British Superbike Championship leader Kyle Ryde is among a star-studded line-up for this weekend’s GO Classic Bike Festival Ireland at Bishopscourt in Co Down.

Ryde is bidding to win the BSB crown for a third consecutive year, which would equal the feat of legendary Scottish rider Niall Mackenzie, who secured three titles between 1996 and 1998,

Ahead of the next BSB round at Thruxton next weekend, the 29-year-old has taken time out of his schedule to race at Bishopscourt in the 250GP class, when his opposition includes fellow BSB contenders Storm ‘Lord’ Stacey and Rory Skinner.

Last year, Ryde clinched a double on his TZ250 Yamaha and set a new lap record for the class at 91.495mph.

placeholder image — British Superbike champion Kyle Ryde smashed the 250GP lap record on his TZ250 Yamaha at the Classic Bike Festival in 2025 at Bishopscourt. (Photo by Rod Neill/Pacemaker Press)

“The special two-stroke weekend is back and I’m really looking forward to getting back to the Irish Classic Bike Festival this weekend at Bishopscourt,” Ryde said.

“I’m very much looking forward to riding my 5KE [Yamaha] this weekend, I had a little run out on it at Brands and it’s definitely better than last year, so looking forward to it.

“This year we’ve got some competition as well with Rory and Storm so it should be good for everybody that comes to watch.”

Stacey, who grabbed at the headlines on his debut at the North West 200 in May with a sensational double after winning the Superstock and headline Superbike races, will also ride a Yamaha TZ250 backed by Steve Foster Cranes, while Scotsman Rory Skinner is also Yamaha-mounted.

Top names from Irish road racing and the Ulster Superbike Championship will also be in action.

The Bike Festival, helmed by Irish road racing legend Phillip McCallen, combines classic parade laps and bike displays with racing for a classes including Open Superbike, Supersport Next Generation, Classic Superbikes and Supersport, Classic 250cc/350cc and 125GP/Classic 125GP.