Storm Stacey returning to the North West 200

Storm Stacey arrived at this year’s Briggs Equipment North West 200 as a newcomer and literally took the event by storm.

The first time visitor led local hero Michael Dunlop home to claim victory and a new lap record in the CP Hire Superstock race before bringing Glenn Irwin’s unbeaten run of 12 straight Superbike successes on the north coast to a close with a stunning win in the feature Superbike race on his Alpha Racing GRYD BMW.

The 23-year-old now says he aims to repeat that success in 2027 during a flying visit to Portrush where he announced his return to the north coast road races next May 10-15 with Glenn Irwin as his teammate in Michael Laverty’s GRYD BMW squad.

“It was always going to be hard to keep me away,” admitted Stacey.

“Just look at it - it’s gorgeous here. Where else in the world do you get a race that is also a holiday spot all in one? I love it here.”

Having set such a high bar during his debut there will certainly be pressure on his young shoulders to repeat the success he enjoyed in 2026 but the Staffordshire racer revealed he has been doing some research in the record books.

“If I’ve got my facts right no one has won two North West 200 races as a newcomer since 1955,” he continued.

“Can I ever see it being beaten? I don’t think so but I get asked about the pressure. You can’t be a motorbike racer if you can’t handle pressure.”

Relishing the prospect of returning to the famous 8.9 mile Triangle as the man with a target on his back, Stacey is certain he is moving in the right direction for the challenge with his choice of BMW machinery.

“I am a massive fan of BMW and I think it’s the bike to be on,” he explained.

“I came here and raced a BMW last year and it never went a foot out of line all week, it was unbelievable. I could have done a black flip in a straight line and I’d have been fine.

“It just did everything I wanted it to.”

Brimming with confidence and enthusiasm, it’s obvious the 23 year old feels he has found a fitting arena to display his obvious talents.

But Stacey’s new teammate, Glenn Irwin, and the rest of the North West front runners will be determined to make life uncomfortable for the young BSB star come next May.

And he doesn’t have any misconceptions about the battle he faces having broken Irwin’s stranglehold on the Superbike class.

“I get on well with Glenn, really well,” he said.

“I think we will be able to help each other. He has more experience than me around here and I think that I can learn a lot from him but everyone knows that once the visor goes down and the lights go out we are racing our own race.”

Stacey is equally clear eyed in his assessment of the response he expects in 2027 from the other great local road racing hero he defeated last May.

“I’d loved to have had a camera in my helmet when I looked across at Michael Dunlop going down the back straight into the first chicane,” Stacey smiled.

“I could just see his eyes looking across at me and then back at where he was going and I was just saying in my head ‘You are going to brake and then I am going to brake’. And that’s exactly what happened.

“What an incredible rider he is and what the Dunlop family name means is so special. To come here and beat him is something special. too, it’s only something you can dream about and I guess I haven’t woken up yet.”

The prospect of seeing the trio going head to head once again in 2027 alongside a host of other road racing stars is a hugely exciting prospect for North West 200 fans and no-one will be more delighted to have Stacey back on the grid than NW200 race boss, Mervyn Whyte.

“Storm’s 2026 performance was one of the greatest revelations we have had at the North West in many, many years.,” said Mervyn.

“Now he is coming back with a Northern Ireland team. Michael Laverty knows how to run a race team and he has an excellent combination with Storm and Glenn.

“What Storm did in 2026 was exceptional. It was new and fresh and lit the whole place up which has to be good for the sport as we look ahead to more exciting announcements about what is to come for the Briggs Equipment 2027 North West 200,” he added.