Davey Todd

Like Guy Martin and Dean Harrison before him, Davey Todd took to road racing like the proverbial duck to water and it only took two years of racing on the roads for him to get a factory ride with Honda Racing, the most successful manufacturer in the history of the Isle of Man TT Races. That pretty much tells you everything you need to know about the talents of the 2022 Pirelli National Superstock Champion.

Disillusioned, at the time, with the short circuit scene, Todd made the switch to the roads in the autumn of 2017 with outings at Armoy and Scarborough, but it was the following year when he confirmed his potential and tag of the hottest property in road racing. Indeed, his TT debut saw him take two top ten finishes and lap at more than 128mph to become the second fastest newcomer ever at the time.

2019 saw Todd undoubtedly build on that promise. Riding for the Penz13.com team in the 1000cc classes and for the shrewd, experienced Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles team in the Supersport category, he finished in the top ten in all five of his races, lapping at close to 126mph in the latter.

However, Davey saved the best until last and whilst sixth place in the Milwaukee Senior TT Race was an excellent result, so too was his fastest lap of 131.491mph, a stunning effort in just his second year on the Mountain Course. 

With a win at the North West 200 and podiums at the Ulster Grand Prix and Classic TT, as well as victory in the IRRC Superbike series, Honda snapped him up before others did although the Covid pandemic meant he unfortunately lost his ride when the TT was cancelled for a second year in 2021.

Switching to the Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles team on a full-time basis in 2022, Todd was a revelation wherever he rode with the aforementioned Superstock Championship coming his way along with victory at the Southern 100 and Scarborough. At the TT, he was fast right from the word go and took his first podium, third, in the RL360 Superstock race as well as fourth and a 132mph+ lap in the Senior. 

The hottest property in racing, many expected Todd to build on those results in 2023 and seriously challenge Peter Hickman, Dean Harrison and Michael Dunlop for the race wins but it didn’t pan out that way. He improved his lap speed to just shy of 133mph but he was some way off the pace to where he needed to be with two fourth place finishes.

Davey split from the Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles team a couple of months later – something that was unimaginable at the start of 2023 – only to be immediately snapped up by the Milwaukee BMW Motorrad team. He remains an incredible talent and if Philip Neill’s team can get the best out of him, it will be interesting to see just how far he can go.

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Where do you start with Davey? He’s a fantastic prospect and, with what he’s achieved since his debut, he’s sure to win many TT races. He goes about his racing with a fantastic attitude and his short circuit success will only stand him in good stead and benefit him at the TT.

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