Bikes & Belter Weather

Well, it’s finally happened – the sun’s made an appearance across the UK, and folk are loving life! Taps aff in the park, SPF 50 selling out faster than Covid loo roll, and best of all, bikes are back out in full force. With the racing season now properly underway, it’s been a whirlwind of drama, heartbreak, and adrenaline already.

Oulton Park: Rest in Peace

The tragic loss of riders Owen Jenner & Shane Richardson during the British Supersport Championship event sent shockwaves through the paddock and far beyond. It’s moments like these that stop you in your tracks – a brutal reminder of the fine line these riders walk every time they throw a leg over the bike. Although we didn't know them personally, from what we have seen & read online, Owen & Shane were much-loved figures in the racing community, known not just for their talent on the bike, but for their kindness & generosity off it.

The tributes that poured in – from fellow riders, fans, and teams – show just how tight-knit the biking world is. Fast-paced and unforgiving as it is, it’s also full of heart.

Our thoughts are with their families and loved ones. If you would like to show your support to their families please click the link below.

Crowdfund.

North West 200: One Word...Drama!

Up the coast and over the water, the North West 200 roared back to life with its usual madness. There’s nothing quite like this event – the speed, the scenery & the rules...or not?

Davey Todd wrapped up a belting week at the Briggs Equipment North West 200 by taking the win in the feature Superbike race – his third victory of the meeting. The Englishman had already bagged Saturday’s Superstock race and wasn’t done yet, holding off Dean Harrison in a proper nail-biter to cap off a standout few days on the north coast.

But while Todd was all smiles by the end, earlier in the day things took a spicier turn.

Michael Dunlop, riding high after ending a nine-year dry spell at the NW200 with two wins on Thursday, grabbed his third win of the week in the first Superbike race – but not without a fair bit of controversy. Dunlop cut through a chicane during the race supposedly not stopping in the designated stop-box, which usually lands you a ten-second penalty.

However, race officials decided not to penalise him – and that decision didn’t go down well.

Dunlop, with a double win on Thursday, was on course for a fourth victory of the week in the feature Superbike race – but just as he hit the front, a mechanical issue brought his charge to a frustrating halt. Todd ended up claiming his 3rd victory of the meet.

So, all in all – three wins each for Dunlop and Todd, plenty of fireworks on and off the track, and a week that’ll be talked about for a long time to come. Red Torpedo's Red Rider Dean Harrison celebrated 5 podiums & is now set up nicely heading to the big one that is, the Isle of Man TT.

There was more reason to cheer for the locals in the second Supertwins race, as Magherafelt’s Paul Jordan stormed to his first-ever North West 200 victory. We’re absolutely over the moon for our pal and can’t wait to see what he and the Jackson Racing team get up to for the rest of the season.

Looking Ahead: The TT Looms

With the Isle of Man TT just around the corner, this crazy start to the season has got everyone hyped.

Here are RT HQ, we have started packing for the biggest event in our calendar. New stock arriving, fresh threads hanging & some new stand additions being built.

There’s no denying this year’s racing calendar has kicked off in dramatic fashion. The highs are sky-high, and the lows are devastating – as is always the case in this beautiful, brutal sport. But for now, as we bask in the rare treat of a UK spring that’s not utterly miserable, we cheers to the racers, the fans, and the sun for finally showing up.