in left-leaning regions from casting ballots in the 2022 elections.

In 2023, he was detained and placed under observation while awaiting trial for his electronic ankle monitor. He was placed on house arrest for more than 24 years earlier this month. Soon after, he fled Brazil.

Vasques drove across the border to Paraguay after breaking his ankle monitor, according to Brazilian media.

According to Reuters news agency, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes cited a court document and information from two people with knowledge of the situation as a precautionary measure on Friday.

Vasques’s lawyer, who was reached by Reuters, declined to comment on the client’s evasion attempt.

Vasques is not the first official to attempt to flee Brazil after being found guilty of the coup attempt in 2023. Alexandre Ramagem, a former director of the intelligence agency, left the country in September and has since settled in the US. The Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant in November.

After the former president attempted to remove his court-ordered ankle monitor using a soldering iron in what the court perceived as an escape from justice, Justice Moraes also issued an order that same month for Bolsonaro to be detained.

After being found guilty in September of plotting to stop Lula from taking office, Bolsonaro, 70, is currently serving a 27-year sentence in prison.

Returning to NI squad ‘a main goal’ for McMenamin

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Conor McMenamin says his top priority will be to make up for his absence from the Northern Ireland squad for the World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy in March.

After suffering a serious knee injury and an Achilles problem, the 30-year-old has been missing from NI manager Michael O’Neill’s international plans for the past year.

McMenamin is now returning to match fitness every week, playing a significant role in his team’s 3-1 Scottish League Cup victory over Celtic and getting regular game time for the Buddies.

The former Cliftonville and Glentoran international has nine international caps to date, including his only goal in a 3-0 Euro qualifier win over San Marino in October 2023 when he made his debut against Cyprus in a Nations League game in 2022.

The pinnacle of any player’s career is playing for their country, McMenamin said. “I’ve had a lot of injuries in the last couple of years.

“To try to secure a seat on that plane for Italy, that would be my main goals going forward.”

It’s going to be a really difficult match, but I believe we can win it, of course. That would be a big goal since we have a strong squad there and I enjoy playing for Northern Ireland.

A truly tight-knit unit, in my opinion.

After St. Mirren outsmarted Celtic in the Hampden Park final, McMenamin said his NI team-mates were in contact with him.

As soon as the final whistle went last week, all of Northern Ireland’s staff greeted me and the team on the phone.

When we travel with Northern Ireland, the players stay in touch even when we are not together, which is a very close group.

With the outcomes we’ve had, and Michael O’Neill’s accomplishments over the past few years demonstrate that. We’re a really tight knit group, and we’ll be ready to leave in March.

McMenamin has recently been playing for his club in an unheard left wing-back position despite playing typically in a forward role.

Everyone involved with the club has had a good time over the past few weeks, and when the cup final comes to an end, you forget about the injuries and the work you’ve done to get back together, he continued.

It’s good for me personally to return to the game and play regularly for the team.

“Stephen Robinson, the gaffer, and the boys have been playing well,” Stephen Robinson said, “is obviously like the shape.” We as players have a role in shaping up to fit that mold, and we discussed how my performances in that role helped me build trust.

It’s all about risk, they say. If you’re not succeeding, someone will be there to take your place. We have a great squad. Everyone is kept on their toes, thanks.

related subjects

  • St. Mirren
  • Men’s football teams from Northern Ireland
  • Northern Ireland is a sport
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    • 17 October
    A graphic of Premier League players from every team in the division in 2025-26 season, with the Premier League trophy in front of them.
    • August 16
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Inside Georgia Harrison and partner Jack Stacey’s life with baby Sahara in stunning unseen snaps

Georgia Harrison, a reality TV star turned campaigner for women’s rights, speaks exclusively with her partner Jack Stacey about their 2026 plans for their child.

After the most “Christmassy Christmas” as a new mum, Georgia Harrison says she’s striding confidently into 2026, feeling like a totally different woman.

The reality star, who welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Sahara Jean, with her partner Jack Stacey in October, sees herself entering a new chapter, telling OK during an exclusive shoot that motherhood has changed her “in every way possible”.

“I have the capacity to feel more love, I have more of a purpose and I have more empathy for others”, she says. “I see people as a child, not just as people,” he said.

READ MORE: This Morning’s Dr Zoe wows viewers in ‘beautiful’ red cord suit from the high street

Following a hectic festive period, Georgia and Jack are now planning a cosy New Year ’s Eve dinner at a local Italian restaurant, before heading to Dubai for a much-needed holiday.

There will be plenty of babysitters on hand, jokes Georgia, because my dad, stepmum, and sister are also coming. The cutest thing you’ve ever seen is Sahara’s swimwear, which we can’t wait to buy.

Looking radiant — and not the faintest bit sleep-deprived – the former Love Island star, 30, says she was instantly smitten when their bundle of joy arrived on 30 October. “I fell in love with Sahara straight away,” she tells us. “I was so obsessed with her, and Jack was too.”

Weighing 6lb 7oz, Sahara was born a week early at Whipps Cross Hospital in East London. “It all went really well — hats off to the NHS, because they were brilliant,” Georgia recalls.

Although Jack, 33, kept her hand throughout, he is modest about his input. “I obviously did what I could, but it was all Georgia”, he says. She was amazing, and I had a much greater sense of fear. I couldn’t believe she even took a nap before giving birth.

Unsurprisingly, Sahara made her grand entrance, and the newlyweds were overcome with emotion. According to Jack, a property worker, “I was crying my eyes out.”

“We both cried”, jumps in ex-TOWIE star Georgia. Because many people don’t have an immediate bond, we had to say to each other, “Look, it’s OK if you don’t love the baby right away,” but it wasn’t at all for us.

Georgia claims Sahara is her baby’s dream child while chatting while giving her a bottle of wine. It’s been easier than I thought it would be”.

Despite this, it’s becoming difficult to get some shuteye. Georgia admits, “She slept through the night, but now she wakes every two hours.” “Everyone says this is the thick of it, and you’ve just got to power through. Thankfully, I drop off again as soon as she goes down, even though I’m tempted to sleep on the ground in the rain.

There is only so much Jack can do, Georgia says, “Unless he grows a pair of boobs,” because he is breastfeeding!

He’s enjoying his share of nappy changes though. He claims that it’s his favorite activity because he believes he is making a contribution. “I don’t even mind the awful nappies,” she said. The bigger, the better. I’m incredibly excited”!

The pair — who met on a dating app and only went public with their romance in January — chose not to discover Sahara’s sex before she was born. “It was a complete surprise,” Jack says. “I called it right on the day, though.”

Georgia was less sure, saying, “Loads of people told me they’d dreamt I was having a boy, and my Reiki woman said it was a boy, so I started mentally preparing myself for that”.

Georgia describes how they came up with the name “we wanted her to have a really different name, and it seemed perfect.” She can mean free spirit and her origins are Arabic, which is where she is very much. I liked the sound of ‘ Sahara Stacey ‘ as well”.

Incredibly, Sahara arrived just days after Georgia received her MBE from Prince William for services to tackling online privacy and cybercrime awareness.

She giggles, “I was just trying not to give birth at Windsor Castle.” “Although part of me sort of wanted to, just for the drama of it — and maybe the Insta content”!

Georgia received her award after reneging on her right to anonymity in a case involving the sharing of her secret sex tape online.

She’s now seen as a driving force behind moves to make revenge porn a criminal offence — and becoming a mother to Sahara has made her even more determined to use her voice. “It definitely makes me more passionate to think the work I do is helping make the world a safer place for her,” she says.

Meeting the future king didn’t quite go to plan, however. She reveals that she was thrilled when she learned that William had awarded her the MBE because she was a fan.

“But I almost hit the deck with my over-the-top theatrical curtsy.” I was this huge pregnant person in heels, arms spread-eagled and trying not to topple over. My family was shocked to learn that William had broken up.

She claims it was an honor to discuss her work with the prince. “I was shocked because he’d followed a lot of my experiences and said how brave I was”, she says. I’ll never forget the opportunity to speak with one of the world’s most significant people about the world’s transformation.

There has been a lot of change at her and Jack’s Essex home. “The nursery is the most amazing room now. Georgia chuckles, “We really went for it.” “I wanted to be prepared, so I had a rocking chair for nighttime feedings, and we had so many contraptions.”

They didn’t hold back for Sahara’s first Christmas, either. “We went all out, there are no two ways about it,” says Jack. “She’s not going to remember a thing, but it was the most Christmassy Christmas of all time.” Hilariously, one of Sahara’s stand-out presents was “a little Santa that farts out bubbles”.

Revealing that Jack cooked for 10 on the big day, Georgia says, “I was like, ‘I’ve done the heavy lifting for nine months. I’ll be doing nothing!’ Jack’s family came from the Isle of Wight, and mine were there too. It was so sweet, as everyone basically wanted to be with Sahara.”

They’re now planning to take Sahara on her first holiday to Dubai — assisted by their loved ones. Georgia grins as the grandparents accompany us so we can have some fun and head down to the pool bar.

They also enjoy a lot of encouragement, which is more local. “Georgia’s mum Nicola, who lives locally, is probably going to be like the third parent”, says Jack.

And lots of showbiz mates have rallied round the new parents too — including best pal Olivia Attwood, who starred in the 2017 series of Love Island with Georgia. “She sent us some Baby Dior outfits, which were the only thing that fit initially because Sahara was so small,” says Georgia.

“Loads of my reality friends have reached out too — Diags [James Bennewith], Arg [ James Argent ], and Sam Faiers, who sent a nice message saying how magical it’s going to be. Gemma Collins too — Sahara had a shoutout from The GC before she was even a month old.”

No stranger to online criticism, Georgia was recently targeted for using so-called “puppy pads” to lie Sahara on. She won’t let the kickback upset her, despite the claims that they may contain potentially harmful chemicals.

“Oh my God, the mum-shaming is intense. I haven’t posted much without getting things wrong, but honestly, I’d rather know about it,” she says. “Getting negative feedback can be tough, but as a first-time mum I’m still learning and if I’m doing something wrong I’ll change it. Nobody’s perfect.”

Though she and Jack hope to have more children one day, it won’t be for a while. The actress says, “We definitely want Sahara to have at least one sibling, but I also want to avoid being pregnant for a year.”

Georgia is now looking forward to getting back into the gym, when she can find the time. “I’m just relaxing at the moment, but in a few weeks I’ll get fit again. Not due to pressure from others, but because I’ve always been active. My pregnancy was the first time I’ve not gone to the gym five times a week, and I miss exercise so much. I can’t wait to get back into a fit and healthy lifestyle.”

Looking back on their whirlwind few weeks, Georgia believes she and Jack have grown closer. “You really do look at your partner in a completely different way once they’ve been by your side during childbirth,” she says. “It unlocks a new part of your relationship. At the start of this year, we were on a three-week trip across Colombia, now we’re obsessed with dirty nappies.

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” It’s all been so quick, but we both know we’re the one for each other. We’ve been having the best time of our lives because, in my opinion, we’re soul mates.

Stuart Douglas’ four-word response to get on property ladder ahead of historic launch

Stuart Douglas, a presenter of Channel 4 TV and real estate expert, has revealed his most recent interactive initiative and offers his best tips for moving up the property ladder in 2026.

Stuart Douglas is ready to make someone’s dream come true with a history-making launch. The Channel 4 property expert, who is often seen alongside sister Scarlette Douglas, is launching a first-of-its-kind Keys or Coffee interactive property prize draw – but also has some advice for those on the lookout for a property.

Stuart acknowledged that it’s challenging to climb the property ladder these days and wants to give someone the chance to purchase a home for the price of a cup of coffee. He also gave a top tip for those looking to purchase a home in 2026, saying, “It’s not simple. If I’m being honest, the budget probably made it more difficult.

The current state of the housing market is “not the best that it has ever been,” but that doesn’t mean there is a buyer’s market. Right now, the market is a buyer’s market. Without a doubt, there is no seller’s market here. Therefore, better deals will be made and you’ll undoubtedly be able to bargain for more money if you’re buying because the current property market is a little shaky.

“Have patience. Save money. Just keep trying to save as much as you can. Don’t be afraid to negotiate. I’m hoping that 2026, will be a better year.”

He has now acknowledged that his goal with his new idea is to “make homeownership accessible, meaningful, and exciting.” He claimed, “I’ve spent years assisting people in turning homes into TV homes.” I get to do something a little different with Keys or Coffee now. We are giving people more power. A real home will be determined by your votes, choices, and ideas.

In terms of the concept, Stuart revealed that he has hired friends to work on the interactive side, including Stevo the Madman, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Adebayo Akinfenwa, and Jeff Brazier. Additionally, they intend to offer the chance to the public to build their ideal home before it is entered in a prize drawing.

He acknowledges that doing this should “appear to the majority” The public will have three options, according to Stuart, and they will be able to cast a ballot in each. The end home’s most popular design is transformed into a reality at the end of the vote.

And he acknowledges the importance of doing it. He told us, “I think it’s really important that you embrace that change.” Additionally, property shows have always performed exceptionally well on television because we as a country adore everything related to interior design and property. Both of us hunger and desire it.

However, I believe it’s really important to embrace the change and declare, “Okay, I love doing property because the landscape in television is changing.” Property shows are what I do. There is no reason why I can’t combine property with the public’s involvement for something that is completely new, completely innovative, and it’s really our USP.

“Listen, property prize draws are not new, but what we’re trying to do is entice the audience,” he said. They are no longer a part of our society’s spectacle. They should get involved in what we’re doing, too. And to really capture the imagination, to do that. You actually have a chance to win that three-pound home once the design is complete.

If people see the renovation, they’ll likely be educated along the way. However, because this is the first time I’ll actually get to know what the public wants and what their design preferences are, I’m also learning in this.

Stuart acknowledges that the idea of sharing his sister’s life with the camera is a step backward from what he loves but never intended to. He claimed, “I had no desire to be a television presenter, if I’m brutally honest.” I once played football professionally for Luton Town.

When my legs started to hurt and I was unable to play as well as usual, I made the decision to move on and work as a physiotherapist. My sister Scarlett has been a television host for the past eight, nine years, and they were looking into getting her to do a TV show with George Clarke. Then, they noticed me and our property website as they were looking up my sister. We once jointly handled property.

I’ve never had the chance to collaborate with my sister. So I thought, Oh, this might be a good time to take a chance. The show was a hit and I gained a lot from George and my sister.

We received a hit television program, which we later developed, and the rest has just “snowballed.” Therefore, I’m not able to deny that it was my dream. It wasn’t, either. More specifically, it was because I had the chance to work with my sister. I said yes, but I didn’t regret it because I said yes, and I haven’t regretted doing it ever since. So I’ve gone where I’m now, exactly.

On December 27th, the first Keys or Coffee prize draw will be held, and social media will host weekly interactive design polls. The Pink Ribbon Foundation, ACLT, Furnishing Futures, and Mary’s Meals are among the partners who donate money to partner causes with every entry.

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