Davey Todd full of confidence for North West 200 as he gets up to speed with new Superbike machine

Belfast Telegraph

30-04-2025

Todd and fellow top road racer Peter Hickman set up the team, which they co-own together, after leaving FHO Racing.
The English rider tested his new BMW M1000RR for the first time at the final British Superbike test at Oulton Park, but Todd believes he will be able to hit the ground running in first practice on Wednesday, May 7 at the Causeway Coast road race.
'It was more of a shakedown than a test because we had a few teething issues with the new bike, but the initial feeling was really good,' said Todd during a visit to the course this week.
'The new bike runs Motec electronics which are new to me, and it feels very different from the 2024 bike.
'Everything on the bike is different – the brakes, the suspension, the chassis, everything.'
Todd may be on the back foot with his 2025-spec Superbike, but the Saltburn-by-the-Sea man has full faith in the team around him.
He added: 'If there is one part unknown, there is another part that is very familiar.
'The team may be new, but the personnel are the same with Darren Jones as team manager, my crew chief Stuart Johnston and Mike Barrett as mechanic.
'It is a case now of just getting the parts together and we are already 99 per cent of the way there.'
Todd won three races at the North West in 2024, including a double in the Superstock class and a Supersport win.
However, he missed out on the Superbike victory he so badly craves after finishing as the runner-up three times behind 11-in-a-row record-breaker Glenn Irwin.
Northern Ireland's Irwin has since retired from road racing, denying Todd the chance to avenge those defeats, but he remains determined to add his name to the illustrious list of past winners in the class.
'I really wanted to beat Glenn Irwin in the Superbike races,' said Todd.
'That was the big attraction for me. I've been watching all the footage from last year and there was so much talk about how riders like Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison were at a disadvantage because they were on 'Stockers against Glenn, but nobody commented on the fact that I was on a 'Stocker as well!
'I am really excited to be full Superbike this year, which will make me even stronger than I was last year.'
Todd will also compete in the Supersport races on a Honda after rekindling his old association with Clive Padgett.
He won his first race at the event with the Yorkshire team in 2019 in the Supersport class.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Rea will return to World Superbike action at the Fourth Round of the Championship at Cremona in Italy.
Rea missed the first three rounds through injury following a crash in testing at Phillip Island in Australia in February.
The Pata Maxus Yamaha rider made the decision to race in Italy after consulting his medical team in Belfast, pending a review with the FIM Medical Director on Thursday.
Rea said: 'I'm super excited to be coming back at Cremona after the injury sustained at Phillip Island.
'It feels like a really long couple of months but, in the last three to four weeks, I've maximised regaining strength and function of my left foot.
'The injury was a lot more serious than first expected and I just want to thank everybody that was behind me to get back on track, especially the fans and all the messages of encouragement.
'I feel confident and ready – Cremona is a track that I haven't raced at before, but I was able to spin a few laps in testing last season. I'm just so happy to be back with my team and riding my Yamaha R1.'