Irish road racing set to return in Republic of Ireland in 2026 after four-year absence - 'three races scheduled' with 'possibility' of further dates
Motorcycle road racing is set for an eagerly awaited return in the Republic of Ireland in 2026 after a four-year absence.
Crippling insurance costs have prevented famous events such as the Skerries 100, Walderstown’s ‘Race of the South’ and the Faugheen 50 from taking place, while the sport suffered across all disciplines in 2025, with no short circuit, motocross or trials meetings held in a disastrous year for the sport in the south.
However, three Irish road races are scheduled next year with the option of running additional races, while five short circuit rounds will take place at Mondello Park with the return of the Masters Superbike Championship, which was last run in 2024.
Motocross, trials and enduro meetings will also return after the governing body of the sport in the Republic, Motorcycling Ireland, secured an insurance policy covering a specified number of events across all disciplines for 2026.
Confirmation of which road races would run in 2026 was expected at a Motorcycling Ireland board meeting last night, with the full calendar of all events to follow in due course.
The news comes as a massive shot in the arm for motorcycle racing at a time when the sport is seeing a revival in Northern Ireland, with the Mid-Antrim 150 at Clough returning to the calendar next year along with the Cookstown 100, North West 200, Tandragee 100 and Armoy, and a government-backed effort to ensure the return of the historic Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod in 2027, which hasn’t been held since 2019.
Karl Brady, Motorcycling Ireland PRO, provided an update on plans for the return of motorcycling in the south next year and said “we’re ready to rock”.
“There’s a board meeting tonight (Tuesday), which I will be attending and the full calendar of events is due to be brought forward for every discipline,” he said. “Basically there are three scheduled road races for the 2026 season, with the possibility of further add-on races.
“The way the insurance was done for 2026 to get all disciplines over the line was called a basket policy, which allowed 26 motocross events, five short circuits, and three road races, so the various disciplines had a structured amount of events.
“But with the road racing, there is the opportunity of adding on further events, which would be on top of the premium."
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