Isle of Man TT 2026: Serious incident at Parliament Square halts opening practice day

• One rider suffered leg injuries, eight spectators were taken to Nobles Hospital for treatment
• Organisers halted all activities on the Snaefell Mountain Course for the remainder of the day
• Scheduled qualifying sessions in the afternoon were cancelled entirely

The opening day of the Isle of Man TT 2026 was cut short on Monday, 25 May, following a serious incident. During the third untimed practice session of the day, the Superbike and Superstock session, an incident occurred at the exit of Parliament Square in Ramsey involving a single rider and several spectators. The organisers immediately activated their Serious Incident Procedures and stopped all racing activity on the 37.73-mile Mountain Course.

What happened at Parliament Square during the 2026 TT?

According to the official statement from the Isle of Man TT Races, the red flag was shown at 1:30 pm local time. A motorcycle left the course at the exit of Parliament Square and struck a spectator area. The organisers stated that barriers were pushed into the fan zone, injuring several spectators. The rider involved was taken to Nobles Hospital on the Isle of Man and was reported to be conscious. He sustained leg injuries and continues to receive treatment. Eight spectators also required medical attention and were transported to the same hospital. All eight were conscious according to the organisers. The name of the rider involved was not released. The organisers also did not disclose the exact number of spectators who were in the vicinity of the incident.

How did the practice day unfold before the stoppage?

The day had begun under optimal conditions. Roads around the course were closed at 10:00 am, and at 10:45 am local time the speed-controlled newcomers’ lap got underway. The first untimed sessions for the Supersport and Supertwin classes followed without incident. The subsequent Sidecar session also ran smoothly. It was only during the third session of the day, the free practice for the Superbike and Superstock categories, that the red flag was shown. At that point, approximately ten minutes of the session remained. The first timed qualifying runs of TT week, originally scheduled for 2:15 pm, did not take place.

Why was the entire day called off?

The organisers cited ongoing incident management as the reason for their decision. In a brief statement at 4:00 pm local time, the Clerk of the Course confirmed that no further on-course activity would take place that day. All roads around the TT Mountain Course remained closed, and the public was urged not to enter closed roads on foot or by vehicle, as vehicles could still be on the course. According to the official statement, an investigation has been launched involving race officials, medical personnel and safety officers.

Second consecutive shortened TT opening day

It is the second consecutive year in which the first day of the TT has been cut short. In 2025, rain ensured that no further sessions took place after the speed-controlled newcomers’ lap. The 2026 TT is scheduled to run from 25 May to 6 June. The next practice day is set for Tuesday, with an evening session planned from 6:30 pm local time.

Dunlop rides Honda instead of Ducati in the Superbike class

On the sidelines of the practice opener, one of the major personnel questions of this year’s TT was also resolved. Michael Dunlop, the most successful rider in Tourist Trophy history with 33 victories, will not compete in the Superbike class on a Ducati Panigale V4 R as originally announced, but on a Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade run by Hawk Racing. During the winter, Dunlop had announced the Ducati V4 R for the Superbike races and had even ridden the motorcycle at the official BSB test at Oulton Park in April. At the North West 200, however, he was already racing the Honda, explaining that the Ducati project needed more development time. In an official statement, Dunlop described the Ducati as a “full WSBK Ducati V4R version” that had arrived at the team very late. He announced plans to continue the project in the future: “We are looking forward to working along with Ducati so we can put the project in a good place and get testing done before we get it to the roads in the future.”

Davey Todd, the 2025 Superbike winner, commented on Dunlop’s decision during the official TT broadcast: “I don’t think you can ever fully confirm, even the day before the TT, what bike Michael will be riding.” Todd himself is absent from the 2026 TT. He continues to recover from injuries sustained in a crash at the Daytona 200 in March, including two broken legs.

Dunlop has a proven track record on the Honda CBR1000RR-R. He won the Superbike race at the 2023 TT on the Fireblade and set his fastest ever TT lap on the motorcycle in 2024 at 135.970 mph (approximately 218.8 km/h). In the 2024 Superbike race, he was leading before a visor issue during his final pit stop cost him his chances. At the North West 200, Dunlop finished third on the Hawk Honda in the first Superbike race behind Glenn Irwin and Dean Harrison. In the Superstock class, Dunlop is riding a BMW, while in the Supersport class he is once again on the Ducati Panigale V2 from Scars by MD Racing. On the V2, he won both Supersport races at the 2025 TT, giving Ducati their first TT victories in 30 years.

What happens next at the 2026 TT?

The organisers have not yet commented specifically on the impact on the schedule for the coming days. The loss of the first qualifying day could necessitate adjustments to the programme. The 2026 TT runs until 6 June in total, with practice and qualifying in the opening days before racing begins in the second week. With Davey Todd’s absence, one of the strongest riders will not be on the start line for the 2026 TT season. Todd had won the Superbike race the previous year and was considered one of the main favourites. In the Superbike class, Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison are expected to be the primary challengers alongside Dunlop. Harrison described his current form in the lead-up as the best of his career to date.

➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: Isle of Man TT 2026: The Complete Overview – Schedule, Riders, Teams & Results. Find all key information on this topic in one place.

Frequently Asked Questions