Ex-BSB rider gets Isle of Man TT chance via new initiative

Former BSB rider Franco Bourne will make his Isle of Man TT debut this year after taking part in a new initiative in 2025.

Bourne will race for the Team ILR squad run by Ian Lougher at the 2026 Isle of Man TT road races. This is despite him not racing the Manx Grand Prix, which has traditionally been the route to the TT for most riders.

Instead, Bourne – who has raced in BSB and the National Superstock Championship in recent seasons – has gone via the new Pilot Lap initiative that was introduced in 2025.

The initiative saw riders last year riding in a controlled environment on the TT course under the guidance of Milky Quayle and other rider liaison officers.

“The lap helped him understand its demands before making an informed decision on future plans, from reading the road and identifying reference points to the importance of judgement and process alongside speed,” the Isle of Man TT says of the Pilot Lap initiative.

With Team ILR, Bourne is slated to race the Superstock and Sportbike classes aboard a Honda CBR1000RR-R and Paton S1-R, respectively.

“We’re delighted to be supporting Franco’s [Bourne] move into pure road racing,” said Ian Lougher, Team ILR team principal.

“He’s a rider with real potential and the right attitude, and our aim is to give him the guidance and environment to develop further. 

“The experience he’s gained so far and the steps he’s taking to learn the Mountain Course align with how we nurture and encourage up‑and‑coming talent. We’re looking forward to a busy and rewarding 2026 together.” 

Franco Bourne added: “The Pilot Lap in 2025 was really good in helping me understand more about what the TT demands. That experience made the decision clear, and now it’s about coming back to the Island well prepared. I am already looking forward to TT 2026 under the mentorship of road racing legend Ian Lougher and everyone at Team ILR.