- Michael Rutter making his comeback at the North West 200 after his 2025 TT crash
- Three newcomers set to start at the 2026 TT: Gary McCoy, Ryan Garside, and Caomhan Canny
- Davey Todd seriously injured at Daytona 200, his TT participation in doubt
Just over two months before the start of the 2026 Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man, the international road racing season is slowly taking shape. Between May 25 and June 6, riders will once again race around the 37-mile Snaefell Mountain Course. But already, personnel matters are making headlines: a seasoned veteran is returning after serious injuries, three promising newcomers are preparing for their TT debut, and the reigning Superbike TT winner is in hospital following a training crash in the United States.
Michael Rutter Plans Comeback at the North West 200
During the second Supertwin race at the 2025 Tourist Trophy, Michael Rutter was on course for an excellent result at the halfway point. A podium finish even seemed within reach. But in the third and final lap, the 53-year-old left the road near the 31st Milestone in the Bungalow area and crashed heavily. The seven-time TT winner was lying in ninth place at the time of the accident.
The consequences were severe. Rutter was initially taken to Nobles Hospital on the Isle of Man and subsequently transferred to mainland Britain. At the Walton Medical Center in Aintree, the country’s only specialist facility for neurological, neurosurgical, and spinal treatments, surgeons successfully stabilized his vertebral fractures.
The experienced Englishman from Staffordshire, who was honored along with his late father Tony by having a corner on the Snaefell Mountain Course named after them, refused to be defeated by his serious injuries. By late August 2025, he was back on a motorcycle for the first time since his crash, taking part in a parade at the Classic TT. He did have to miss the Macau Grand Prix in November 2025 due to lingering effects of his injuries, despite being the event’s all-time record winner with nine victories.
Rutter has now chosen the North West 200 for his competitive comeback, as he officially announced during the event’s live presentation. With 14 wins there, behind Alastair Seeley (29 wins) and Robert Dunlop (15 wins), the 53-year-old is the third most successful rider in the over 90-year history of the Northern Irish road race. Whether a Tourist Trophy start will follow remains to be seen.
Davey Todd’s TT Participation in Doubt After Daytona Crash
While Rutter is working toward his comeback, a major question mark hangs over the participation of reigning Superbike TT winner Davey Todd. The 30-year-old Briton from North Yorkshire, who had beaten all rivals at last year’s Superbike TT, had planned to use the Daytona 200 alongside teammate Peter Hickman as pre-season preparation. But the event went anything but according to plan for both. Hickman was set back hopelessly by a pit stop problem during the race, while Todd never even made it to the starting grid.
In a video from his hospital bed in the United States, the three-time TT winner described what happened. In his first qualifying session, he was hit by a competitor. Although he managed to ride the damaged motorcycle back to the pits, when he resumed the session after a quick repair, something was stuck in the steering. Todd rode straight into the track barrier and was unable to get off the motorcycle in time.
The toll of the impact is alarming: a broken left femur, a broken right tibia, a broken right foot, and a broken nose. Doctors inserted a nail into the femur and fixed the tibia with screws. Todd was positive after surgery and announced he would work hard on his return.
A start at the North West 200 in early May seems more than unlikely, however. Whether Todd will be fit enough by May 25 to take up practice for the Tourist Trophy and then contest the grueling races on the Mountain Course remains to be seen.
Three Newcomers Set to Start at the 2026 Tourist Trophy
Beyond the headlines surrounding the established riders, the 2026 TT also brings fresh blood. Three newcomers will line up on the Mountain Course for the first time this year.
Gary McCoy: From Oliver’s Mount to the Isle of Man
Northern Irish road racer Gary McCoy from Cookstown has been a regular on the North West 200 entry lists for several years, but an incident at the Northern Irish classic race prevented his planned move to the Tourist Trophy in 2025. An injury sidelined the 2024 Oliver’s Mount champion for the rest of the season.
McCoy has since fully recovered and secured his place through the TT’s newcomer program rather than taking the route via the Manx Grand Prix. With his family-run team Madbros Racing, he will compete in two classes: a next-generation Suzuki GSX-R750 in the Supersport category and a BMW in the Superstock class.
“I am excited to finally get the opportunity to ride the TT. Missing last year was difficult after putting so much work into getting there, but the priority was getting fully recovered and back racing. The aim this year is to learn as much as possible, gain experience and enjoy the whole TT journey without any pressure.”
Ryan Garside: TT Debut on Triumph
The 34-year-old Ryan Garside from Lancashire brings BSB paddock experience in the Supersport class along with two years of practice on the Mountain Course. At the Manx Grand Prix, he gathered his first impressions of the circuit and achieved two top-10 results on his second attempt, recording a best lap of 118.622 mph.
For his TT debut, Garside has joined Team It’s Legit Racing from Nuneaton, which is also making its first TT appearance. In the Sportbike class, Garside will ride a Triumph Daytona 660, and in the Supersport category a Triumph Street Triple 765 RS. The team’s stated goal is a top-20 finish in the Sportbike TT, with an eye on stronger results in 2027.
“I’m mega-excited for the TT in 2026. I’ve had a couple of years learning my way around the Mountain Course and have improved steadily, so the TT is the next step I always hoped for.”
Caomhan Canny: Manx GP Winner Ready for the Step Up
Irish rider Caomhan Canny from Donegal is arguably the most credentialed of the three newcomers. After an injury-disrupted 2024 season, he won the 2025 Senior Manx Grand Prix. In doing so, he lapped at 120.229 mph and became only the 35th rider in the event’s history to break the 120 mph barrier, earning his place in the exclusive “Tommy Club.”
For the 2026 TT, Canny has joined Trevor Scott’s team (Scott Racing) and will compete in all four solo classes. An Aprilia RSV4 will be used in the Superbike and Superstock categories, an Aprilia RS 660 in the Sportbike class, and a Suzuki GSX-R600 in Supersport. Over the winter, Canny completed tests in Andalusia to familiarize himself with the larger machines.
“The aim was always the TT. Winning the Manx Grand Prix was a breakthrough, but the goal has always been to establish myself here and keep improving. There are no expectations. Even completing the Senior TT would be a huge achievement. I’m happy to ride at a pace I’m comfortable with and keep learning.”
Team principal Trevor Scott added: “Caomhan has shown what he’s capable of around the Mountain Course. This is his first TT, but he’s already demonstrated maturity and pace. Our role is to provide the structure and support to allow him to progress in all classes.”
TT 2026: New Classes and More Rest Days
The 2026 Tourist Trophy also brings structural changes. The former Supertwin class is being renamed and relaunched as the Sportbike TT. Going forward, sportbike motorcycles compliant with international regulations, as used in the British and World Superbike Championships, will be eligible alongside the existing Supertwin machines. The Supersport class continues the transition to the internationally adopted next-generation regulations.
The schedule has also been adjusted. The number of planned rest days increases from two to three, with Thursday now designated as a rest day during practice week. The number of practice and qualifying sessions has been increased from six to seven, and more reserve dates are available. The Supersport races take place on June 2 and June 5, the Superstock races on May 30 and June 3. The Sunday after the Senior TT remains as a fully equipped reserve day.
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