Former Senior Manx Grand Prix winner and TT rider Matt Stevenson has admitted he could see himself living on the Isle of Man, describing his visits to the island as being ‘like Christmas every day’.

The Yorkshire road racer, who is a familiar and popular figure around the paddock thanks in part to his trademark long mullet, was speaking to the Manx Independent after the Classic TT awards ceremony at the Monster Energy TT Fan Park.

Stevenson first came to the island to race in 2017 and went on to win the Senior Manx Grand Prix in 2018, earning himself a place with the People’s Bike team for the 2019 TT.

Asked what he thought about the Isle of Man itself, Stevenson said: ‘I’ll be honest. I think I could live here.’

When asked whether it had become a home away from home, he replied: ‘Yeah. Is it like a holiday. When you come here and you’re on the ferry over, it’s like we’re going back to our second home, and that’s like nine years now. It really is.’

He added with a smile: ‘Just think if I live here, it’d be like Christmas every day.’

Stevenson’s affection for the island is matched by his willingness to engage with the people who make up the TT and Manx Grand Prix community.

The rider is regularly stopped by fans in the paddock and said he would always make time for them.

‘Always stop and chat, have a laugh, have a crack,’ he said.

He picked Stephen Parsons as his ‘best friend in the paddock’ and also backed 23-time TT winner John McGuinness to continue achieving big things.

Asked whether he expected McGuinness to be capable of adding to his tally, Stevenson said: ‘I can imagine. From what I’ve heard, he’s investing a lot of his money, and good on him as you should do.

‘That’s what you’ve got to do to live life. You’re born with nothing, you die with nothing. A little bit of money in between. Spend a lot of it.’

Stevenson’s own 2026 TT and Manx Grand Prix campaigns did not go entirely to plan, but he remained focused on returning to the Mountain Course.

‘No, not so good,’ he joked when asked to assess his year.

His road racing form elsewhere has, however, provided encouragement. Earlier this month at the Armoy Road Races, Stevenson recorded personal bests on both bikes and secured a third-place finish after a close battle.

Stevenson’s TT career began after his 2018 Manx Grand Prix success, with his debut coming in 2019 on BMW machinery in the Superbike, Superstock and Senior classes and a Yamaha R6 in the Supersport races.

His 2023 TT was brought to a premature end when he crashed at Creg-ny-Baa during Tuesday evening qualifying and broke his leg.

Asked about the hardest corner on the TT course, he had a simple answer: ‘Ballagarey.’

But after years of returning to the island with his bikes, Stevenson’s enthusiasm for the Mountain Course remains undiminished.