BIKES: Easton makes North West 200 return

It was revealed last month that the diminutive Scot, who won the Macau Grand Prix for the second year in succession last November, was desperate to compete at the north coast showpiece if a deal could be struck with the race organisers.

North West 200 Race Director Mervyn Whyte had initially hoped to bring the Hawick rider to the North West last year, but has succeeded in securing Easton's signature for the 2010 event.

The 26-year-old has entered both Superbike races on the 1000cc Swan Honda Fireblade he will ride in the British Superbike Championship plus the Superstock class.

Easton, who finished third overall in last year's BSB series behind Leon Camier and James Ellison, last month said he felt confident he could challenge established Superbike frontrunners of the calibre of Steve Plater, Bruce Anstey, John McGuinness and Cameron Donald for honours in Portstewart.

"Basically I'm ready to go, I'm up for it," Easton said at the time. "Obviously, the British Superbike Championship is top of the list for me this season and everything else will be planned around that.

"I've been to the North West before and I already know my way around the circuit. I've got a season under my belt already on the Honda Superbike and I'll have had even more time on the bike by the time the North West comes around, so on a good bike I think I can be competitive there."

Easton has remained with Shaun Muir's BSB Honda outfit for a second term, which will run in the colours of Swan tobacco products following a previous association with Hydrex. He will be partnered in the series by James Ellison as the team bids to challenge for the British title.

Easton joined riders including William and Michael Dunlop, Ian Hutchinson and Alastair Seeley on the north coast last week to assess safety work being carried out at Mather’s Cross.

On his last visit to the North West 200 in 2007 the former British Supersport Champion finished in ninth and seventh places in the Supersport class and ninth in the feature Superbike race on the MSS Discovery Kawasaki.

Easton added: “I entered as a rookie in 2004 but my bike suffered a series of mechanical problems so my debut wasn’t overly memorable.

“However in 2006 I gained fourth and sixth positions in the Supersport races and this year I’m really hoping to improve my North West 200 record.

“As well as competing in the Superbike races, I’ll be riding in the Superstock event.”

Yorkshireman Ian Hutchinson will contest five race races under the Padgetts Honda banner, with Dungannon’s Ryan Farquhar entering the Superbike races on the MSS Kawasaki and switching to his own KMR machines for the Supersport and Superstock classes.

Crumlin’s Stephen Thompson will also be MSS Kawasaki-mounted in the Superbike races at the North West 200.

Thompson previously rode for Nick Morgan’s MSS team at the Macau Grand Prix in 2005, finishing a respectable fifth.

Eight times NW200 winner Steve Plater and John McGuinness will spearhead the HM Plant Honda team’s assault in the Superbike races, with both riders joining Hutchinson on Padgetts Honda machinery for the 600cc races.

Plater, who will contest the National Superstock Championship for HM Plant Honda in 2010, will ride his British championship machine in the Superstock race, with McGuinness lining up on the Padgetts Fireblade.

Ballymoney brothers William and Michael Dunlop, plus Guy Martin (Wilson Craig Honda), Keith Amor (JMF Millsport Yamaha), Conor Cummins (McAdoo Kawasaki), two-times Superstock race winner Alastair Seeley (Relentless TAS Suzuki) and his team-mates Bruce Anstey and Cameron Donald are also among the top entries.

This year, the NW200 Superbike race will be backed for the first time by Greenline.

Clinton Enterprises and Ballymoney Borough Council will sponsor the Supersport races.

A daytime practice session will be held for the first time on Thursday, May 13, with roads closed between 9.30am and 3pm.

Grandstand seats will be available to book online from Friday by visiting the official NW200 website at: www.northwest200.org.