NW200: Easton guarded over Superbike prospects

Scottish rider Stuart Easton will start as one of the favourites for the Supersport class at the North West 200 but the Mar-Train Racing Yamaha star is unsure of his prospects on the R1 Superbike.

Easton has only tested the machine once and although he has another shakedown on the 1000cc Yamaha pencilled in this week, he admits the two premier class races at the international roads meeting next week will be something of an 'unknown'.

The 29-year-old confirmed before Christmas that he intended to compete in both the Supersport and Superbike classes at the North West 200.

"With regards to the R1, we've only tested it once to sort out some fuelling issues and to get myself comfortable on the bike," Easton said.

"I'll be getting another run on it this week and while it's a bit of an unknown, we do know how capable the R1 has been in the British Superbike Championship and we know that it's fast - so yes I'm looking forward to riding it at the North West."

Easton has made a stunning start to the British Supersport Championship, winning four of the six races so far to trail Alastair Seeley by two points after the first three rounds.

Mar-Train Racing team principal, Tim Martin, says that although the British series is the team's top goal in 2013, a victory at the North West 200 for the Northern Ireland-based team is high on the agenda.

"Anyone that's involved in bike racing locally has to be a fan of the North West and I'm no different.

"It's a great event that I've always enjoyed and now that we have someone with Stuart's pedigree on our bikes, I have to be honest and say the whole team is pretty excited about the week ahead," he said.

"Adding the R1 for the Superbike class gives us four races at the meeting, and whilst the British Supersport Championship remains our number one goal this season - we will enjoy the week on the North Coast.

"If podium champagne is offered up, we'll be happy to spray it, that's for sure!"