Revving Up: Irish National Road Racing Returns in 2026

Sweeney from Skerries secured the pole position in the Open Superbike class riding his MJR BMW, leading the pack by 0.768s ahead of Brian McCormack from Waterford on the Roadhouse Macau BMW. Marcus Simpson from the Isle of Man followed closely in third place, just three tenths behind McCormack, while Kevin Keyes from Daracore Racing claimed the fourth spot. Ryan Whitehall and Darryl Anderson rounded out the top six positions in the qualifying session at the Crossakiel circuit.

The Grand Final qualifying session is set to take place later, marking the return of Irish national road racing in the Republic after a hiatus in 2025 due to high insurance costs. The absence of two-wheel sports in 2025 was unprecedented, but Motorcycling Ireland, the governing body for the sport in the south, has secured insurance coverage for all disciplines in 2026. In addition to this event, three other Irish road races are scheduled to take place in the Republic this year, including the Skerries 100 and Walderstown races in July, and the South West Road Races at Athea in September.

In conclusion, the return of Irish national road racing in the Republic is a significant milestone for the sport after a year-long hiatus in 2025. With the successful acquisition of insurance coverage for all disciplines by Motorcycling Ireland, riders and fans can look forward to an exciting season ahead, including upcoming races such as the Skerries 100, Walderstown, and the South West Road Races. The competitive spirit and thrill of road racing are set to captivate audiences once again in 2026.