The DAO Racing team has announced its return to road racing in 2026, marking a significant shift in the team's focus after years of concentrating on the British Superbike Championship. The team, originally established over 10 years ago in 2014, will be led by Australian rider Josh Brookes, who will ride the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade on the roads this year. This move is seen as a bold step for the team, which has primarily focused on BSB in recent years.
The team's decision to return to road racing comes after a successful stint with the British Superbike Championship, where they took their first win with Brookes at Donington Park last year. However, it appears that this success was not enough to sustain the team's focus solely on BSB, as Brookes will be competing for DAO Racing in both BSB and road racing in 2026.
DAO Racing has a rich history of road racing success, most notably winning the Senior TT with Dean Harrison in 2019. This achievement highlights the team's capabilities in the world of road racing, which they are now looking to leverage again in 2026.
The announcement marks Brookes' return to road racing, which he first made in 2013 when competing with the Tyco Suzuki team at the Isle of Man TT. Since then, he has become a two-time podium finisher at the event, including a second-place finish in the Senior TT in 2024.
Brookes is confident that joining DAO Racing will provide him with a more stable and competitive environment for his road racing endeavors. He believes that staying with one team throughout the entire process will allow him to better understand the bike's capabilities and have confidence in the continuity of the crew and team behind him.
This approach also allows Brookes to avoid any potential disruption to his preparations, which he experienced when competing for a different team on the roads in 2025. By staying with DAO Racing, Brookes will be able to refine his skills and prepare himself more effectively for the challenges ahead.
The 2026 Isle of Man TT takes place between May 25th and June 6th, while the North West 200 will occur a couple of weeks earlier, from May 6th to 9th. These events promise to be highly competitive, with Brookes looking to make a strong impression on both the road racing circuit and his BSB rivals.
The return of DAO Racing to road racing is an exciting development that is likely to have a significant impact on the sport. With Brookes at the helm, the team will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in 2026.
As the motorcycle world prepares for another thrilling season, fans and competitors alike are eager to see how DAO Racing will fare in their road racing endeavors. With Josh Brookes leading the charge, one thing is certain - it's going to be an exciting year ahead.
The announcement of DAO Racing's return to road racing serves as a reminder that there is still much to be discovered in the world of motorcycle racing. As we look forward to 2026, it will be fascinating to see how this team and Brookes work together to achieve success on both the roads and the track.
