North West 200 confirms Storm Stacey’s return in 2027

After becoming the first newcomer to win in a 1,000cc class at the North West 200 since Bruce Anstey in 2002, this year’s double winner Storm Stacey has confirmed his return in 2027. 

Stacey tasted success in both the superstock and superbike classes at the 2026 event, beating the likes of 36-time Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop, Glenn Irwin and Dean Harrison.

Stacey would go on to beat Dunlop in a tight battle on the final lap of the superstock race, before edging out Harrison and NW200 wins record holder Irwin in the second superbike race of the event. 

Stacey’s return to the North West 200 will be as a member of Michael Laverty’s GRYD Racing team, where he will ride alongside new team-mate Irwin. 

2027 will also mark the first season for Laverty’s team in the British Superbike Championship, which comes in-line with the series’ incoming technical overhaul.

Stacey’s superstock win at the North West 200 came aboard a GRYD BMW M1000 RR with technical support from Alpha Racing.

Stacey, who raced for Michael Rutter’s Bathams team in BSB the last two seasons, admitted it was always “going to be hard” not to make a return to the famous road race following his maiden success.

Speaking to BBC Sport NI, Stacey said: 

"It was always going to be hard to keep me away from here to be honest. The feeling, the sensations, it's just magical when this event is on. If you haven't been, you haven't witnessed it, you've only seen it on the telly, it doesn't do it justice.

"It's unbelievable. We've done a couple of laps round again and I've been getting those feelings straight away. You're five abreast doing 200mph. You just don't get it anywhere else. It's a mega event."

While the 2027 NW200 will mark Stacey’s second appearance at the event, there has still been no confirmation whether he intends to try his luck at the Isle of Man TT in the future.

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