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Family's pride as superbike winner spreads mental health message

Laura May McMullan in Eccleshall
Family A 23-year-old young man showing off a nice big smile, wearing his top hat and a beige T-shirt with the word 'storm' on the front. He is sitting in the family kitchen holding his dog Dolly on his knee, which is a creamy, beige French Bulldog. Behind there is a picture of him in a frame on the breakfast bar, when he came first at the Goodwood Motorsport event in April. There is also a selection of big trophies and medals on the table in the background.Family
Storm Stacey's dog Dolly is his mascot and travels to all the races with him

Warning: This article contains themes of suicide and mental health

For the family of a rising motor-sport star, it is not just his wins that are making them proud of him, it is also how he is raising awareness around mental health, after the death of his father.

Storm Stacey was 13 when he found out his dad had taken his own life.

A rising star in the British Superbike Championship, he has spoken openly of how that major life event affected him and how he channels it into his sport "to go faster and be better".

For his older sister, Lola Stacey, she remembers how traumatic it was at the time, losing their dad.

She supports Stacey at his races along with the rest of their family and documents his achievements, along with recording videos for his social media.

"Dad was such a massive advocate for positive mental attitude," she told me. "He had bipolar disorder, so obviously he was really struggling with the things that were going on his brain.

"It was hard for [Stacey] to figure out where he was going to go and how he was going to make it happen.

"But the thing is with Storm, is that he will make anything happen if he wants it to happen, and we did get that from our dad."

Family Storm's sister is smiling to camera and wearing a black vest top. She has long blond hair at the back which is cut short into a thick fringe at the front and sides. She has tattoos covering her chest and some on her arms and has four chains around her neck and is also wearing big hoop earrings. She is standing in front of a big vehicle with various pink, gold, red, brown, green, black and grey symbols on.Family
Storm's sister Lola Stacey said she was very proud of her brother

Stacey, from Eccleshall, Staffordshire, is well-known for a particular item of clothing he can often be seen in, away from racing - his top hat.

He believes it is a conversation starter and a way to encourage people to open up about their feelings.

"[My dad] wore cowboy hats, top hats, so I wear the top hat in memory of my dad to support mental health and to get people to talk more," he said.

"The amount of times I'd love to ask my dad certain questions, and I'll never be able to do that again now.

"But being able to use it as fuel to go faster and be better and be stronger, and it shows people that if I can do it, I'm no different to anyone else."

Family Twenty-three-year-old Storm is sat smiling to camera in the family kitchen, alongside his girlfriend, mum and mum's partner. Storm is wearing a top hat, beige T-shirt with the word 'storm' on it and sitting, leaning on the breakfast bar. His girlfriend is stood beside him. She is also smiling and standing at the breakfast bar. She has long light brown, wavy hair and is wearing a cream vest top. Storm's mum is standing opposite at the breakfast bar. She has long light blond hair and is also smiling to camera. She is wearing a cream shirt with light green stripes and white jeans. Standing next to Storm's mum is her partner. He is also smiling to camera. He has black/grey spikey hair and a black/grey short beard. He is wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans.Family
Storm Stacey often wears his signature top hat away from the track

Stacey's mum, Victoria Davies, said she was proud of his efforts around mental health awareness as well as his success on the track.

"I'm incredibly proud. It's been a really good journey. Obviously he was so young when he started," she said.

"But the whole way through from racing mini bikes, and right the way through, I just knew he'd be able to do this. It's exciting where it's going to lead to as well."

SB Media Solutions A young Storm Stacey, approximately 12 or 13 years of age, dressed in a black, grey and white race suit. He's standing next to his dad and having their photograph taken. Storm's dad is wearing a black top hat. He has a grey goatee type beard and smiling, holding Storm with his arm around his shoulder. He's wearing a patterned golden/orange waistcoat with a white shirt underneath and a black coat over the top.SB Media Solutions
Stacey (left) said his dad (right) was known for his hats and he took the wearing of a top hat from him

At 23, Stacey made his first appearance in May in the North West 200 in Northern Ireland and won the Superstock Race and second Superbike event.

He was already one of the prominent figures in the British Superbikes Championship at the time, claiming his debut race win at Snetterton in 2024 and his ambition is growing.

PACEMAKER Three male superbike riders standing on podiums in first, second and third place, in front of a big sponsors board showing it is the North West 200 race week. Two male support staff are also standing alongside. The winner Storm Stacey is standing on the number one podium, smiling and wearing a top hat and holding his index finger (pointer finger) up to show that he is number one. He's also holding a gold bottle of champagne and has a winners trophy, saying N.W 200 on it alongside his helmet, by his feet. It is a bright sunny day.PACEMAKER
Storm Stacey secured two wins on his debut in the North West 200

This year he is aiming for a top-five finish in the championship and one day hopes to compete at the Superbike World Championship.

"I want to be British Superbike Champion. Do I want to be British Superbikes Champion once? No, I want to be it a couple of times, I'm greedy," he grinned.

"I'm still one of the youngest in the championship, doing what I'm doing.

"I've almost got a head start with everything that I've been doing, so I'm only going to get better and stronger and hopefully unbeatable."

If you have been affected by issues raised in this article, there is information and support available on BBC Action Line.

British Superbikes Championship Storm Stacey dressed all in black leather clothing on his motorbike, slanted and leaning over to one side, with his knee almost skimming the ground. His race number 79 clearly visible of the front of his bikeBritish Superbikes Championship
Storm Stacey said he was targeting becoming a multiple winner of the British Superbike Championship
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