Back-to-back Ulster Superbike champion Carl Phillips rules out title defence in 2027 - 'I feel like I've done my time here'
Three-time Ulster Superbike champion Carl Phillips has ruled out defending his title in 2027 as he seeks a fresh challenge.
The Lisburn rider has won 16 of the 19 Ulster Superbike races held this season to secure back-to-back championships ahead of the final two races of the year at the Hillsborough Club’s Sunflower Trophy meeting, which takes place from October 24-25.
A hat-trick at the David Wood Trophy races at Bishopscourt in Co Down on Sunday secured the title, with Jonny Campbell confirmed in second in the standings at the penultimate round.
Phillips first clinched the championship in 2019, winning 11 races, and added a second crown last year when he made his comeback after a few years away from racing, claiming seven victories on the SBT Racing Kawasaki.
A switch to BMW M1000RR machinery with the Bell Bikesport/B&W Racing team for 2026 helped Phillips scale new heights, with the 32-year-old shattering Alastair Seeley’s 2022 lap record at Kirkistown and getting within a few tenths of a second of British Superbike rider Charlie Nesbitt’s lap record at Bishopscourt, despite blustery conditions at the 50th anniversary Enkalon Trophy meeting, where Phillips secured the famous old silverware for the second time in his career.
However, former Gearlink Kawasaki BSB rider Phillips feels he has served his time in the Ulster Superbike Championship and is eager for another chance at winning a British title.
“No, I’ve done my time here and I’ve proved that I’m one of the best riders from here,” said Phillips, asked if he would defend the USBK crown next year.
“I just feel I’ve done my time at home now and I just need another shot at the British championship and to prove myself as one of the best riders who’ve come out of here.
“There’s no doubt that I’ve put a lot of effort into this and it’s shown, but I just need another shot in England and I think we can be really competitive.
“Let’s stick to the drawing board and get the Sunflower out of the way first.”
The 2016 British Junior Superstock Championship runner-up made a big impression on his return to England in August, when Phillips raced at the Oulton Park and Thruxton rounds of the National Superstock 1000 Championship.
He led the race at Thruxton before eventually finishing seventh, and Phillips will return to the Superstock fray at the final round of the championship at Brands Hatch in Kent a week before the Sunflower meeting.
“I want to get prepared now in the best way we can for Brands Hatch,” Phillips added.
“It puts us in a good place now as well for the Sunflower to come here with no pressure, so we’ll go over to Brands, get the experience and then come back and really try and defend the Sunflower – that’s the main objective now with the championship done.”