A 22-year-old motorcycle racer wearing a top hat in the paddock certainly draws attention, but for Storm Stacey, it's more than just a fashion statement—it's a deliberate conversation starter about mental health.
Stacey was just 13 when he discovered his father had died by suicide, an experience that profoundly shaped both his career and his approach to life. "You wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy, and nothing can prepare you for that," Stacey revealed. "But it toughens you up. I could have gone down a destructive path, but what kept me going was motorbike racing. It gave me purpose and something to fight for."
"I could have gone down the road of drugs, partying, gone off the rails, probably be in prison. But what kept me going was motorbike racing. It gave me purpose and something to do, something to keep fighting for."
Engines run in Stacey's blood. He first rode a motorcycle at age three, inheriting his passion for both bikes and cars from his late father. His collection includes everything from a 1966 Ford Mustang passed down from his father to a Rolls-Royce and a Ford Fiesta R2 rally car. Interestingly, Stacey was named after the Lister Storm, a rare British sports car from the 1990s.
Despite this deep connection to motorsports, Stacey admits he was never much of a spectator. When his father suggested watching races, young Storm would rather be riding than watching. "I got really jealous," he confessed. "I see people doing stuff and I want to do it. I'm not a good watcher at all."
After his father's death, Stacey's mother made a significant sacrifice, using "the last bits of money we had" to fund his 2019 racing season. The gamble paid off spectacularly—he nearly won the British Superstock 600 title and earned a spot in the prestigious British Superbike Championship.
"I said to mum 'right, this is one year, we'll do it now', and if it doesn't work out then we'll knock it on the head," Stacey recalled. "You hear about parents selling houses to fund racing careers, but that level of risk was too uncertain for my family."
Stacey made his British Superbike Championship debut in 2020, missing out on becoming the series' youngest rider only because the season was delayed by the pandemic. Now, he's preparing for another milestone—his debut at the legendary North West 200 road race in May.
Through it all, that distinctive top hat remains part of his identity. "People love it," Stacey says. "It's my armour." More importantly, it serves as an invitation for others to open up about their struggles, turning personal tragedy into a platform for connection and resilience in the high-speed world of motorcycle racing.