- Rees Returns to the TT – Kiwi road racer Mitch Rees will contest the Superbike, Superstock, Senior and Supersport TT races with Milenco by Padgett’s Honda team.
- Testing Already Underway – Rees is already in Europe working with the team as preparations ramp up for the 2026 Isle of Man TT.
- 130mph Target – After claiming the top newcomer trophy in 2025, Rees is aiming to break the 130mph lap barrier on the Mountain Course.
With an off-season spent in New Zealand polishing his skills – including emphatic wins at the annual Suzuki Series and the Burt Munro Challenge – Whakatāne’s Mitch Rees has finalised his preparations for a return to the Isle of Man TT in 2026, once again joining the Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles lineup.
The Batley-based British team, led by experienced team owner Clive Padgett, has confirmed that Rees will contest the headline TT classes aboard Honda machinery as he builds on a strong debut campaign at the event last year.
Rees will compete in the RST Superbike TT, RL360 Superstock TT and Milwaukee Senior TT aboard the team’s stock-spec Honda Fireblade, while also lining up in the Monster Energy Supersport TT races on a Supersport-spec Honda.
The 33-year-old Kiwi impressed during his first appearance on the 37¾-mile Mountain Course in 2025, claiming the Vernon Cooper Trophy as the event’s top solo newcomer. Rees recorded a best lap of 126.8mph and secured finishes of 23rd and 18th in the two Superstock TT races as he built valuable experience on the world’s most demanding road circuit.
Since then, Rees has been focusing heavily on road racing preparation and is already in Europe testing with the Padgett’s team as he gears up for his second TT campaign.
With a full year of road racing knowledge under his belt, the New Zealander has set his sights on a major milestone for 2026 — breaking the 130mph lap barrier.
“Last year was a massive learning curve. The TT is unlike anything we have back home in New Zealand. I felt we made solid progress despite the conditions, and now I know what’s required. The goal is to move towards that 130mph mark if I can get close to that on the big bike I will be happy.”
Alongside Rees, the team has also confirmed Yorkshire rider Jamie Coward for its expanded Sportbike programme.
Coward will ride a Paton machine in the Carole Nash Sportbike TT races, as well as competing with the team at the North West 200. The experienced road racer returns to the TT after missing last year’s event due to injuries sustained at the North West 200.
The Hebden Bridge rider brings extensive Mountain Course experience and joins one of the most established operations in the paddock. The Paton package he will race has already proven competitive at the TT, finishing second in the 2025 Supertwin race with Davey Todd.
Padgett said the team is confident heading into the 2026 TT campaign.
“We’re as enthusiastic as ever about the year ahead. The TT is always a major part of what we do, and with Mitch building on last year’s experience and Jamie joining us in the Sportbike class, we’ve got a strong and balanced team. Both riders understand what the Mountain Course demands, and we believe the equipment gives them every opportunity to progress.”
Coward is equally motivated as he prepares to return to the event.
“Joining Padgett’s is something special. It’s an iconic team in British racing and at the TT. I’m fully fit again and highly motivated. The Supertwin class is ultra-competitive, but I believe we can be in the mix and put on a strong showing.”
With Rees gaining momentum in his road racing career and the backing of one of the TT’s most respected teams, the 2026 Isle of Man TT could mark a significant step forward for the Kiwi rider as he continues to climb the ranks on the Mountain Course.
Dream Team
Few teams in Isle of Man TT history carry the pedigree of Padgett’s Motorcycles. Based in Batley, West Yorkshire, the family-run team has been a cornerstone of British motorcycle racing for decades, both on short circuits and on the roads.
Founded by Clive Padgett, the operation began as a Honda dealership before evolving into one of the most respected racing outfits in the paddock. Padgett’s has long been synonymous with Honda machinery, and their bikes have powered some of the biggest names in road racing to TT success.
The team’s reputation on the 37¾-mile Mountain Course is formidable. Padgett’s has secured multiple TT victories and podiums, with riders consistently challenging at the sharp end of the Superbike, Superstock and Supersport classes. Their meticulous preparation and attention to detail have made the team a go-to destination for riders looking to take the next step in road racing.
In recent years, the team enjoyed huge success with Davey Todd, who delivered a landmark Senior TT victory in 2024 for the Padgett’s Honda squad. The team has also celebrated TT wins and podium finishes with riders including Bruce Anstey, Ian Hutchinson, John McGuiness and Conor Cummins, while a number of rising stars have used the Padgett’s structure as a platform to develop their careers.
Beyond outright results, the Padgett family has built a reputation for nurturing talent and providing riders with the experience, equipment and support required to tackle the most dangerous and demanding road race in the world.
For riders like Mitch Rees, joining the Padgett’s setup places them within one of the most established and respected operations in TT racing — a team with a proven history of helping competitors unlock their full potential on the Mountain Course.
Who Are Milenco?
Title sponsor of the Padgett’s TT team is Milenco, but who are they and why do they sponsor a team that likes to make bikes and riders lap the island course at incredible speeds?
Milenco are among the world’s leading manufacturers of mechanical security products for leisure vehicles, producing security solutions for caravans, motorhomes and — importantly for TT fans — motorcycles.
Supporting the Padgett’s team helps promote the Milenco brand to thousands of road racing fans from around the world, especially with Padgett’s riders regularly competing at the sharp end of the TT leaderboard.
To celebrate the original partnership with Padgett’s Motorcycles in 2019, Milenco developed a range of locks named after famous road racing circuits — Coleraine (North West 200), Dundrod (Ulster GP) and the toughest lock in the range named after the TT mountain course itself: Snaefell.
Along with a wide range of other sponsors that help the Padgett’s team compete at the TT, fans might also notice a familiar sticker on the fairing — DJ and motorsport fanatic Carl Cox, who is also a supporter of the team.
