Josh Brookes spearheads DAO Racing's North West 200 and Isle of Man TT return in 2026

The former double British Superbike champion will ride Honda machinery in the Superbike and Superstock races in the DAO Racing colours as the team combines its British Superbike challenge with a road racing programme that includes Northern Ireland’s premier motorcycle race and the Isle of Man TT.

Brookes will also ride a next generation Suzuki GSX-R750 in the Supersport class on the roads under the Uggly and Co. clothing umbrella.

Lee Jackson will join Brookes in BSB, with the team gearing up for this weekend’s first official BSB test at Donington Park.

“I still haven’t won a race at the North West and that bothers me a bit,” said Brookes, who joined newcomers Storm Stacey and Franco Bourne on a visit to the north coast last week.

“Some riders like Alastair Seeley have lots of wins around here and although I don’t see that as a target, there’s still that thing inside you that thinks I could have, should have, would have won at least once by now. And I’ve still got that desire that makes me want to come back and try.

“I will be 43 next month but I don’t think the incentive to succeed dulls with age. The experience and knowledge you get from competing across a lot of different race series gives you something that you can bring to the party.

“But experience doesn’t make you brake later or open the throttle earlier, it only helps provide a safer passage through tricky terrain.”

DAO Racing has concentrated solely on the British Superbike Championship since parting company with 2019 Senior TT winner Dean Harrison at the end of the 2023 season. A ten-year association with Kawasaki came to an end following the final BSB round in 2024, with DAO Racing switch manufacturer to Honda.

A former outright lap record holder around the 8.9-mile NW200 ‘Triangle’ course, Brookes made his debut at the event in 2013, finishing seventh in the opening Superstock race on the Thursday of race week before inclement weather wiped out the main Saturday race programme.

The following year, he finished as the runner-up in the feature Superbike race on a Milwaukee Yamaha behind Michael Dunlop, but Brookes was then absent from the event for eight years, returning on a PBM Ducati in 2022 and claiming a podium.

In 2023, he set a blistering speed trap record of 212.4mph on the FHO Racing BMW in qualifying before Faye Ho’s team withdrew from the rest of the meeting following controversy surrounding the use of carbon wheels, which were deemed ineligible.

Brookes sat out the race in 2024 but was back last year in the Jackson Racing by Prosper2 team alongside Ulsterman Paul Jordan, when he secured four top-ten results.

He admits that winning a race at the North West would represent a “big box ticked” and says he is still striving towards achieving that aim.

“Winning a North West 200 race would be a big box ticked in my career,” Brookes added. “I was miles away from a win or even a podium last year but there have been moments in the past when it could have been.

“Logically my best chance is in the Superbike class and I still think it is a realistic possibility. I am still chasing it.”

NW200 Race Director Mervyn Whyte described Brookes as an “inspirational figure”.

“Alongside being one of the North West 200’s leading competitors, Josh is also an inspirational figure,” said Whyte.

“Competing at the very highest level on both the roads and short circuits, he is always willing to share his insight and vast racing experience.”

Race Week at the North West 200 takes place from May 4-9.