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Belfast Telegraph
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Lack of North West 200 win is a thorn in my side and I'm back to put it right, says Josh Brookes
A former outright lap record holder at Northern Ireland's premier motorcycle race, Brookes has an impressive pedigree as a former double British Superbike champion. The 42-year-old is competing for DAO Racing Honda in BSB this year after previously riding BMW M1000RR machinery for FHO Racing. Brookes, though, will ride for the Jackson Racing Honda team at the North West and Isle of Man TT, teaming up with Northern Ireland's Paul Jordan. His key target is challenging for victory in the blue riband Superbike races and Brookes will have three chances, starting with Thursday evening's opening race before a double-header on the main race programme on Saturday. Practice is scheduled to get under way on Wednesday around the 8.9-mile course with roads closed from 9.00am until 3.00pm, and Brookes is eager to make a strong start. 'I like the course, it's pretty easy to figure out and where the important bits are, but what I like the most is the mass start,' he said. 'That, for me, is what makes the NW200 both exciting and rewarding. 'I've been on the podium a few times and I've set lap records, but I want to win one and get that particular box ticked. It's a thorn in my side that I haven't won one. 'I like racing bikes and I like racing at the NW200, but I want to win as well so that's my focus for coming back in 2025.' With Glenn Irwin absent from the line-up after winning the last 11 Superbike races in a row, the door is open for a new winner in the class. Irwin announced his decision to retire from road racing last year and is competing solely in the British Superbike Championship in 2025 on the Hager PBM Ducati. Along with Brookes, a stellar line-up includes Davey Todd, who has finished as the runner-up five times. Todd is riding for new team 8TEN Racing BMW, which he co-owns with fellow top roads exponent Peter Hickman. Neither rider has managed to get their hands on the Superbike trophy, although Todd clinched a treble in 2024 with two Superstock wins and a Supersport success, while Hickman sealed a double in the Supertwin races on his Swan Yamaha, twice beating Richard Cooper (KMR/Jack Reid Cars Kawasaki). But it's Superbike glory they most desire. 'That's the one I want,' said Saltburn-by-the-Sea rider Todd. 'I've won Superbike races everywhere else on the roads. 'I'm gutted that Glenn's not going to be there and we're not going to have the chance to have those battles again, but it's never going to be easy. 'Michael Dunlop, Dean (Harrison), Hicky (Peter Hickman) — there could be 10 guys capable of winning. 'The North West is a special place and I love mass-start racing, so I can't wait to be back out there again in front of all the fantastic fans.' Alastair Seeley, the most successful NW200 rider ever with 29 victories, returns after missing last year's event when he was unable to obtain suitable machinery. The former British Supersport and Superstock champion will ride an SMS/Nicholl Oils BMW and an MSS Kawasaki Supersport machine for Chris Dowd's CD Racing outfit. Seeley is on the brink of a 30th victory and few would bet against the Carrick man delivering once again. 'Sometimes a year's wait can be worth it because it makes you even hungrier to put on a good show,' Seeley said. 'I will be leaving nothing on the table now that we have bikes that are good enough to do the job.' Fellow Ulsterman Michael Dunlop hasn't won a race at the North West since 2016 and is fired up to set the record straight. A five-time winner at the event, he is set to debut his new BMW Superbike on Wednesday and is also entered in the Supersport races on a Ducati Panigale V2.
Belfast Telegraph
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Davey Todd full of confidence for North West 200 as he gets up to speed with new Superbike machine
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.'
BBC News
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
'You have to be a little bit selfish'
Peter Hickman says he and team-mate Davey Todd "decided to do what was best for" themselves in setting up their own 8TEN Racing team to compete in this year's North West 200, Isle of Man TT and British Superbike 14-time TT winner and Yorkshireman Todd had been announced to ride for FHO Racing for the 2025 season but revealed in February that they had made the decision to go it alone with official backing from and Todd jointly act as team co-owners of the 8TEN Racing team, whose name is an amalgamation of the riders' TT start numbers."Everything's pretty settled now. Between all of us we decided what was the best for us. Sometimes you have to be a little bit selfish in this sport and you have to look after yourself," Hickman told BBC Sport NI."We felt like we needed to make a change and we made that change. Things are going in the right direction, it was a very late decision when it finally all got sorted, which is not ideal."Hickman will begin his BSB campaign at the opening round of that series at Oulton Park over the May Day holiday weekend and then head straight to Northern Ireland for the North West."The late BSB season has probably helped us a little bit. The first race is not happening until early May but we're just about there now with the Superbikes and the rest of the team is looking really good." Superbike win 'a box I need to tick off' Hickman has secured four race wins since making his debut at the North West in 2014 - Superstock successes in 2018 and 2019 - plus a double in the Supertwins class 12 months having enjoyed multiple Superbike victories on the roads at the TT, Ulster Grand Prix and Macau Grand Prix, a win in the premier class has so far eluded him over the Triangle Lincolnshire rider will have a new version of the BMW at his disposal for the big bike classes this term."Something always seems to happen to me at the North West 200 to stop me from that elusive Superbike win. It's a box I need to tick off," said the 38-year-old."I've been really close, I've been fast enough, but something's always happened. Fingers crossed this year we can change that fortune."Riding his Yamaha R7, Hickman saw off the challenge of fellow Englishman Richard Cooper to win both Supertwins races in 2024 and also stood on the podium when he finished second in the opening Supersport outing and a Superstock event. "The little Swan Yamaha was working really well here last year and it was really good to put one over my good mate Richard Cooper. We weren't really expecting it but it was a really nice surprise."The bike is getting better and better, we've had it for a couple of years now and we have some more improvements ready for this year's North West 200."The TT was quite difficult on the [Triumph] 765 for myself last year but we actually finished on the podium here on it. The bike's been pretty strong and I've been fourth in the Daytona 200 this year on that same bike."
BBC News
27-02-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Hickman and Todd confirm new BMW team for BSB and roads
It has been confirmed that international road racers Peter Hickman and Davey Todd will form a new BMW-backed team for the British Superbike Championship, North West 200 and Isle of Man and Todd will jointly act as team co-owners of the 8TEN Racing team, whose name is an amalgamation of the riders' TT start is a 14-time TT winner, while Todd broke his duck in terms of wins at the event in 2024 by taking the honours in the Superstock and Senior is moving up to compete in the feature British Superbike class in 2025 after securing the second National Superstock title of his career in riders had been scheduled to ride BMW bikes for FHO Racing in the forthcoming season but a change of plan will see them compete under a new banner but with the same German commented: I'm really looking forward to this new chapter of my career, riding and co-owning 8TEN Racing. This structure will be a new dynamic to learn, but I've seen it work across other motorcycle championships like Supercross."I'm excited to be more involved in the dealings of the team, as well as building on the success I had with BMW last year which ended with a National title and TT victories."Hickman said: "The opportunity provided by BMW Motorrad UK to co-own and run 8TEN Racing alongside Davey is an exciting concept, and having run my own team across other classes, the insight and experience I have gained over the last few years should put us in good stead to be competitive."We know the M1000 RR very well which will allow some continuity, we'll be looking to continue our success on the roads and relish the challenge of being competitive in the British Superbike Championship."
BBC News
10-02-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Hickman and Todd set to be part of new BMW team
Peter Hickman and Davey Todd look set to be part of a new BMW team for this year's international road races and British Superbike Championship following an announcement that the pair will not after all be competing for the FHO Racing outfit in was announced in November that Yorkshireman Todd would join Hickman in Faye Ho's team for this season but a change of plan means both riders are set to ride BMW bikes under the banner of 8TEN Racing in the forthcoming Racing will now field one rider only in the BSB series, 2024 IDM Superbike champion and World Endurance rider Ilya Mikhalchik, who will make his debut in the Ho will also continue to support and provide investment to a number of young women in the racing paddock as they seek to progress their careers through numerous British Championship support classes, plus pursue further motorsports activities in new markets in Asia."I am a strong advocate of the British Superbike Championship, one of the most entertaining and competitive series in the world," Faye Ho said in an announcement of her team's change of plan on British external"However, with my long-term goals looking to push motorsports activities in Asia, as well as to keep supporting young women with opportunities in racing, I've come to realise I cannot fully commit to the previous levels of time that I have given to BSB and Road Racing since becoming team owner in 2021 with additional commitments I have back at home in Macau," she Superstock champion Todd and TT lap record holder Hickman will campaign the all-new BMW M 1000 RR in 2025 with full details of the new 8TEN team to be announced on 26 February.
