- Adam McLean will ride for CD Racing in both Monster Energy Supersport TT races in 2026
- The Northern Irish team returns to the TT for the third consecutive year
- McLean will ride a new-generation Kawasaki ZX-6R built by MSS Performance
Adam McLean will compete for the Northern Irish CD Racing Team at the 2026 Isle of Man TT. The 29-year-old racer from Magherafelt will compete in both Monster Energy Supersport TT races on a Kawasaki ZX-6R. The bike will be prepared by MSS Performance, with whom McLean has worked in the past.
Third consecutive TT appearance for CD Racing
The team led by Chris Dowd is returning to the TT for the third time in a row. Dowd, himself a former racer, has steadily built up his team in the Supersport class. Last year, David Johnson competed for CD Racing, finishing eleventh in the first Supersport race and fifteenth in the second race on the Kawasaki ZX-6R.
The signing of McLean underscores the team’s growing commitment to the TT. After gaining experience with Kawasaki technology in recent years, CD Racing now wants to take the next step in one of the most competitive classes of the event.
McLean’s TT history: From newcomer to veteran
McLean made his TT debut in 2017 and immediately won the Newcomer’s Trophy. He returned a year later and finished eighth in the Supertwin race. In the 2018 Supersport race, he finished 17th, achieving a lap speed of over 123 mph.
After a long break, McLean returned to the Snaefell Mountain Course in 2025. He secured sixth place in both Supertwin races. He also performed well in the Supersport class: he finished 20th in the first race and improved his lap time from 121.657 mph to 121.803 mph in the second race. A better result would have been possible, but McLean had to retire at the end of the last lap.
New generation of ZX-6R in action
For McLean, this will be his first opportunity to ride the new generation of Kawasaki ZX-6R. The Northern Irishman has already gained experience with Kawasaki machines in recent years, including with MSS Performance and McAdoo Racing. Working with familiar faces should help him quickly get the most out of the machine.
Nick Morgan, director of MSS Performance, talks about the winter work on the motorcycle and emphasizes that the team has built on last year’s experience. The Kawasaki is said to have taken another step forward in its development. Morgan is delighted about the collaboration with McLean and highlights his mature and thoughtful approach.
Experienced environment as a factor for success
McLean himself is grateful for the opportunity to compete for a competitive team in the Supersport class. He emphasizes the importance of the familiar environment: “I will have a great group of people around me, all of whom I have worked with before. Hopefully, this will allow me to quickly get up to speed and get the best out of myself.”
Preparations for the TT are already underway. Tests and coordination between McLean and the team are designed to ensure that everything is optimally prepared for the event.
MSS Performance’s longstanding TT connection
MSS Performance has a long history with the TT. Although the company has not always competed as an independent team, it has supported riders and teams at the event for many years. Morgan explains that the TT is a race you simply have to be part of. The continuation of the partnership with CD Racing in 2026 underscores this philosophy.
With a proven rider, a well-established team structure, and a competitive Supersport package, CD Racing is entering the 2026 TT with clear goals. McLean and the team want to take another step forward on the Mountain Course.
The 2026 Isle of Man TT will take place from May 25 to June 6. In the two Monster Energy Supersport TT races, McLean will attempt to build on his strong Supertwin results from last year and further establish himself in the Supersport class.
What this means for me as a road racing fan
The signing of Adam McLean by CD Racing is an interesting development for the Supersport class at the 2026 TT. McLean has shown in recent years that he is competitive on the Mountain Course, particularly on his return in 2025 with two sixth places in the Supertwin races. His improvement in lap times in the second Supersport race suggests that he can quickly adapt to the track and the machine. The combination of a well-coordinated team, the experience of MSS Performance, and the new generation of the Kawasaki ZX-6R could give McLean the opportunity to break into the top 15 or even the top 10. CD Racing is continuously building on its success and demonstrating consistency with its third consecutive TT participation. For fans of the Supersport class, it will be exciting to see how McLean fares against the established competition and whether the team can translate the progress made over the winter into results on the track. The Northern Irish connection between rider and team could be an additional motivating factor.
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