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McWilliams on Wilson Craig Honda CBR600RR
Seeley on Ducati Panigale V2
Two extra excessive profile racers have confirmed their Supersport mounts for the 2023 North West 200 with Alastair Seeley on a TAS Ducati Panigale V2 whereas countryman Jeremy McWilliams will contest the occasion on a Wilson Craig Honda CBR600RR.
Only one yr shy of his sixtieth birthday, McWilliams will race a CBR600RR within the Pressure Engineering and Tides Restaurant Supersport races for Darren Gilpin’s squad. A 3-time Supertwin race winner on the occasion, he may also mix his 600cc outings with appearances within the Milltown Service Station and JM Paterson Twins’ occasions aboard a Bayview Resort Paton.
McWilliams rode a Wilson Craig Honda within the 600cc races eventually yr’s Sunflower Trophy occasion. The chance to resume his reference to the workforce for the NW200 got here after Matthew Rees crashed out of the current Cookstown 100 street races, breaking his again and wrist.
McWilliams says there was by no means any doubt he can be again racing at this yr’s NW200 and with a brand new Honda engine on its means from the Ten Kate World Supersport squad he’s wanting ahead to his annual outing across the 8.9 mile Triangle course. The previous Grand Prix winner claimed a 3rd place end in Thursday night’s 600cc race eventually yr’s occasion, producing a superb efficiency on a Burrows/RK Racing Yamaha in moist situations behind Alastair Seeley and Davey Todd.
Jeremy McWilliams
“When the chance arose to be on good bikes just like the Wilson Craig machines and the Bayview Paton it was one to not be missed. It’s important to get away within the wave if you wish to get the slipstream and stick with the leaders to get your self into the best place on the proper time.”
Alastair Seeley, essentially the most profitable rider on the fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200, will line up on a V2 Ducati within the Pressure Engineering and Tides Restaurant Supersport races after a collaboration between Moto Rapido – who run Ducati equipment within the British Superbike and Supersport championships – and Philip and Hector Neill’s TAS Racing workforce. The Italian machine will seem in Powertoolmate livery with Milwaukee assist. The 955cc Italian machine joins the Synetiq Superstock-spec and Milwaukee Superbike M1000RRs in Seeley’s storage on the north coast occasion.
Alastair Seeley
“Ian Hutchinson was resulting from journey the Ducati this yr however after he suffered some well being points it made sense for me to journey it. I haven’t ridden the bike but however hopefully it can put a smile on my face once I do. The Ducati has been spectacular within the British and World Supersport sequence this yr and a Ducati additionally gained at Daytona. It is going to be a problem because the workforce and myself attempt to familiarize yourself with the Ducati however I’m wanting ahead to it. The final Ducati I attempted on the North West didn’t work out too nicely so it could be good if it did work this time.”
The Supersport class has been a profitable stomping floor for the diminutive Carrickfergus racer who has loved 13 victories within the class on the north coast occasion, together with a win on moist roads within the opening 600cc encounter final yr. He went on to say two extra victories within the Turkington and CP Rent Superstock races on the assembly.
“I didn’t make the rostrum on the NW200 in 2019 however profitable three races with IFS Yamaha final yr confirmed that was a blip.” Seeley smiled. “These outcomes contributed to my getting high tier equipment this yr, together with a British Superstock journey. I’ve an excellent package deal over all of the courses now, giving me a greater probability to go for wins.”
Having returned to the 2023 British Superstock sequence with the Synetiq BMW workforce, Seeley will arrive on the north coast with outings at Silverstone and Oulton Park below his belt.
“I’m studying on a regular basis as we journey the BMW which is a very completely different bike to the R1 Yamaha I rode final yr.” he mentioned. “We aren’t missing velocity and I simply must be sure that I qualify nicely and get away with the entrance pack so I could make a problem. Though it’s three years since I used to be within the British championship paddock, I don’t really feel at sea. It’s good to be again.”
Though Seeley is delighted to be again within the British championship fray, the NW200 stays his main precedence. His phenomenal success on the occasion started along with his first race win in 2008 and he feels he nonetheless has unfinished enterprise within the premier Superbike class at Portrush.
“These are the races with essentially the most status, the final race of the day and the one that everybody remembers.” Seeley mentioned, itemizing his Carrickfergus neighbour, Glenn Irwin, as the person to beat.
“Glenn has gained the final six NW200 Superbike races and is doing a superb job. He desires to proceed his profitable streak so it’s as much as the remainder of us to qualify nicely and use a number of the mentality he has to try to beat him.”
He’s assured he has the instruments to reach the premier class this season.
“I examined the Milwaukee Superbike-spec BMW at Kirkistown final week and I felt snug. It felt superior to the IFS Yamaha I rode final yr and I gelled with the bike. I practice laborious and I nonetheless have the motivation. The items of the jigsaw puzzle have come along with good bikes and a superb workforce that may ship good outcomes.”
Seeley is aware of profitable races is not going to come straightforward because the North West as soon as once more performs host to the world’s strongest line-up of street racing expertise.
“It’s a stacked discipline full of huge hitters. The competitors will likely be fierce in all of the courses, as it’s yearly, in opposition to the likes of Lee Johnston, Davey Todd, Michael Dunlop, James Hillier, Dean Harrison, Conor Cummins, Michael Rutter and John McGuinness. Glenn Irwin will likely be there and Peter Hickman will wish to win his first North West Superbike race. However Josh Brookes could possibly be a darkish horse as a result of he appears to have gelled with the FHO Racing BMW. Everybody will likely be in control.”
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