The 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship is set to welcome another major manufacturer to the series, with Royal Enfield confirming it will field a team in this year’s expanded ten-round championship.
The historic marque, which can trace its roots back 125 years, will make its debut in the series with the new Sherpa FT Mk2 machine, which will be ridden by experienced British flat track racer Gary Birtwistle. The 36-year-old, who is also the founder of the Dirt Craft race school, is a two-time national champion and has competed extensively across Europe and the USA.
Birtwistle is set to debut the soon-to-be-launched machine at the opening round of the championship this Saturday (May 9) in Roden, Netherlands.
The 2026 championship will also mark a significant expansion for the series, growing from six to ten rounds and travelling outside Europe for the first time in its history. The season finale will take place in Argentina across October 24-25, with the calendar now spanning eight countries across two continents over five-and-a-half months.
Speaking about the growth of the championship, FIM Track Racing Commission Director Armando Castagna said via FIM Track Racing:
“These are very exciting times for the FIM Flat Track World Championship with growing interest coming from manufacturers, riders and fans as word spreads about what a fast, spectacular and spectator-friendly series this is.
“The involvement of such a long-established and highly-regarded manufacturer as Royal Enfield comes at a very opportune time and is yet further confirmation of the attraction of Flat Track racing. I am looking forward to seeing how the newly extended season unfolds and wish all riders and teams the very best of luck.”
With a mix of established names, emerging talent and new manufacturers entering the paddock, the 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship is shaping up to be one of the biggest seasons in the history of the discipline.
Feature Image courtesy of FIM Track Racing
