Cadwell Moto 2026: A Photographer’s Perspective

There is always plenty to photograph at Cadwell Park, but Cadwell Moto 2026 offered something different around almost every corner.

On September 26 and 27, I visited Cadwell Park for PistonClick with my shooting buddy RPW Photography. We had no accreditation and no tabards, so we joined the substantial crowd as spectator motorsport photographers.

We expected plenty of motorcycles, but the variety made the weekend particularly enjoyable. Modern machines, exotic road bikes, classic racers, and legendary race bikes all shared the venue. For a photographer, that variety meant there was rarely a quiet moment.

How Cadwell Moto Has Evolved

We have attended Cadwell Moto in its different guises several times, so I have seen how the event has developed. The original concept centred heavily on motorcycles getting onto the circuit, with a strong classic track-day element. Cadwell Moto has gradually expanded that idea. The 2026 event combined track action, run by Classic Bike Track Days, with manufacturers’ displays, historic racing machinery, motorcycle clubs, anniversary celebrations, and appearances from well-known riders.

It now feels less like a conventional track day and more like a celebration of motorcycle culture. That change became obvious as I moved around the venue. I could photograph modern bikes on track, explore historic machinery in the paddock, and then head into the woods to find something completely different, trials riding.

The anniversary displays added another layer to the weekend, giving visitors a chance to see significant motorcycles alongside the people who helped make them famous. For a photographer, it created opportunities away from the main track as well as plenty of action once the bikes started circulating. 

The anniversary celebration also brought familiar faces to Cadwell Park. Carl “Foggy” Fogarty MBE appeared on Saturday thanks to McAMS, while current FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship competitor Katie Hand was also present at the Robspeed stand. 

Ryan Vickes was also present, experiencing some of the great bikes on display. Having riders with such racing experience around the paddock added a unique dimension to the weekend.

Legendary Riders Return to Cadwell

One of the highlights came from the riders invited to the event.

Ian Simpson, a three-time Isle of Man TT winner and British Superbike Champion, rode an iconic Honda Britain RC45 around Cadwell Park. He also spent time meeting fans at the Rev-It Red stand and appeared on the main Saturday night stage with John Reynolds.

Simpson has a strong connection with Cadwell Park. In 1997, he became the only rider to win in the Supersport Powerbike/Superstock and Superbike classes during the same competitive season, including a British Superbike victory at the circuit.

Roger Burnett also brought plenty of history to the weekend. A major figure in 500cc Grand Prix racing during the 1980s, Burnett raced Suzuki and Rothmans Honda machinery before moving into the World FIM Endurance Series. After racing, he became a mentor and manager to riders including Neil Hodgson, James Toseland, and Jonathan Rea.

John Reynolds added another major name to the line-up. The three-time British Superbike Champion recorded 37 BSB wins and 117 podiums during a career spanning nearly two decades. For 2026, Reynolds reunited with his championship-winning Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Seeing riders with that level of experience back on historic machinery added another dimension to the weekend. The bikes were not simply museum pieces. They were being ridden around Cadwell Park.

On 3 Wheels – Trials in the Woods

At Cadwell Moto’s On 3 Wheels classic trials, I swapped the high-speed circuit for woodland challenges. Riders navigated tricky sections with balance, throttle control, and skill, while sidecar teams—rider steering and passenger shifting—added constant motion and excitement.

Photographing the trials required anticipating climbs, slides, and sudden direction changes, with passengers often creating the most dramatic moments. The event was a vivid reminder that motorcycle sport values precision, balance, and teamwork as much as speed, offering a unique visual experience away from the main track.

Moto Cadwell Photographic Post Script

Cadwell Park remains one of my favourite circuits to photograph. Its elevation changes, tight corners, and fast sections constantly create different opportunities. Moving around the circuit allowed me to search for new angles, backgrounds, and moments rather than standing in one position and photographing the same sequence repeatedly.

From a spectator’s viewpoint carrying a camera, the variety of two-wheeled machinery was probably Cadwell Moto’s biggest draw for me.  One minute I’d be capturing a race bike being pushed hard through a corner, and the next I’d be photographing a beautifully presented classic in the paddock or following some slower action through the trees.

With around 18 hours of live track action over the weekend, there were certainly plenty of opportunities. As a spectator, Cadwell Moto offered me the freedom to move around, find different viewpoints, and create a comprehensive photographic record of the event rather than simply focusing on the racing.

For me, that’s what makes Cadwell Park such a pleasure to photograph motorcycles. The circuit itself provides the drama, but the paddock displays historic machinery, and people give the weekend its unique character. Cadwell Moto masterfully combined all these elements, creating a weekend that celebrated both the culture and history of motorcycles as much as the action on track.

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Thanks to RPW Photography for the images used in this Cadwell Moto 2026 report. All other images are by the editor.