Stars at Darley Moor 2026: A Sunny Season Finale

The Stars at Darley 2026 meeting always evokes mixed feelings for this motorsport photographer. It is not that I don’t enjoy it – quite the opposite – but it is one of those events that signals the end of the motorcycle racing season for another year. Winter is just around the corner, bringing shorter days, colder weather and my annual bout of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Well, not quite! I don’t actually suffer from SAD, but it does make me sad knowing I won’t be trackside photographing motorcycles in the sunshine for quite some time.

Last weekend, the Stars at Darley 2026 rang the final bell for the season, calling the faithful trackside for one last time. I answered that call, heading into the Derbyshire countryside to enjoy one final visit to this fantastic grassroots circuit of the year. Held annually in October, the Stars meetings I’ve attended in recent years have often delivered the sort of wet and windy conditions you might expect in Derbyshire at this time of year. Remarkably, the 2026 season finale was completely different. Unseasonably bright sunshine bathed the circuit on Sunday, when I made my annual pilgrimage.

The large crowd certainly appreciated the conditions, although the sunshine initially presented a challenge for me. From where I parked up, the sun shone directly into my face, making photography tricky. Rather than fight the light, I headed for the hairpin, where I hoped for better conditions. From there, I planned a leisurely walk anti-clockwise around the circuit, following the sun as it moved across an unusually blue October sky.

The Stars at Darley Moor 2026 Line-Up

Officially titled the Richardson Stars at Darley, the event attracts top riders competing for a coveted trophy that has carried some legendary names over the years. Six-time winner John McGuinness MBE returned to the line-up, continuing his remarkable association with the meeting. I believe this was his 28th consecutive Stars appearance, which is an impressive achievement in itself. He faced a strong field that included TJ Toms and road racers Joey Thompson, Mark Goodings and Rob Hodson, alongside a varied supporting programme.

One of the things I enjoy about Darley Moor is the opportunity to watch several different classes throughout the day. The circuit opens its gates at 08:00, with the first practice sessions scheduled for 10:00. That meant no painfully early start was required, which is always welcome when you’re spending the day carrying camera equipment!

After arriving at the hairpin, I had time to settle in, read the programme and familiarise myself with the running order. Practice and qualifying filled the morning, with a packed schedule of racing to follow in the afternoon.

The hairpin has improved steadily over the years. Its raised viewing bank provides an excellent place to park yourself for a while and watch the action unfold. I hadn’t driven around the circuit, so I was on foot, as usual, exploring the available spectator viewpoints.

For some photographs, I dropped down towards the lower fence to get a closer perspective and warm up my panning technique. There is something particularly satisfying about following a motorcycle through a corner, keeping the rider sharp while the background blurs to convey a sense of speed.

Two-Strokes, Sidecars and Trackside Photography

The morning sunshine provided a glorious soundtrack as the two-strokes arrived on track, delivering that unmistakable ring-a-ding-ding exhaust note. Sidecars added another dimension to the action, while naked 1,000cc motorcycles and machines from the other classes ensured there was plenty to photograph.

For a spectator photographer, this variety is part of the appeal. Different motorcycles behave differently on the circuit, offering changing angles, riding styles and photographic opportunities. Rather than watching the same type of machine lap after lap, there was always something else to catch my eye.

After capturing a collection of photographs at the hairpin, I moved towards Park, the first corner, once the six short practice sessions had finished.

The change of position gave me a fresh perspective on the circuit and helped keep the photography interesting. Moving around a venue rather than staying in one place all day is one of the pleasures of spectator-side motorsport photography, particularly at a compact circuit such as Darley Moor.

Of course, you have to work with the available light, the safety fencing and the viewing positions open to spectators. That’s part of the challenge. Finding the right angle, anticipating where a rider will position the bike and timing the shot as they turn into a corner all add to the enjoyment.

Qualifying, Super Pole and a Battle for Victory

Qualifying provided the first competitive action of the day, with Rob Hodson securing pole position ahead of John McGuinness and TJ Toms.

The Super Pole format has been a highlight of previous Stars meetings. Borrowed from British and World Superbikes, it gives the six fastest qualifiers the chance to complete an out-lap, a flying lap and a cool-down lap. It adds another layer of excitement, putting the spotlight on the fastest riders and giving spectators an extra reason to follow qualifying.

I wasn’t positioned near a track tannoy, however, so I couldn’t clearly follow the session’s format on this occasion. From my viewpoint, it appeared to be a straightforward qualifying session, although I could have missed some of the detail while concentrating on the action and taking photographs.

With qualifying complete, attention turned to the races. The meeting spanned two days, with aggregate scores across the two races determining the final podium, adding another layer of strategy to the weekend. Sunday’s Stars race certainly delivered. McGuinness made an excellent start, taking the lead ahead of Hodson and Thompson.

What followed was a thrilling duel between McGuinness and Hodson, with the pair gradually pulling away from the rest of the field. For much of the race, it looked as though McGuinness would add another victory to his impressive Darley Moor record. His late-braking ability made him particularly difficult to pass, especially into the final corner, where he repeatedly held off Hodson’s advances.

Hodson, however, appeared content to bide his time. Rather than force the issue too early, he stayed in contention and waited for his opportunity. That moment arrived on the final lap. With the pressure mounting and victory within reach, Hodson made his move and found a way past McGuinness to take the race win on the SMT Honda.

It was a superb finish to the headline event and a reminder of why watching racing trackside is so rewarding. Even when you think you know how a race will end, the final lap can change everything.

Stars at Darley Moor 2026 Aggregate Race Results

Pos	No	Rider	Machine	Best Lap
1	44	Rob Hodson	SMT Honda	54.34
2	3	John McGuinness	Honda CBR1000	54.44
3	87	Jake Hopper	Honda Fireblade 1000	55.21
4	2	TJ Toms	Kawasaki 636	55.23
5	48	Cameron Hall	Kawasaki 636	55.58
6	74	Joey Thompson	Yamaha R1 1000	55.17
7	45	Tom Fisher	Kawasaki 600	57.16
8	17	Mark Goodings	BMW S1000 1000	55.98
9	54	Sam Johnson	Honda CBR1000	56.56
10	72	Ricky Tarren	Yamaha 600	57.01
11	22	Danny Lewis	Honda CBR RR/R 1000	57.59
12	127	Jordan Giddings	BMW S1000RR	58.71
13	71	Dave Grace	Yamaha R6 600	58.72
14	43	Stephen Degnan	Kawasaki ZX10RR	1:00.63

Club Racing and the Future of Darley Moor

Alongside the main event, a full programme of club racing kept the weekend buzzing with activity. As a once-or twice-a-year visitor to Darley Moor, I sometimes struggle to keep track of every rider and championship, but the excellent commentary team made all the difference. Their insights and enthusiasm brought the races to life, while interviews and discussions between sessions kept the crowd entertained.

One subject particularly caught my attention: Darley Moor’s future. A for-sale sign had appeared at the circuit entrance earlier in the year, understandably raising concerns about the future of this much-loved venue.

In January 2026, the landlords officially put the 180-acre site on the market. With a history stretching back around 60 years, Darley Moor has become an important home for grassroots motorcycle and kart racing.

Thankfully, there was some encouraging news when Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Racing Club Ltd confirmed that its lease had been extended for another five years. That provides some breathing space, although the longer-term picture remains uncertain. Derbyshire Dales District Council has identified the airfield and racetrack as a broad location for a proposed garden village development, leaving questions about what the future might hold.

For me, Darley Moor represents everything that makes watching motorcycle racing trackside so rewarding. You can get close to the action, hear the engines working hard, feel the atmosphere build as the bikes charge past and appreciate the commitment of riders competing at club level.

There is a genuine community spirit here, with competitors, teams, volunteers and spectators contributing to a weekend that offers far more than racing alone. These are the places where a passion for motorsport grows, where families introduce the next generation to racing and where local competitors can pursue their ambitions in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

Why Grassroots Circuits Matter

Darley Moor also plays an important role beyond the circuit itself. Local engineering businesses, tyre suppliers, fuel stations, caterers, hotels and tourism-related businesses all benefit from the racing calendar. Every meeting brings visitors into the area and supports the wider network of businesses that help keep grassroots motorsport moving.

I sincerely hope Darley Moor continues to welcome racers and spectators for many years to come. There is something special about spending a day beside a live racing circuit, watching real people push themselves and their machines to the limit. The sound, atmosphere and anticipation of a close finish are experiences no screen can fully reproduce.

As the 2026 motorcycle racing season draws to a close, the Richardson Stars at Darley provided a fitting finale: sunshine, a varied programme, an excellent crowd and a last-lap battle worthy of the occasion. Winter may now be approaching, but I am already looking forward to returning trackside next season.

If you enjoy motorcycle racing, support your local circuits whenever you can. Buy a ticket, visit the paddock and cheer on the riders. Every visit helps keep these venues alive and gives future generations the opportunity to discover the same excitement, noise and community spirit that make days at Darley Moor so enjoyable.

Once a circuit is gone, it is gone. Let’s do what we can to ensure Darley Moor remains part of Britain’s grassroots racing scene for years to come.