Riding equipment giant RST has announced it will enter its own team in the 2026 Isle of Man TT and has signed event legend Ian Hutchinson for its debut.
The RST brand has a long association with the Isle of Man TT as its official safety partner, but will expand its presence this year.
With less than 80 days to go until the 2026 TT begins, RST has announced the launch of TeamRST, who will compete in the Superbike, Superstock and Senior races this year.
Spearheading the outfit’s debut TT is 16-time winner Ian Hutchinson, who moves from Michael Laverty’s MLav Racing squad, following the ex-British Superbike and MotoGP rider’s team’s maiden outing on the Isle of Man last year.
The team is set to run BMW machinery.
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On the announcement, Hutchinson said: “This project is very personal to me.
“After everything I’ve experienced at the TT, I still have that drive to prove we can compete at the very front.
“Everyone involved has come on this journey with me, and I want it to work for all of us.
“We’re aiming for that top spot and I want everyone to get something out of this.”
Stuart Millington, VP of RST added: “Launching TeamRST is a defining moment for our brand.
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“We’re doing this with one goal, giving Ian the package he needs to win at this years Isle of Man TT.
“We have been working with Ian for over 15 years.
“Ian is one of the most accomplished and determined competitors in TT history, and his experience makes him the perfect rider to lead this project.”
A veteran at the Isle of Man TT, Hutchinson was the first rider in history to win five races in a week during his historic run in 2010.
He has bounced back from numerous serious injuries to continue competing at the highest level on the road racing scene.
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Hutchinson scored his first top five finish since 2022 last season when he was fifth in the opening Superstock contest.
He hasn’t stood on the podium since winning the Superstock race in 2017, after which he suffered a serious leg injury in a crash in the Senior TT.
As part of TeamRST’s debut at the TT, it will create a documentary following its preparations.