Michael Rutter says North West 200 newcomer and British Superbike prospect Storm Stacey will take road racing debut in his stride
Michael Rutter is confident high profile newcomer Storm Stacey will have no problem making the transition to road racing when he makes his debut at the Briggs Equipment North West 200 from May 6-9.
British Superbike prospect Stacey will ride a Ducati Panigale V4R for Rutter’s Bathams AJN Racing team at the north coast meeting.
The 22-year-old has been backed as a future winner around the 8.9-mile ‘Triangle’ course by 11-time Superbike winner Glenn Irwin but there will be no pressure on Stacey from Rutter, who has won 14 times at the event and is the third most successful rider in history at the North West.
“I’ve just told him to go out there and enjoy himself,” Rutter said.
“Storm will be fine, he can ride a bike – he’s fantastic.
“I’ve just told him to go out there and treat the place with a bit of respect.
“He’s got the right attitude and his style, the way he rides and particularly how he gets the bike to stop, suits the North West 200.”
Northern Ireland rider Irwin will also be Ducati-mounted on a V4R for the Nitrous Competitions Racing team.
He won all three Superbike races on his last appearance at the event in 2024 and has tipped Stacey to be a “multiple” winner in years to come.
“He’s charismatic, he’s a show person, he has a story behind him which is quite tough [losing his father to suicide], but he’s very brave in how he talks about it,” said Irwin, speaking at the NW200 launch in February.
“He is going to go on to become a multiple North West 200 Superbike champion.
“For me, I want to stay unbeaten, but that’s not going to happen forever, so can I do three this year? Of course we can, and after that he’s probably the one that’s going to stop the rot.
“And then my motivation is going to change because it’s not about a winning streak anymore because the winning streak will be ended, but I’m going to be old one day and can I beat the new kid on the block?
“That’s what drives me right now, is win as a many as I can and to share the podium with Storm.”