“I’m just a daft lad who wants to come to the North West and ride a motorbike and take in the atmosphere,” says British Superbike star, Storm Stacey as he prepares to make his debut on the Briggs Equipment North West 200’s 8.9 mile Triangle course this week.
The announcement that the 23 year old is to race a V4RR Superbike-spec Ducati at Portrush for Michael Rutter’s Bathams AJN Racing team has been met with great excitement by road racing fans.
“I think there is maybe a gap in the market at the North West for Storm Stacey,” he smiles. The rising star had his first taste of the event as a spectator 12 months ago.
“I like the Irish fanbase and I love how passionate they are for motorbike racing,” Stacey smiles. “You can see they really believe in it and I want to be part of that, in amongst it.”
Does he have any particular goal or expectation from his North West debut?
“Everyone has hidden expectations in their head and if I’m feeling comfortable and I’m up for it who knows but I also think it is perfectly OK to say that I am nervous as well. It is quite a big thing to take on, isn’t it? So, we will see how we get on.”
Stacey paid a recent fact finding visit to the north coast where the young racer was given a guided tour by former British Superbike (BSB) champion and NW200 veteran, Josh Brookes, in the company of fellow 2026 newcomer, Franco Bourne.
“We had a good look around with Josh but the biggest struggle for me was seeing the roads as a race circuit, imagining riding a motorbike around it,” Stacey reflected.
“I kept thinking we were driving to the supermarket! It was nice of Josh to show us around and I trust what he says. He said we would all be on different bikes.
“It is up to us to understand what we feel and he showed us what to look out for – the bumps, the manholes, grip levels and stuff like that. It is just going to be about finding that feel myself. The road surface looks amazing and I can’t wait to get out there.”
Stacey will be in full race mode as he arrives at Portrush direct from the opening BSB round of the 2026 season at Oulton Park. He intends to retain at least some of that approach for the North West.
“I am really looking forward to coming into the chicanes,” he smiled. “Big heavy braking, backing it in sideways and seeing how quickly I can get through them without messing up! Coming past the church and under the railway bridge looks amazing too.”
“There’s not really one part of the course that you can pin down and say I can’t wait for that bit. I can’t wait for all of it! I’m glad I’ve come today, it has been a worthwhile visit. Sitting at home you just think I’ll go there and just get on with it but I’ve a few different things to think about now with the bike that are different to BSB.”
Slated to ride only the fearsome Ducati on his North West debut, the young BSB star admitted to some nervousness alongside his excitement to get going.
“Everyone says that after five laps you’ll know where you are going and that looks pretty true but seeing it this morning brought me back down to earth,” Stacey said.
“It’s getting close and it will be a baptism of fire on a Superbike. It’s going to be a fast first practice session round there on a Superbike. It might have been good to have had a Supersport bike for the first few laps but that’s the way it goes.”
Balancing his nervousness, the young star talked up the reassurance that comes from having the vastly experienced Michael Rutter in his corner at Portrush this year.
The 14 times North West winner has competed in 100 races around the famous Triangle circuit, and Stacey says he will rely upon his mentor’s steadying influence
“Michael is a big influence and I sponge up his knowledge. He knows the place inside out and I knew that if I was going to do the North West, now is the time because I know he has my best interests at heart.
“I want to go home having achieved my first appearance at the North West with a nice safe ride, no crashes and not having given my Mum too much of a heart attack!”
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