Alastair Seeley is gunning for a landmark 30th victory at the Briggs Equipment North West 200 in May after the record 29-time winner’s return to the event was confirmed last night at the launch of the event in Belfast.
Seeley was absent from Northern Ireland’s top road race in 2024 due to a lack of competitive machinery.
However, the 45-year-old is fired up to return in style this year, when he will ride a BMW M1000RR backed by SMS/Nicholl Oils Racing in the Superbike and Superstock races.
The Carrickfergus man said missing out on his favourite motorcycling event last year had lit the fire in his belly as he sets his sights on furthering his remarkable tally of victories around the 8.9-mile Portrush-Coleraine-Portstewart course.
“The main thing for me is that I am coming back on what I feel will be a competitive machine,” said Seeley.
“It is my old bike and I expect it to be competitive at the North West.
“It is a fast bike and speed works at the NW200. I will have a new crew to get used to and I will have to get dialled in and re-learn the bike but the year out makes me hungry and ready to come back and prove that I should never have been away.”
Seeley rode the same BMW in 2023 under the Synetiq banner for TAS Racing, when he clinched a Superstock double at the North West and finished third in the British Superstock 1000 Championship.
Last year, the machine was raced by fellow Northern Ireland rider David Allingham in the Superstock series.
The former British Supersport and Superstock champion is confident he will have enough time on the bike during testing to arrive ready to challenge at the sharp end at the North West.
“We will be doing the pre-season BSB tests and there are also plans to take in some Spanish testing as well,” Seeley added.
“I need that time on the bike so I don’t arrive rusty at the North West. I am back in full training mode because I want to add more North West wins to the 29 I already have.
“The 30th win is a huge landmark and a big goal for me.
“I always said if I could match my race number – 34 – in North West wins I would hang up the boots, but being realistic I am five away from that so a 30th win is what I am looking for now.
“I want to come back with a bang and see if we can do it in May.”
For Seeley’s team bosses, Steven McShane and Gary Nicholl, securing his services has been a work in progress which has finally come to fruition and ‘a dream come true’.
“I never thought I would be in this position,” added utilities contractor McShane.
“We were working on this deal for last year but it all came just too late.
“Now it will happen in 2025 and if Alastair gets that 30th victory it will be the stuff that dreams are made of.”
Nicholl, a former title sponsor of the North West 200, added: “It is really special to have someone of Alastair’s calibre on our bike at the North West.
“Alastair is already the NW200’s most successful rider and if he can get that 30th win it could be something that might never be achieved by anyone else.”
Race chief Mervyn Whyte is also thrilled that Seeley will be back on the grid this year.
“Alastair Seeley’s record at the North West 200 speaks for itself and everyone involved with the event is delighted to have him back on the grid onboard top class machinery that is capable of providing him with a famous victory,” said Whyte.
“Although there will be plenty of competition, Alastair is definitely capable of producing a fairytale result that would thrill the fans.”
A plethora of the sport’s biggest names attended the launch, including John McGuinness, Dean Harrison, Davey Todd, Conor Cummins, Michael Rutter and Jeremy McWilliams and Michael Sweeney.