North West 200 Supersport showdown has makings of a classic

North West 200 Supersport showdown has makings of a classic - Printable Version

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North West 200 Supersport showdown has makings of a classic - Malcolm - 08-05-2013

The rivalry between current British Supersport Championship hotshots Alastair Seeley and Stuart Easton will be under intense scrutiny ahead of the Vauxhall International North West 200.

It is entirely conceivable that Gearlink Kawasaki star Seeley and Easton, representing the Mar-Train Racing Yamaha team, will replicate their British confrontations on the 8.9-mile public roads circuit, with both equally determined to put one over on the other.

But there exists a potentially more fiery conflict, with William Dunlop preparing himself for the opening Supersport 600 encounter on Thursday evening, May 16, with the manner of his last-lap defeat at the hands of Seeley in 2012 still fresh in his mind.

Dunlop won the first Supersport race last year and was leading the second when he was overtaken by Seeley at Church Corner, who went on to take the silverware.

The 27-year-old indicated his disapproval of the move in front of the television cameras afterwards, refusing to shake Seeley’s hand and claiming he had been the victim of a risky pass.

Dunlop expects to be right in the frame for victory again on the trick Milwaukee/CD Racing Yamaha R6, but isn’t anticipating a two-horse race.

To add more fuel to the fire, Michael Dunlop could join the party on his World Superpsort-specification Honda CBR600RR and riders of the ilk of Bruce Anstey (Padgetts Honda) and Aussie Cameron Donald on Wilson Craig’s ultra-quick Honda can never be discounted, with Gary Johnston a fascinating prospect on Jack Valentine’s ValMoto MV Agusta 675.

“I’m on a bike that’s probably better than the one I had last year, but then again Seeley is on a better bike and Easton has a strong bike as well,” Dunlop told the News Letter.

“Michael could be a dark horse as well on his Honda so there’s a few riders involved – it won’t be a two-horse race.

“The 600 Yamaha is a good bike but it’s a tough class. It’s so hard to make a break because the bikes are pretty evenly matched.

“You could end up being sixth because it’s so competitive,” he added.

“You can’t really aim towards one person and you never know at the North West – it can come down to whoever’s bike is the best on the day and you need a bit of luck as well.”

Seeley on the Kawaski just heading Easton

Seeley, a triple winner in the Superbike, Superstock and Supersport classes at the North West 200 in 2012, is playing his cards equally close to his chest.

“I’m not going to predict any wins this year,” he said. “If you say that you are going to do this or that and you don’t win then people only remember what you didn’t do rather than what you achieved.

“My main goal for 2013 is podium results in all the classes,” added the eight-times NW200 winner.

“With two podiums at Brands and two more at Thruxton we have had a strong start to the championship and shown that the Kawasaki can work with the Yamaha, which everyone says is a missile,” added Seeley.

“Whichever bike I have ridden in the British championship in previous years has always been the bike I feel most comfortable on when I get to the North West and that will be the Supersport bike this year.”

Seeley will also ride for MSS Kawasaki in the Superbike and Superstock races.