DAO RACING TO RETURN TO ROAD RACING IN 2026 WITH JOSH BROOKES

Following a break of more than two years away from international road racing, DAO Racing will make a sensational return to the Isle of Man TT, and the North West 200, with Josh Brookes set to contest the ‘big bike’ races onboard Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblades in the superbike and superstock classes.

The Cumbrian-based squad are set to return to ‘road racing’ for the first time since 2023, this time powered by the Honda Fireblade, which the team are now in their second year of development.

However, they are no strangers to public roads action as DAO Racing has a rich affinity with road racing, debuting at the event in 2014 with Russ Mountford, and from there the love for the events grew stronger. 2018 saw the team take their maiden victory around the 37.73-mile course with Dean Harrison, before taking their first superbike victory in 2019 as the Yorkshireman took Senior TT glory, the first Kawasaki victory in the headline race since 1975. The team has amassed a further eight podiums at the North West 200, with 21 top six finishes to boot.

The squad now has their sights set on competing once again on the ‘roads’ with Josh Brookes, one of the teams ZYN British Superbike Championship riders. Brookes is the fifth fastest man ever around the Isle of Man TT, with a lap speed of 134.056mph.

The Bringelly-born man first competed at the event in 2013, taking the accolade of fastest newcomer, and since then has taken to the podium twice, which includes a second-place finish in the blue-ribband Senior TT in 2024.

The 42-year-old will also contest the North West 200 onboard the Fireblade and has enjoyed plenty of success around the ‘Triangle’ circuit on the north coast of Northern Ireland. The ‘Bad Boy’ is the eighth fastest rider around the 8.9-mile venue, at an average speed of 123.141mph.

The North West 200 is the opening ‘road race’ of the year and sees the action fly through the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush, with speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour achieved.

Josh Brookes: “It gives me a lot of confidence that for the 2026 Isle of Man TT and North West 200 I’ll be competing with a team that has a proven pedigree at the events, and I’m proud to represent Sommai and Clarrisa’s team.

“Reflecting on 2025, I was racing with DAO Racing in BSB and then I rode for a separate outfit on the roads, which was a little bit disruptive to my preparations. I think staying with one team throughout the whole process is a far better environment to work in, the equipment will be to the highest standard, something in which DAO Racing prides itself on.

“I’ll have a better understanding of where the bike is, what’s capable and I’ll have the confidence in the continuity of all the crew and team behind me. It’ll make for a more pleasant, competitive and enjoyable experience at these events.”

Team manager Jonny Bagnall: “We’re really excited to be making our return to road racing for 2026 after two years away from the events. I think it’s really important for Sommai and Clarrisa to have a presence in the paddock, especially with them residing on the Isle of Man. Josh competed at the events last year and both Sommai and Clarissa wanted the team to make a return in 2026, so it felt natural for us to do that.

“It’ll be exciting to see how we get on, the roads were our pedigree, it’s how the team started back in 2014 and what we set out to compete in, so it’ll certainly be great for everyone to return.

“We want to have a fast and safe road racing season, Josh is very experienced around the Isle of Man TT and the North West 200, he rode the Fireblade at both events in 2025 and I think it’ll be more consistent for him this year, because he’s comfortable with the crew and the bike he’s riding, especially with him riding it week in, week out at BSB. So, I feel that consistency and positive environment around him will help achieve some fantastic results.”