Ian Hutchinson has completed his first laps on the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Ducati Panigale V2 he will ride in the Supersport class at this year’s North West 200 and Isle of Man TT.

The 16-time TT winner was on track on the Italian machine at Kirkistown in Co Down on Thursday as he continues his preparations for the start of the major road racing season.

Hutchinson will also ride BMW machinery in 2026 in the Superbike and Superstock classes in a new venture with leading motorcycle clothing and protective equipment brand RST.

Burrows Racing team owner John Burrows is excited to see what Hutchinson can do on the Ducati this year and says there is no reason why the 46-year-old won’t be in the thick of the action.

placeholder image — Ian Hutchinson on the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Ducati V2 during a test at Kirkistown in Co Down. (Photo by Jimmy Graham)

“What can he do at the North West or TT? What can he not do, why can’t he be amongst it?” said former racer Burrows.

“He’s slightly older than when he was winning all those TTs but he’s still fit, he’s lean.

“The North West can be a hard one and you just don’t know where you’ll be at the North West sometimes, but certainly at the TT, I think Ian can give a good account of himself and it would be tremendous to get him back on the box.

“I don’t think anyone would ever begrudge Ian Hutchinson another TT podium.”

Hutchinson clinched an emotional podium in the opening Superstock race at the North West 200 last year riding a BMW for Michael Laverty’s MLav Racing outfit. He also rode a Yamaha R6 Supersport machine in 2025.

His last victory at the TT was achieved in 2017 in the Superstock class but Hutchinson’s record in the Supersport races is exceptional, with the Bingley rider winning eight times, making him the second most successful rider in the middleweight class behind Michael Dunlop, who has 15 victories.

Burrows says his team will ensure the Ducati V2 is “all singing and all dancing” by the time opening practice at the North West 200 gets under way on Wednesday, May 6.

“Ian caught Conor [Cummins] on track at the TT and I guess he saw the strengths of the [Burrows/RK Racing] Ducati. I suppose you have to look at what Davey Todd in 2024 and Michael Dunlop in 2025; the Ducati is one of the bikes to be on at present,” he said.

“But it’s never straightforward and the Triumph is going to be good, the new Yamaha R9 should be good too.

“At present we’ve only one bike to look after so we’ll make sure it’s all singing and all dancing, so when we turn up it will be a great package.”