Full Grids and Fierce Competition Expected as 2026 BEAR Competitions Cookstown 100 Opens Road Racing Season
The 2026 BEAR Competitions Cookstown 100 road races are scheduled for Friday, 24th April, and Saturday, 25th April. As the opening road race of the year, the event features full grids across most classes and welcomes an impressive 38 newcomers. Recent rule changes have provided valuable support to some of the smaller classes, marking a positive step for the sport.
2025 Man of the Meeting, Darryl Tweed, returns, aiming to reclaim his title. Pleased with his Easter Monday results, Tweed will compete on his new 2026 machines: the Ability Energy Honda Fireblade and the Stanley Stewart Racing (works) Triumph. After a few years away, Paul Jordan is determined to add his name to the winners’ list and will be racing the ex-works WSSP Jackson Racing V2 Ducati Panigale ( along with their 660 Aprilia and Honda Fireblade), which he debuted at Kirkistown on Easter Monday.
Michael ‘Micko’ Sweeney, another top road racer, is always a contender. With Superbike, New Generation Supersport, and Supertwin machinery at his disposal, the Skerries rider is also a former Man of the Meeting award winner at Cookstown.
Among the newcomers this year is Manx rider Illiam Quayle, son of former TT winner Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle. Illiam has already familiarised himself with the circuit in preparation for his debut, where he will ride his own 600 Suzuki. Fellow Manxman Marcus Simpson will also compete in the New Generation Supersport and Open races. Donegal’s Caomhan Canny, winner of the Senior Support race at Cookstown last year and the Senior Manx Grand Prix, has been upgraded from support to national status. He will ride Aprilia machinery for Team Scott Racing. Another Support class protégé to watch is Sean Brolly, who will compete in both the Supertwin and New Generation Supersport classes. Despite contesting only three road races in 2025, Blackwatertown’s Kevin Lavery has also been upgraded to national status. He will compete in Supertwin on the LMR Kawasaki and in New Generation Supersport on board the Traynors 600 Yamaha.
The Classic Superbike race has attracted over 20 entries, including last year’s winner, Darryl Tweed. He will be joined by Marcus Simpson, Neil Rutledge, Roddy Taylor, Don Gilbert, Dennis Booth, Andy Hornby, and others.
Former Man of the Meeting Barry Davidson returns after missing last year due to a work-related injury. The Glarryford rider will be vying for one more win, which would make him the most successful competitor at the Cookstown 100 road races. Currently, he is tied with Dungannon’s Ryan Farquhar, both with 26 wins.
Race Packages still available.
Race Office opening times;
For those who missed the cut-off time for the Online Orders for the 2026 BEAR Competitions Cookstown 100 road races, which take place on Fri and Saturday, 24th & 25th April, the race office will be open for in-person purchases.
The race office will be open for Race Package sales on both 11th & 18th April, from 11.00 am until 3.00 pm. Make sure to visit during these times to secure your race package in person.
Directions: To find the race Office, take the roadway opposite the race paddock. Drive straight for 100 yards, then turn right. Continue for another 50 yards- The Race Office will be on your right.
Keep up with all the latest News on the Official Cookstown 100 Facebook Group, the Official Cookstown 100 Twitter Feed and the Official Cookstown 100 website.
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
You will also find new information as soon as it is available through the TBNI Facebook Page and TBNI Twitter Feed.
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