Carl Phillips in confident mood for Ulster Superbike meeting at Bishopscourt after impressive debut on new BMW
Ulster Superbike Championship leader Carl Phillips is riding high on confidence heading into this weekend’s second round at Bishopscourt in Co Down after a record-breaking performance on Easter Monday.
Phillips, the reigning champion, won the opening two races of 2026 in style for new team Bell Bikesport/B&W Racing and broke Alastair Seeley’s 2022 outright lap record at Kirkistown in an impressive debut on his new BMW M1000RR machine.
The Lisburn man has made the switch from a Kawasaki, which he rode for SBT Racing last season when he clinched the USBK crown for the second time in his career.
Phillips made a successful racing comeback in 2025 after a few years away from the sport and has started this season in the same vein, pocketing a maximum 50 points at Kirkistown in the season-opener over Easter.
The early title leader is hoping for more of the same at the Temple Motorcycle Club’s meeting this weekend, which is the first USBK round of the season to be held at Bishopscourt Racing Circuit after Storm Dave forced the postponement on the MCRRCI’s Enkalon Trophy races until September 12.
“It was very good, my first time out obviously and the lap times are coming easier with the better bike and stuff, and everything’s working well,” said Phillips.
“To get the lap record at Kirkistown was a bonus and I thought that was nearly better than winning the races!
“I’m not too sure what to expect again this weekend because I haven’t even rode the bike around Bishopscourt yet.
“There was a test day but it was windy and I didn’t even hardly get out, so I don’t know what way it’s going to go, but to be honest the bike’s in the ballpark and I’ll not be far away once I get going.”
The Temple club’s event features the inaugural Davy Morgan Memorial Supersport race, which is being held in tribute to the popular Irish road racing stalwart from Saintfield who was tragically killed in a crash at the Isle of Man TT in 2022.
A strong line-up this weekend includes Richard Cooper and Mike Browne on the BPE by Russell Racing machines, McAdoo Racing Kawasaki’s Korie McGreevy, Jonny Campbell (155 Racing BMW), Jackson Racing’s Paul Jordan, Jeremy McWilliams on the J McC Racing Ducati V2, Christian Elkin (Bell Bikesport/B&W Racing Ducati), Gary McCoy (Madbros Racing Suzuki GSX-R750), Ryan Gibson (Gibson Motors/Firewood Supplies BMW), Aaron Spence (Sebden Steel/Spence Engineering Honda), Ross Irwin (Honda) and SBT Racing Ducati riders Luke Jones and Mark Conlin.
A 14-race programme is scheduled to commence at approximately 11am.