Johnny Stewart ended the 2026 Manx Grand Prix as the only person in the events 103 year history to win four races in a week.
Despite this, the 35-year-old came into the races with just one goal in mind, to secure the 36th and final place in the prestigious Tommy Club.
Not only did the man from Galashiels achieve this feat in the opening lap of the Glover Law Supersport race, he went on to win every single race in the 2026 Manx Grand Prix.
Johnny began his racing career in Scotland on short circuits before making his debut around the Mountain Course in 2024 when he ended the event as the fastest newcomer.
Following his historic performance in this years races he has cemented himself as a Manx Grand Prix legend.
Has that sunk in yet, what you achieved this year?
“I don't know, it's just weird.
“It's like we never ever went out there to win one, you know?
“You don't go to the Isle of Man thinking, I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that, it's an endurance race at the end of the day.
“The only thing I really wanted was the Tommy Club because we missed out on the Tommy Club last year.
“We were 119.7mph and to watch all the lads go up and get their trophy and there's like the certificate to be in the Tommy Club and stuff, I was a bit gutted to be so close and not get it.
“Then they turn around and say there's only one place left, due to his age, it was 36 people allowed.
“It was like, if there's one thing this year, I'd love to be in the Tommy Club, that would be cool just to finish that off, just to draw a line under that, that would be pretty cool.
“That's kind of what I was aiming for but then to get the four wins was unbelievable.
“A lot of lads try hard here and never get one, never mind four, so yeah, it's pretty special.”
On the last lap of the senior, when did you start thinking that you would actually be the first rider to win four in a week?
“I was worried.
“There was a video clip on I watched it on Facebook where the lad celebrated too early.
“I was *** myself, all it takes is one broken bolt and you don't finish so I was really worried to start thinking that.
“Before I got to the Creg and I was like, this might be on here and I've seen the guys, I had a pit board at the Creg, Shane and all the lads.
“I've met some amazing people in Isle of Man over the years and they volunteered to do my pit board at the Creg and they were absolutely going crazy on the bank.
“As I left the Creg, it was absolutely amazing and I've seen that it was P1.
“I can remember shaking my fist and then slapping the back of the bike like I might get there.
“Then the panic sets in again when you start getting down back into town and they had like Governor's Dip and you're like don't be that guy that falls off so I went proper gingerly around there, and it's not until you get up onto that straight heading down towards the start-finish straight, you're like, holy ****, this is actually happening, I've managed this.
“Then over the line, it was just like, wow, I didn't know what to celebrate.
“Cry or laugh or be happy, I didn't know what to do, I've just never been in that situation before.” What was the reaction when you arrived in the rostrum?
“My dad was in tears, my brother was in tears, one of my best mates, Stevie, came in, gave me a massive hug and I was just like I can't believe I've done it.
“It was pretty special.
“It's a moment in my life that I'll always remember.
“I'll be talking about it on my deathbed it's probably the best thing that's ever going to happen to me.
“It was unbelievable.”
When did you find out you got the final spot in the Tommy Club?
“It was a stranger at Braddan Bridge and there was some guy standing in the crowd and he had the 120 club.
“He must have been doing a pit board for someone else, but he had it right out in the middle of the road and he stuck my head in it and I was like that's job done.
“Now we can just relax and enjoy it.
“So that was well special.
“It was the first lap and I read up a little bit on it and it was Steve Hislop who'd done the first 120 at the TT on his first lap, flying lap.
“Tommy obviously done it on his first lap and I did it on my first lap as well, so that was just such a cool story.”
Is Steve Hislop a bit of a racing hero for you?
“Absolutely, 100%.
“Steve Hislop lived in Hawick and that's only like 20 miles from Galashiels and he did the first 120 lap the year I was born, 1989.
“As I was reading through the story, I was like, I can't believe how conflicting it was.
“Tommy was 36, I'm 36 this year and Steve Hislop was one of the best motorcycle riders in the world and did it on the year I was born, and then to then get the final number 36 actually in the club was pretty cool.”
When did you start racing?
“I was actually held up due to COVID.
“I went and done my race license, and COVID come along and put a stop to all the racing so it would be 2021 it started getting back up and running.
“We started doing a couple of track days and figured out we were actually doing all right at the track days.
“We were keeping up with some boys on 1000ccs and stuff on my little 600.
“We did the Scottish Championship on the pre-injection 600 class and managed to get on the podium on my first race.
“I think I came third and I was standing there in my orange vest.
“Everyone was all looking around going, who the hell is this guy?
“From that weekend it just progressed from there, we got a good finish that year and went and done it the second year and managed to win the championship.
“In 2023 and then 2024 again we did it back to back.”
When did you decide you wanted to race around the Mountain Course?
“I’ve got little Graham McAleese to blame for that one, little G Mac, he said he was going out to be a newcomer.
“We had met G Mac at the Sunflower meeting.
“Family took us in, stayed at his house, it was amazing.
“He went from a complete stranger to one of our really good friends and family.
“He was going out to be a newcomer, so we're like, right, I'm going out, we'll suss it out, we'll watch G-Mac doing it, see how he gets on.
“I was sitting at Crosby Leap, he went over, I turned to my mate and I was like, I'm definitely doing this next year, these boys are having the time of their life.
“I didn't want to be on my deathbed, getting 60, 70-years-old, going I wished I'd done that.
“I kind of live my life like that, I didn't want to waste time when I've got an opportunity to do it.
“The money's been the big problem holding me back the whole time.
“That's why it took so long to get into the racing, I would have loved to have done it at like 16 or 17-years-old, like most young lads do, but we just didn't have the money.
“It just costs a fortune, my dad was just concentrating on paying the family bills, you know, paying the mortgage.
“We never had bikes growing up because we just couldn't afford the job so I went self-employed and started to make a little bit of money for myself.
“Instead of buying a house, I thought I'll buy some motorbikes and we'll go and live a little.
“I spent my house deposit on motorbikes and here we are.
“It's the best decision of my life, to be honest, the people I've met and the experiences that I've had.
What bikes did you have under you this year?
“The LPA Racing with the Cringle boys.
“I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing, but I've seen it, I've seen I seen it pop up and Ryan obviously says that there was possibly an opportunity to ride at the Manx GP, so I sent him a message.
“I said I'd really appreciate it if you would maybe consider me.
“I've never ridden a team before, I don't know how it works, but I thought I'd just send you a message to show my interest.
“We'd spoke to Ryan the previous year, we had a load of engine trouble and stuff.
“He sent me a message back saying, I think you're kind of the lad we're looking for.
“We're not looking for someone to go out there and crash their brains out.
“You seem quite reliable and not dafty, just respect the opportunity
“He said, I don't care where you come as long as you go out there and enjoy it.
“Ryan was spot on, him and Andy and his team and the lads done me proud big time.
“They did a mega job and obviously the bike was good and it was, we got some mega results.
“We only had one hour testing up at Jurby which was a worrying factor as well because the plan was to go and do maybe an Oulton Park or something, do a track day on it, at least just get settled on it.
“But because of the parts, for Ducati, nobody keeps stock for parts.
“So by the time I'd said yes, let's do it, and Ryan started ordering the parts for the thing, it was like a 5-week waiting list.
“For the parts that took us up to like a couple of weeks before the Manx, which is then I had Stephen, my boys that came out and gave us a hand, his wedding was the week before the Manx.
“That was really our only opportunity was to go out and ride the bike, and I was just like, I can't miss my best mate's wedding.
“I know it's a big deal, but it's like my mate's wedding's priority here.
“We went and done that and Stephen put the honeymoon off so he could come and give me a hand at the Manx.
“He's married a good one, she's totally understood it and she loved it and they're going away on their honeymoon next month.
“It all kind of worked out in the end.”
What do you think of the Manx Grand Prix?
“It was amazing, I felt like a proper, like, superstar for a minute.
“It's just like I felt amazing, everybody coming up and just getting to ask me to sign stuff and congratulating me and everything.
“It was unbelievable, I've never ever had that before.
“When we raced like up at the Scottish Championship, we win the championship, people aren't that bothered about it.
“It's just like you go out there and it's like the kids are wanting your knee sliders, so I had to like give the knee sliders to the kids.
“There was an amazing Polish guy came up and he was wanting me to sign his helmet and sign his bike and stuff.
“They're absolutely like proper fans, like absolutely just love the sport.
“That's what it needs, if you're doing well or if you're running at the back, everybody just wants you to do well and if you're ever stuck people would give you parts off their bike.
“I mean, Jamie Williams, for an example, I went out there and I couldn't get my shock to the Isle of Man in time.
“I went up, I spoke to a few boys, I said I've not got a shock to go out tonight.
“So Jamie Williams took the shock off his Aprilia and gave me the shock to get me out in practice.
“Another lad turned up and actually took the tank for my ZX6, the TT tank.
“Some lad was running about crazy, like asking for a tank.
“I was like, I've got one, you can have the tank.
“That's what it's all about, even if it's like your main competitor, you'd still give them parts to get them out, you wouldn't see them stuck, you know?
“That's what I love about bike racing certainly the road racing anyway.
“Everybody just wants everybody to do well, the amount of people that have said congratulations and helped me out.
“TH Racing, Trevor, I said I was looking for a tank. He says, oh, no bother, just, just take the tank, TT tank, for my little Aprilia RS 660.
“I asked him what he wanted for it and he said just put a sticker on the tank and never took any money off me.
“He's unbelievable, it's a £3,500 tank if I had to buy it.
“For people to just give you stuff like that is pretty special so I really appreciate any sort of help that I do get.”
What is next for you, will you be back for the TT?
“I would love to, that's the sort of plan.
“This was like my make it or break it year.
“I've spent so much money to get there on my own bikes.
“I was really proud to win races even on my little RS660 prepped by myself and then to win with the Cringle boys, it was a proper team effort.
“You can't do it yourself, like my brother and stuff taking time off their work, Stevie putting off his honeymoon to come give me a hand is unbelievable.
“Money can't buy these sort of people.
“Going forward to the TT, hopefully we can afford it, it all comes down to money at the end.
“It's not just expensive for me, it's expensive for the guys to get ferries, it's expensive.
“It's like twice the price when it comes to TT week.
“TT accommodation's gonna be crazy.
“That's all things we need to take into factor going forwards.
“We're sleeping in the van just now, my brother sleeps in the trailer, my dad sleeps in the garage in the back of the van it's no 5-star, but we make do with what we've got and we absolutely love it.
“Hopefully I'm on the grid at the TT, that is the dream but the rule changes are killing us.
“The Sportbike rules and the Supersport rules now, obviously next-gen and stuff.
“If I was to go and try and buy a next-gen bike, my little Aprilia is like super twin, so it's got some modifications and stuff so sport bike would have to go back that way.
“I think the Irish roads have got to stay Super Twin, it's so confusing, I just don't know what to do.
“I would love to try and maybe get in the team sort of side of it, but it has to be the right team, you don't want to put yourself in a stressful environment.
“It was good with the Cringle lads, but they weren't sure what they're doing next year either, so it's all a bit unknown.
“I've not got a Superstock bike and you'd really need one to even just for lap times but what's a competitive 1000 to buy it's like 30, 40 grand.
“Hopefully, fingers crossed, we can make the TT, that's the main thing.
“I tried my best, and if nothing comes of it, at least we tried, if something comes, unbelievable.
“We'll just see what comes through the door.
“Hopefully I'm going to try and do some social media stuff to try and boost it and try and chat to some teams, but I don't know, we'll see.
How would you sum up your 2026 Manx Grand Prix?
“I was wishing for maybe one and definitely the Tommy Club, I really wanted the Tommy Club, I wanted that 36th place in Tommy Club.
“We'd done that in the first race, and I was like, it takes a lot to win a race around there.
“Even the lads in last position, the amount of stress and time to get there is unbelievable.
“Even just to finish is a great achievement and to win it four times is way past my expectations, but I'm glad I've done it.
“Hopefully that just gives me a little boost in the future.
“There's not much else I can do, just fingers crossed it all goes well for next year.
Do you have anyone you want to thank?
“Thanks to everybody for coming to give us a hand.
“It's unbelievable that even strangers coming up and maybe buying you a back tire.
“My brother, like the time off his work and stuff it's unbelievable to get there.
“You need, you need a good bunch of people around you, and I think I've got that.
“It's mega amazing.
“Cheers for the opportunity for me to get a little article done, I've never had that done before, so it feels pretty special.”
“I never ever thought I'd be able to do it and COVID come along and then thought, right, we've got a track bike and the last thing I was thinking about when I first bought a road bike was I'm going to be going doing Bray Hill in three years' time.
“That was never even on the radar because it was just so far in the distance it was unbelievable.
“Then I can mind the lads sitting there as a newcomer going, holy ****, can you mind sitting here watching all the TT boys thinking it was unachievable and then here we are sitting on the grid as a newcomer.
“It was a pinch-me moment, you had to pinch yourself and think is this actually happening?
“This is real, this is madness.”
