David Allingham: Northern Ireland Rider Chases the Perfect Double

David Allingham is a motorcycle racer from Northern Ireland who is having the best season of his life. He has won seven out of nine races in the British Superstock Championship in 2024. His success is not just about speed on the track — it is also the story of a person who rebuilt his confidence after some very tough times.

Allingham says that if someone had offered him seven wins from nine races back in January, he would have taken it without thinking twice. That kind of record has made him one of the most exciting riders to watch this season. People who follow motorcycle racing say his story is one of the most compelling of the year.

A big turning point came at a race weekend at Brands Hatch last year, where Allingham won twice in one weekend. He went home feeling like a different racer. 'I came home that weekend and said, you know what, I can actually do this — at every track, not just Brands Hatch,' he said on the BBC Bikes podcast.

Before that breakthrough, Allingham struggled badly with his confidence. He tried working with sports psychologists to help his mindset, but he found it made things harder, not easier. He said the process was nearly over-complicating the whole job and just added more pressure to an already stressful situation.

The real help came from the people closest to him. His fiancée, Megan, became someone he could talk to, lean on, and trust every day. She motivated him when he felt like giving up, and she played a huge role in keeping him in the sport.

After Allingham broke his leg in a crash at Thruxton, he seriously thought about quitting racing for good. He told Megan he was not sure he wanted to carry on with the sport. She pushed back firmly and gave him the encouragement he needed to keep going.

'She nearly told me off and told me you have got this, start believing in yourself and the champagne will taste even sweeter when we win,' Allingham recalled. Those words clearly stayed with him through the hard times. Now the two of them share a very special goal for the end of the season.

Allingham has said his dream is to win the British Championship and then get married to Megan the very next week. 'That would be a perfect ending to a defining year,' he said. It is a goal that gives him extra motivation every time he gets on his bike.

His team has also been a huge part of his comeback. The SMS/Nicholl's Oils BMW squad is based in the small Northern Irish towns of Eglinton and Greysteel, and they helped build his confidence back up after his injuries. Allingham says the first thing his teammates did was 'put an arm around me,' which meant the world to him.

With the championship still up for grabs, Allingham is riding with belief, focus, and a very personal reason to win. He has come a long way from the rider who once thought about walking away from the sport. Now, he is chasing not just a title — but the perfect double.