True Heroes Racing – More Than Just A Race Team

The 2026 British Superbike season sees long-term campaigners, True Heroes Racing, return for their fourteenth season within the BSB paddock.

2026 sees the team lineup with a five-rider team, with Charlie White and Paul Cunvin entered aboard Honda CBR Fireblades in the National Superstock class, and Leon Wilton, Kenny Macleod and Chris Duggan all riding for the team in the BMW F900R Cup.

Although they are there to compete and do the very best that they can, the purpose of True Heroes Racing’s presence extends far, far beyond just what happens on track.

Whilst the team and behind-the-scenes staff are an essential part of any race team, for True Heroes Racing, they are integral to the reason why the team even exists and goes racing. And whilst important, unlike in other teams, the riders are not the sole focal point of why they go racing. The team is made up of UK Armed Forces beneficiaries, who are the backbone of the squad. With UK Military Veterans forming the largest part of the team make up, many with significant physical and mental health challenges.

Unlike other teams in the paddock, none of those making up the essential parts of the team gets paid for what they do, meaning that the team is made up of individuals who are there purely through passion and a love of being there. In turn, the team offers an incredible opportunity to those who want to join it, finding camaraderie and purpose that they may not find elsewhere either in a military-based environment or “Civilian Street” for those in the Veteran space. Their achievements also prove routinely what is still possible post Military Service, even with challenges on a physical front.

Without these dedicated team members, there would be no team at all. This ethos is the foundation of the team, which is itself a Not-For-Profit organisation operating within the charitable space, and, despite some potential misconceptions, the team receives no financial backing from the UK military or large-scale Armed Forces Charities. Rather, they rely on sponsorship and donations to keep them returning to the paddock each year and providing their unique beneficiary opportunities for those they support.

The team was set up in 2012 and from day one has been run by Phil Spencer, a still-serving member of the Royal Navy, and Lisette Taylor, who also has full-time responsibilities outside the team. Like the other members of the team, neither gets paid for being there or the time and effort they put in behind the scenes keeping the organisation running.

This is one thing that makes True Heroes Racing so unique, whilst BSB is full of independently run teams in the support classes – True Heroes Racing holds one of the largest presences in the paddock, achieving this without the support or financial backing that enable most of the other large professional teams to operate.  

Despite not competing in the blue-ribbon Superbike class, True Heroes Racing still draws a large number of supporters to each venue, and you will routinely see large groups of people either outside the team awning or members of the BSB fanbase walking around and spectating in True Heroes Racing branded merchandise.

If you are to go into the team’s awning, you will likely see the team motto, ‘Engage, Empower, Inspire’ and none could be truer for an outfit that has been breaking the mould of what you would expect to find in a ‘typical’ race team for over a decade now.

Team principal and founder, Phil Spencer, had the following to say about their 2026 season:

”2026 signifies a return to a 5 rider line up at the prestigious British Superbike Championships for us, but alongside that we have an enhanced line up in our Grassroots and Club racing programs with the North Gloucester Road Racing Club, with whom we have partnered since day one back in 2012. BUT True Heroes Racing exists for more than just the on-track activity, as our slogan says we are ‘More Than Just A Race Team’ and every member benefits in some way from their involvement with us…some considerable more than others and by being involved in a high adrenaline activity that gives them respite from their daily challenges we are able to help them deal with their demons.

Suicide within the UK Armed Forces Veteran community is the biggest killer, especially among males who are infamously closed when it comes to talking about their feelings. We are also able to inspire both our beneficiaries and the wider audience with the physical challenges we overcome as a team. Showing in a very public forum just what is still possible post injury and retirement from the UK Military.

We’re extremely grateful to all those companies and supporters who make our activities a reality and enable us to support those we do. Even after almost 15 years there is still a strong misconception that we are funded by the Government, which is just not the case. Maybe our strong presence, size and good presentation make people assume we are well funded, but that’s probably more down to the classic Military mentality and routine of portraying ourselves in the best light in the public eye. We fight hard every year to secure every penny of sponsorship and every year this is more of challenge as costs go up and my aspirations to do more and support more people increase!!!

2026 will hopefully be a good year for us and we have some real achievements on the horizon, none more so than the culmination of our inaugural Grassroots Rider Development Program where our first ever beneficiary of this activity, Chris Duggan, completes his journey by stepping up to race at a National level in the BMW F900R Cup at the British Superbike Championships. No small achievement when you consider 5 years ago, he’d never taken to the track or owned an ACU race licence, added to which the physical challenges he faces every day as a single leg amputee from his service in the British Army.

So, if you’re anywhere near a race circuit this year why not keep an eye out for our distinctive Orange and Black livered race bikes and pop down to the paddock for a chat.”