Darryl Tweed reunites with Stanley Stewart Racing to ride Triumph machinery with support from KTS in full road racing campaign
Ballymoney’s Darryl Tweed believes he has the best line-up of machinery in his career at his disposal as he prepares for a full season of Irish road racing after teaming up with fellow Ballymoney man Stanley Stewart.
Tweed will ride a Triumph 765 under the Stanley Stewart Racing banner with support from KTS Racing and is also set to race a Triumph 660 in the Sportbike class.
The news comes after Tweed was confirmed to be riding a Honda Fireblade Superstock machine on the roads this year for Jamie Lyons Racing by Ability Energy Ltd.
He will also ride a 400 Kawasaki for M&D Racing, while Stewart is also building the Ulster rider a Classic Superbike for the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT meeting in August.
Tweed became the first rider from Northern Ireland to win the IRRC Superbike title in 2025 and he is aiming to carry that winning momentum into this season.
“I set a new personal best in cold conditions when I rode the Triumph Supersport bike at the Sunflower and I was very happy with it, it’s a strong package,” said Tweed.
“I was really impressed and it’s not often you get on something and it clicks straight away but it did with that.
“I want to keep the momentum rolling that I built up in Europe last year and this will be the first year that I’ve had proper competitive machinery to go racing with here. I haven’t been far away on my own wee 600 that I was riding last year, so I’d like to think I’d be able to be up there pushing the boys at the front, and hopefully some of them will be chasing me this year, instead of me having to find them.
“It’s great to get back in with Stanley and he’s always been a loyal supporter of me.
“It’s a great opportunity and the first time we were together, we went to Cookstown and were second in the 600 race and set the fastest lap in the 600 race, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how myself and Stanley get on again this year.”
Team owner Stewart was impressed by Tweed’s performances last year and believes 2026 could be a big year for the Co Antrim man.
“He’ll be riding the Triumph 765 Supersport for me and we’re going out to Calafat in Spain at the end of the month for three days’ of testing and I’m trying to finalise a deal for a Sportbike – a Triumph 660; we’re 80 or 90 percent there with that so we’re aiming to give him a run on the bike in Spain and finalise the deal for it,” said Stewart.
“The Supersport bike is my bike that KTS Racing ran last year. I’m still supporting KTS this year but I decided to do something on my own with Darryl, so it’s almost like a satellite team of KTS Racing.
“We will do the national road races in Northern Ireland but we haven’t really looked at any yet in the south because we’ll also be doing the TT and the Southern 100 along with Cookstown, Tandragee, Armoy and Mid Antrim.
“I looked at Darryl last year and what he achieved with his European championship win and I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves.
“I believe what has been missing with Darryl is a good bike and I think you’ll see some good potential in him this year.”