North West 200 Superbike record holder Glenn Irwin has tipped high profile newcomer Storm Stacey as a future multiple winner at the north coast road race.

British Superbike prospect Stacey will compete at the legendary event for the first time under the tutelage of 14-time winner Michael Rutter in May, when the 22-year-old will ride a Ducati V4R Superbike in the headline class for Bathams AJN Racing.

Irwin also returns this year after missing the race in 2025 following his decision to retire from road racing.

The BSB title hopeful has had a change of heart and will be back on the grid in less than three months’ time on a Ducati V4R for the Nitrous Competitions Racing team.

placeholder image — Glenn Irwin has won a record 11 Superbike races at the North West 200. (Photo by Alan Weir/Pacemaker Press)

Irwin’s treble on his last race appearance at the North West in 2024 established the Carrickfergus man as the most successful Superbike rider in the history of the race with 11 straight victories.

In his absence last May, Michael Dunlop and Davey Todd shared the Superbike wins, but Irwin says he intends to pick up where he left off two years ago by adding another three victories to his tally around the famous 8.9-mile course.

However, the 35-year-old predicts that Stacey could find himself in the mix at the front by the time of the third and final Superbike race on the programme in May, and has tipped the young Staffordshire racer to become the man to beat in years to come.

“Right now, there’s a window in Superbike racing at the North West 200,” said Irwin, speaking at the official live launch of the 2026 race at the BBC’s Blackstaff Studios in Belfast.

“Last year was quite an open book for the guys and we got to watch some great racing, and we had some new winners.

“In my head, this guy [Storm Stacey] is a huge coup for the North West 200 to have him; Storm is one of the most talented guys in the British Superbike paddock and when I saw he was announced on a Ducati, straight away I put him in that block as someone we have to beat to be the champion.

“He’s charismatic, he’s a show person, he has a story behind him which is quite tough [Storm lost his father to suicide], but he’s very brave in how he talks about it.

“He is going to go on to become a multiple North West 200 Superbike champion, so the other guys, if you want to win, you’ve got to do it now before this guy knows the track!”

Irwin remains confident he can stay unbeaten this year but accepts that his winning streak will one day come to an end.

“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 – apologies Davey [Todd] – but he’s that good,” said the two-time BSB title runner-up.

“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; Storm will arrive this year in race three [final Superbike race on the programme].

“All the good guys that have come to the North West have fought for podiums and victories in their first year, but it’s so important to not put pressure on him. People have come before who maybe shouldn’t have had the pressure they’ve had on them to fight for podiums and unfortunately there’s been some really bad outcomes.

“Pressure won’t do anything to him, it’s like the rest of us – we like expectation and he will come and take it easy, and he’ll learn, but by doing that he will be a frontrunner,” Irwin added.

“I’m sure race three at the North West this year is going to be incredible because I fully expect him to be there along with Pete [Peter Hickman], Davey, Michael [Dunlop], Dean [Harrison] and the rest of the guys.”

Race Week at the Briggs Equipment North West 200 takes place from May 4-9, with opening practice on Wednesday, May 6, and final qualifying and the first races taking place on Thursday, May 7.

The main race programme concludes on Saturday, May 9, including a Superbike double bill, two Supertwin races and the second Superstock and Supersport races.