Isle of Man TT Races: Flitwick Motorcycles field Mikey Evans and Joe Yeardsley on Yamaha R7 machinery in the 2026 TT Sportbike class races.
Bedfordshire-based Flitwick Motorcycles will field Mikey Evans and Joe Yeardsley, lining up on near-identical Yamaha R7 machines in the two three-lap Carole Nash Sportbike TT races with backing from long-term partners SMV Engineering.
This marks a focused assault in the class for 2026 with Evans joining the team as a late replacement for regular rider Adam McLean who misses TT due to surgery.
Both riders bring relevant Mountain Course experience into the programme. Yeardsley continues his progression with the squad after previous outings at the Classic TT aboard Flitwick Motorcycles machinery, while Evans joins as an established and proven performer on the Mountain Course, standing in for McLean who is out with injury. Long-time TT exponent and six-time podium finisher Steve Linsdell oversees the team.
Evans first made his mark on the Mountain Course with victory in the Newcomers Manx Grand Prix a decade ago. He returned the following year to claim both the Junior and Senior races, setting a lap record of 122.866mph that still stands. Since stepping up to the TT in 2018, he has established himself as a consistently improving performer.
Despite injury setbacks in 2019, Evans has continued to build momentum. In 2022, he recorded four top-twenty finishes, including a maiden top-ten result in the Supertwin TT while also breaking the 125mph barrier. He improved further in 2023 with a
best finish of seventh in the second Supertwin race, alongside 12th place in Supersport.
His progression continued in 2024, where he recorded a 128mph lap in the Superbike TT and joined the 130mph Club with a lap of 130.094mph. He also secured strong Supersport finishes of ninth and tenth, underlining his growing stature across multiple classes on the Mountain Course.
Yeardsley has enjoyed a rapid rise since making his Mountain Course debut at the 2023 Manx Grand Prix. The son of former Senior MGP winner Buddy Yeardsley, he emulated his father’s success by winning the Senior race in his debut year. Moving up to the TT in 2024, he secured a best finish of eighth in the opening Supertwin race on the ILR Paton.
His switch to Aprilia machinery in 2025 yielded another eighth-place finish in the second Supertwin race, alongside a personal best lap of 119.061mph in the class. The 2026 campaign will mark his third different manufacturer in the lightweight category, but with two top-ten TT finishes already to his name, the experienced Flitwick Motorcycles team are well placed to support further progression.
Mikey Evans said “I’m really happy to be riding the Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV R7. I can’t thank the team enough for the opportunity and I’m excited to see what we can do together”
Joe Yeardsley added: I am delighted to have the opportunity to ride the Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV R7 in the 2026 TT. I believe this is a massive step forward from what I have ridden previously, after a tough 3 years in this class, with only 2 race finishes out of 5 starts on the Mountain Course. A big thank you to Steve, David and the team for the opportunity.
Team principal Steve Linsdell commented that both riders bring strong credentials to the team’s Sportbike campaign and believes their combined experience and potential will allow Flitwick Motorcycles to be highly competitive. He added: “I’m delighted to have a rider of Mikey’s calibre join the team as a late replacement for regular rider Adam McLean, who has been forced to sit out this year’s event at short notice due to the need for a medical procedure. The team wish Adam a full and swift recovery.”
Flitwick Motorcycles’ decision to field two Yamaha R7 machines highlights both their commitment to the new Sportbike class and their continued investment in competitive TT programmes.
With a 130mph Mountain Course rider alongside an emerging top-ten contender, all supported by an experienced and established TT team, Flitwick Motorcycles’ 2026 Sportbike campaign carries clear front-running potential.
Win with BOTB.com
Botb.com
Win a Ducati Streetfighter V4S
Botb.com
Win a Ducati Monster SP + £10,000
Botb.com
Win a Ducati Panigale V2 + £10,000
Botb.com
Win a Yamaha R1M
Watch, like and subscribe to our Youtube channel
👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe for more modern classic motorcycle content
©Words/Images above are from an official press release posted courtesy Isle of Man TT Races
For more Isle of Man TT Races news head to our dedicated page: Isle of Man TT Races News Home Page
or head to the official Isle of Man TT website iomttraces.com
Sportsbikeshop.co.uk
RST Fulcrum CE Waterproof Leather Gloves
Sportsbikeshop.co.uk
RST Fusion Airbag CE Leather Jacket
Sportsbikeshop.co.uk
RST IOM TT Brandish 2 CE Leather Jacket - Black
Sportsbikeshop.co.uk
RST Ladies Ripley 2 CE Leather Jacket - Black
Sportsbikeshop.co.uk
RST Lumberjack Aramid Lined CE Shirt - Green Check
What are the Isle of Man TT Races
There are very few sporting events in the world with the tradition, heritage, and prestige of the Isle of Man TT Races. Despite being the world’s oldest continuous motorsports event, the TT remains, however, as fascinating and relevant today – continuously inspiring new generations of riders to come and race the Mountain Course.
Largely unchanged since 1911, the 37.73 miles of public roads simply capture the imagination like no other motorcycling venue can. The TT Course, whilst difficult to learn, is even harder to master – requiring immense levels of skill and concentration as speeds nudge an incredible 200mph.
- Advertisement -
Modern Classic Motorcycle News - Kindle Edition
Amazon.co.uk
Welcome to Modern Classic Motorcycle News - Kindle Edition
2026 TT Schedule is available at – https://www.iomttraces.com/racing/page/schedule/
In June 2025, it was announced that Amazon MGM Studios had picked up a film and docuseries package centred on the Isle of Man TT Races. The feature film is being produced by Free Association, Plan B and Entertainment 360, with Channing Tatum and Eve Hewson attached to star and Reid Carolin directing. More information can be found:
https://www.iomttraces.com/latest/news/amazon-tt-film-docuseries/Discover TT+
TT+ is the official digital home of the Isle of Man TT Races – offering free, year-round access to the world’s greatest road racing event. Fans can enjoy an ever-growing library of exclusive original content, interviews, as well as over 30 years of archive race highlights.
TT+ brings viewers closer than ever to the riders, machines, and stories that define the TT. Available online and across smart TVs, mobile devices, and tablets, TT+ transforms how fans around the world experience the Mountain Course.
Access TT+ free at – ttplus.iomttraces.com/
Amazon.co.uk
DJI Osmo Action 6
* Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission (at no cost to you) if you click on the link and make a purchase. Any money made goes straight back into the website and magazine. Your support is appreciated!
