Gary McCoy’s Long Road to the Isle of Man TT

McCoy had done everything right. Years of preparation, applications submitted, machinery sorted, plans made. His 2025 Isle of Man TT debut was set. Then the North West 200 happened. A collision with Craig Neve at Mill Road roundabout left McCoy with a bleed on the brain, a broken collarbone, 17 fractures across 11 ribs, a punctured lung, and a fractured right wrist. His season was over before it had properly begun. His TT dream would have to wait another year.
The injuries were severe enough to end lesser careers. For McCoy, they were an obstacle serious, frightening, and ultimately temporary. He made his competitive comeback at the end-of-season Sunflower Trophy races at Bishopscourt, confirming his recovery and sending a clear message to the road racing community, he was coming back.
The Mountain Course Awaits
McCoy will ride BMW machinery in both Superstock TT races while competing in the Supersport races aboard a next-generation Suzuki 750, aiming to maximise mileage across practice and race week as he builds experience and confidence around the Mountain Course.
The choice of machinery reflects the pragmatic, measured approach of a rider who understands exactly what his first TT demands. This is not a campaign built around results. It is built around learning absorbing every corner, every bump, every nuance of the most demanding 37.73-mile circuit in motorsport.
McCoy opted to go straight into the TT newcomer programme rather than taking the Manx Grand Prix route, valuing the reduced pressure of a first-year TT appearance over the expectations that might follow a strong Manx result. It is a mature, self-aware decision from a rider who has already demonstrated extraordinary mental strength simply by returning to racing after what he endured.
The Spirit of Road Racing
McCoy’s story captures something essential about road racing culture. These are not factory-backed superstars with limitless resources. Madbros Racing is a close-knit, family-run outfit bringing a measured and long-term approach to their first TT campaign together. The budget is limited. The commitment is not.
In a motorsport landscape increasingly dominated by corporate machinery and commercial calculation, stories like McCoy’s remind us why road racing retains such a fierce, loyal following. The passion is real. The sacrifice is real. And in 2026, the dream finally becomes reality.
“I am excited to finally get the opportunity to ride the TT. Missing last year was difficult after putting so much work into getting there, but the priority was getting fully recovered and back racing.”
The mountain awaits, Gary. Go enjoy every second.