In an exciting turn of events, popular Irish road racer Derek Sheils is gearing up for a much-anticipated return to the Isle of Man TT in 2026, following a break from the racing scene. His comeback is supported by none other than Peter Hickman, a 14-time TT victor, who will be preparing the BMW machinery through his team, PHR Performance.
Sheils first entered the TT arena back in 2013 and has established himself as a prominent figure in the world of road racing, as well as in the Ulster Superbike Championship. Despite his strong presence, he has recently taken a step back from competitive racing. His last appearance at the TT took place in 2022, while his most recent event was the Armoy race in 2023.
As part of his new venture, Sheils plans to participate fully in both road races and the Ulster Superbike series with a team called Cosmic Racing. This team is run by Irish individuals Matt Crosson and Ivor Hatton, who have made their mark in the wind turbine industry in Australia. "I’ll be back next year with a new team called Cosmic Racing," Sheils shared with The News Letter. "We have a brand new BMW M1000RR, which is being built as we speak by Peter Hickman’s PHR Performance, and we should have it in a couple of weeks."
The team is not only set to debut a new bike but will also sport a fresh livery, promising a strong setup for the upcoming season. Sheils elaborated on his racing goals: "My plan with this team is to do a short circuit championship and a few road races on top of that; it just depends on what the schedule will be, so we’ll just get rolling and see how things unfold."
He also touched upon the personal changes in his life that influenced his decision to take a break from racing. "We’ve got a little baby at home now, so priorities shift, which is why I had taken some time off from road racing. I’ve been quite busy with work as well, finding it challenging to make time for both racing and training. But things have settled down a bit now, so I’m looking forward to racing more next year and have already resumed training."
Sheils expressed his passion for the sport, saying, "I love the craic and enjoy the racing side of it so much, so why not? We’ll give it another go next year."
Furthermore, the reports indicate that Sheils is considering adding a second rider to the Cosmic Racing team for the TT, and potentially for the North West 200 as well. However, he emphasized that participation in the latter event depends on finding the right fit for the team.
This news follows Lewis's joining of the Crash.net team in August 2024, after five years of covering MotoGP for the Motorsport Network.
Will Sheils' return reignite his racing career? What other surprises does the 2026 racing season hold? Join the conversation and share your thoughts!
