Ulster Superbike champion Carl Phillips says he is excited about his plans for the 2026 season which will include racing in the National Superstock 1000cc championship on UK circuits and returning to compete at the North West 200 international road race, as well as defending his domestic title.
The 32-year-old made a successful return to the track this year as he raced for the first time since 2022, collecting the Ulster SBK title for the second time on his SBT Racing Kawasaki.
The Lisburn rider finished his season in style by winning the coveted Sunflower Trophy at Bishopscourt in October and now has a busy schedule planned for next year as part of the Lion Heart Moto Racing team.
He will be joined in the team by fellow Ulster Superbike rider Ryan Gibson.
“We set out to win the championship and the way everything worked out was amazing,” reflected Phillips.
“To win two races at the resurrected Celtic Races and then pick up the Sunflower Trophy put the icing on the cake of a successful season,” he told BBC Sport NI.
“Next year I plan to do the first Ulster Superbike round at Easter, then the first round of BSB [at Oulton Park in early May], and then the North West 200, then take it as it comes. I’ll see how we get on in the first few rounds at the BSB.”
Phillips has previously participated in the Superstock 600cc class, the Superstock 1000cc category and the feature Superbike events in BSB, the latter with the renowned Gearlink Kawasaki team in 2018.
For next season, he will switch to BMW machinery, and will also have a Ducati at his disposal for the Supersport outings at the North West 200 in May.
Phillips made his North West debut in 2019, achieving an eighth place finish in the first Supertwins race and returned in 2022, finishing seventh in the opening Superstock event.
“The bike I rode this year was quite old but the BMW has a lot of speed to it so I’m confident we can go well.
“I last rode at the North West in 2022 so to be going back there is a big bonus.”