Isle of Man TT star Davey Todd confirmed he will miss the 2026 Southern 100 Road Races on the Isle of Man due to injury. Todd sustained serious leg injuries in a crash at the Daytona 200 in early March and is prioritizing recovery, sources said.
Todd’s withdrawal from the Southern 100 Road Races, scheduled for next week on the Billown Circuit near Castletown, ends any prospect of his participation in the 2026 event, according to specialist road-racing media Crash.net. The Southern 100 is a major road race on the Isle of Man, and while a star-studded line-up remains expected, Todd’s absence removes one of the most prominent names from the field. Sources confirmed that Todd’s decision is part of a broader recovery plan following serious injuries sustained in a crash at the Daytona 200 in early March 2026.
Todd suffered a broken left femur and fractured right tibia and foot in the Daytona incident, according to Isle of Man Today.
The severity of these multiple leg fractures has cast significant doubt over his ability to compete in the near term, including his participation in the TT races later this year, which were less than three months away at the time of his crash. Media coverage has described Todd’s 2026 season as “injury-hit,” linking his withdrawal from the Southern 100 directly to the aftermath of his Daytona accident. There has been no indication from Todd or his team contradicting reports that he is prioritizing healing over a premature return to competition.
The impact of Todd’s absence is notable within the road-racing community, as he is widely recognized as a leading Isle of Man TT competitor. The Southern 100 is typically a key mid-season benchmark for road racers, and losing a proven TT front-runner reduces the number of established big-bike contenders on the Billown Circuit. Event previews have acknowledged the reshaping of the competitive landscape, highlighting a strong line-up that will proceed without Todd. His withdrawal also forms part of a wider pattern of top TT riders missing races due to injury in recent seasons.
For example, Peter Hickman, a 14-time TT winner and the fastest rider ever to lap the TT course, was ruled out of all TT 2025 races after sustaining chest, back, shoulder, and facial injuries in a crash during qualifying at Kerrowmoar. TT organizers reported Hickman was “conscious and stable” after the crash and later described his condition as “comfortable” and “in good spirits” while hospitalized at Noble’s Hospital. Hickman’s absence removed a major title contender from the 2025 TT programme, forcing revised competitive expectations.
Similarly, Michael Rutter, a seven-time TT winner, suffered multiple vertebral fractures (L2–L5) and a serious ankle fracture in a TT Supertwin race crash. His team, Bathams Racing, confirmed that surgery successfully stabilized the spinal injuries and that Rutter was able to mobilize on his feet. However, the extent of his injuries led him to step back from faster TT classes for the 2025 season, focusing instead on Supertwin racing.
The 2026 TT season has also been marked by other serious injury cases. Maria Costello, a pioneering female TT competitor, sustained extensive injuries during qualifying on the Mountain Course near Brandish, including a broken back (T5 and T6), broken arm, multiple broken ribs, a grade-4 liver laceration, broken nose and eye socket, and broken sternum. Organizers and fundraising pages report that she is paralyzed below the level of her back injury but remains “serious but stable” as she transferred from Noble’s Hospital to a facility in Liverpool.
Another local rider, Jamie Cringle, was reported by TT organizers as “conscious, stable and talking” after a crash at Union Mills in the Supersport TT. Subsequent medical assessments revealed an open compound fracture of the tibia and fibula, a broken sternum, and bruising to his heart. Additionally, a practice session crash involving eight spectators and a rider resulted in seven individuals, including rider Martin Morris, being discharged from hospital, while two spectators remained hospitalized in the UK. Following this incident, TT officials ordered the viewing area at Parliament Square to remain prohibited for the duration of the 2026 TT races as part of a structured safety review.
The accumulation of high-profile injuries to riders such as Todd, Hickman, Rutter, Costello, and others has underscored ongoing safety concerns within the TT and broader road-racing scene. Organizers have implemented updated safety measures and communication protocols in response to these incidents. These adjustments have affected race calendars and viewing arrangements, reflecting the direct impact of serious injuries on event planning and operations.
Todd’s broken femur and tibia, combined with his confirmed withdrawal from the Southern 100, leave his participation at TT 2026 in serious doubt, according to Isle of Man Today and Crash.net. Organizers and fans remain uncertain whether he will compete later this year, as no formal commitment has been made regarding his return date. The pattern of injury-related absences among leading TT competitors continues to influence the competitive dynamics and scheduling of major road races on the Isle of Man and beyond.
