The Briggs Equipment North West 200 is poised to host a round of the new European Series Superbike Championship (ESR) in 2026.

The six-round series has been established following the decision to drop Superbike machines from the International Road Racing Championship – won by Ballymoney’s Darryl Tweed in September – from next year and will be spearheaded by leading European rider Laurent Hoffmann.

Round two of the ESR series will be held at the North West, with race week running from May 4-9.

Along with Hoffmann, other leading European riders set to contest the championship include former Macau Grand Prix winner Erno Kostamo and Swiss rider Lukas Maurer.

placeholder image — Briggs Equipment North West 200 Race Director, Mervyn Whyte, with ESR boss Laurent Hoffmann and Belgian road racer Fedrik Matthys. (Photo by Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press)

NW200 chief Mervyn Whyte said the news was an “exciting development” for Northern Ireland’s leading motorcycle race.

“This is a very exciting development for the Briggs Equipment North West 200,” said Whyte.

“Laurent Hoffmann is an experienced competitor on the roads having competed at the NW200, the Macau GP and in the International Road Racing championship.

“Changes to the IRRC series for 2026 created an opportunity for us to host a round of the new ESR series and I am certain this will attract a lot of interest from European competitors, who now have an extra incentive to compete at Portrush.

“It will strengthen the international character of our event and the new competitors can be assured of a warm welcome on the north coast.”

The ESR calendar includes rounds at Hengelo, Netherlands (May 2-3), Horice, Czech Republic (May 23-24), Imatra, Finland (July 3-5) and Chimay, Belgium (25-26 July) before returning to Horice for the closing round from August (8-9), when a prize fund of €30,000 is up for grabs.

At the North West, two races will offer championship points, including the Thursday Superbike race and the Briggs Equipment NW200 Superbike finale on Saturday, May 9.

Experienced European rider Fedrik Matthys from Belgium – third in this year’s IRRC Superbike Championship – said he “can’t wait” to return to the north coast next May.

“I was with Laurent Hoffmann’s team at last year’s North West and I had never seen anything like it before with the crowds and the two waves of riders in each race,” said Matthys.

“The biggest names and the lesser-known riders were all there, close to the fans and free for everyone to talk to.

“There was great organisation and spectacular racing and I can’t wait to get out on track and be part of it on my M1000RR BMW.”