Seeley to race Gearlink Kawasaki at 2016 International North West 200

Alastair Seeley celebrates winning the Supersport race in 2013.
PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON — Alastair Seeley celebrates winning the Supersport race in 2013. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON

Having equalled Robert Dunlop’s all-time record of 15 North West wins last season, the Carrickfergus rider will be aiming for a 16th victory as he is reunited with the 600cc British championship team he raced for in 2013.

“I hope we can start where we left off at the NW200 in 2013, where I won with GearLink,” the 36 year old said.

Seeley won a sensational 600cc race in 2013 after starting from the second row of the grid and passing early leader Michael Dunlop to take the chequered flag.

His treble at last year’s event sees the diminutive Carrickfergus racer Seeley poised to become the most successful rider in the history of the North Coast event.

“Anything I’ve asked for for the North West this year, Michael de Bidaph has agreed, and he assures me we will have strong motors, which I’m buzzing about,” Seeley said.

“Although I’m changing teams, I still believe I’ve as good a chance as ever at the North West and the main classes for me will be the Superbike and Superstock classes.

“The bike model hasn’t changed for a number of years so hopefully I can just dial in my previous settings and be good to go from the start.”

GearLink team, de Bidaph is determined to see Seeley lift the record on his green and orange machinery.

“This will be our fourth year of racing at the North West 200 and we love coming to Northern Ireland,” De Bidaph said.

“It would be amazing for Alastair to break the record on our bike and we will put out everything we have got for him to do the job.”

Ben Wilson, who will be making his second appearance on the 8.9 mile Triangle circuit after debuting at Portrush last year, will join Seeley on a second Kawasaki ZX6R .

Although it is widely known that North West 200 joint-record holder Seeley will be riding BMW machinery in British Superbike this season, he was unable to confirm his team plans.

“I’ll be on BMW machinery and although it will not be with the TAS boys, the package will not be much different,” continued Seeley.

“The last times I rode a full season in British Superbike - 2010 and 2012 - I was strong at the North West, so I’ll be looking to continue that this year,” added the 36-year-old, whose 2016 BSB plans will be officially announced later this month.