Franco Bourne to Make Isle of Man TT Debut in 2026 After Pilot Lap Initiative

Key facts

• Franco Bourne will debut at the 2026 Isle of Man TT.
• He will ride for Team ILR, run by Ian Lougher.
• Bourne will contest the RL360 Superstock class on a Honda CBR1000RR-R and the Sportbike class on a Paton S1-R.
• He progressed through the new Pilot Lap initiative, introduced in 2025.
• The Pilot Lap was guided by Richard 'Milky' Quayle and other rider liaison officers.
• Bourne won the British Talent Cup in 2020 with four victories in 10 races.
• He scored points in seven BSB races in 2023, including a best finish of sixth at Donington Park.

A New Pathway to the Mountain Course

Franco Bourne, a 22-year-old from County Durham, will make his debut at the Isle of Man TT in 2026, bypassing the traditional Manx Grand Prix route. Instead, he progressed through the Pilot Lap initiative, a development programme launched in 2025 that allows riders to experience the 37.73-mile Mountain Course in a controlled, non-competitive environment. The initiative, which took place under the guidance of experienced Rider Liaison Officers including Richard 'Milky' Quayle, gave Bourne his first taste of the legendary circuit. The organisers described the lap as helping him understand the demands of the course, from reading the road and identifying reference points to the importance of judgement and process alongside speed.

Team ILR and Ian Lougher's Mentorship

Bourne will race for Team ILR, the squad led by 10-time TT winner Ian Lougher. The team will field him in the RL360 Superstock races aboard a Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, previously ridden by Manxman Nathan Harrison, and in the Sportbike class on a Paton S1-R, under the banner of Team ILR with Frog Vehicle Developments. Lougher, a road racing legend, said: 'We're delighted to be supporting Franco's move into pure road racing. He's a rider with real potential and the right attitude, and our aim is to give him the guidance and environment to develop further. The experience he's gained so far and the steps he's taking to learn the Mountain Course align with how we nurture and encourage up-and-coming talent. We're looking forward to a busy and rewarding 2026 together.'

From British Talent Cup to the TT

Bourne's racing career began in 2011, and he moved into the British Talent Cup in 2018, finishing 15th overall in his first year. He took third overall in 2019 before winning the title in 2020 with four victories in the 10-race season. He then progressed to the Pirelli National Junior Superstock Championship, finishing 10th overall in his first year on four-strokes, and challenging for the title in 2022, eventually finishing second overall to Max Cook with four wins and nine podiums. In 2023, Bourne moved into the 1000cc Superstock category, winning the opening round at Silverstone Circuit and adding two more podiums. That led to a mid-season switch to the official Honda Racing British Superbike Championship team, where he replaced the injured Andrew Irwin. He scored points in seven races, including a best finish of sixth at Donington Park ahead of Josh Brookes, Peter Hickman, and Kyle Ryde.

Transition to Road Racing

Bourne continued in the British Superbike Championship in 2024 with Rapid Honda, again scoring points finishes. Later that season, he made the transition from short circuits to road racing with outings at Oliver's Mount and the Irish National road races, where he recorded numerous notable performances. His maiden Mountain Course campaign in 2026 will focus on consistency and performance, building on the experience gained through the Pilot Lap. As a TT newcomer, Bourne will make his first competitive laps of the course during the event.

Bourne's Determination and Outlook

Reflecting on his journey, Bourne said: 'The Pilot Lap in 2025 was really good in helping me understand more about what the TT demands. That experience made the decision clear, and now it's about coming back to the Island well prepared. I am already looking forward to TT 2026 under the mentorship of road racing legend Ian Lougher and everyone at Team ILR.' With almost a decade of experience at the British Championship level and a proven track record on both short circuits and road races, Bourne arrives at the TT with a blend of youth and maturity. The Pilot Lap initiative, designed to lower the barrier for newcomers, has already delivered its first graduate to the world's most dangerous motorcycle race.

The bottom line

• Franco Bourne will debut at the 2026 Isle of Man TT in Superstock and Sportbike classes.
• He is the first rider to progress through the new Pilot Lap initiative, bypassing the Manx Grand Prix.
• Bourne will be mentored by 10-time TT winner Ian Lougher as part of Team ILR.
• His racing pedigree includes winning the British Talent Cup in 2020 and scoring points in BSB.
• The Pilot Lap, guided by Richard 'Milky' Quayle, provided a controlled introduction to the Mountain Course.
• Bourne's TT campaign will focus on consistency and performance as a newcomer.