East Antrim’s Seeley links up with Mar-Train

Alastair Seeley with the Mar-Train Yamaha R6 that he will race at the Vauxhall International North West 200 and in the British Supersport championship in 2014. The ten times North West winner and runner up in the 2013 British Supersport series has joined the locally-based race team for the new season.

The Carrickfergus rider’s main goal next season will be to retain the British Supersport title that Mar-Train Racing clinched earlier last month with Scottish rider, Stuart Easton.

Seeley was Easton’s main challenger in the middleweight division this year, and is excited to be joining his local team in British championship and also at the International North West 200 next May.

A delighted Seeley said: “It was an absolute no-brainer for me to join Mar-Train Racing for the 2014 season. I watched Easton on the Yamaha R6 all year, so I knew it was a fast competitive package and for me it’s the bike to be on.

“Another big factor for me was working with a local team again, as this has brought me success in the past – so I’ll be doing my best to retain the British Supersport crown for Tim and Sonya and the whole Mar-Train team.”

Looking ahead to the North West 200, Seeley is equally convinced that he can give Mar-Train Racing their first victory at the North Coast Triangle; whilst increasing his win tally at his only road race of the season.

On the subject, he added: “I don’t feel a lot of pressure going to the North West. With 10 wins racked up already, my aim for the rest of my career is to equal or better the 15 wins of Robert Dunlop at the North West.

“Robert was a great rider, both on the circuits and on the roads, so if I could even match what he’s achieved around the North West, I’ll feel pretty proud. But the main goal for next season is to get Mar-Train Racing on the top step; everything else after that is a bonus.”

Team Principal Tim Martin said: “We spoke to Alastair about riding for us this season, but for whatever reason that didn’t work out.

“In hindsight, it maybe wasn’t a bad thing as it gave us another year to establish ourselves in the class, and he now comes to a British championship winning team.”

Looking ahead to the NW200, Martin added: “I’ve always wanted to win a North West 200 since we started racing, and having Alastair onboard certainly puts us in the frame for doing that. There are no guarantees in this job, but our aim is to go there now and put a good show on.”