Britton in Superbike chance

By Richard Petrie
BBC Sport

Adrian Archibald will be hoping to add to his solitary NW 200 win

Richard Britton hopes to claim his first Superbike win at an international road race when he competes on a Rizla Suzuki at the North West 200 on 15 May.

The County Fermamagh rider will be aboard the GSX-R1000 Suzuki F04 which is normally ridden by Yukio Kagayama in the British Superbike Championship.

"We will have to make some changes to the bike but I am looking forward to it. We should have plenty of speed.

"I like the circuit and if everything goes well, I hope to be challenging."

Britton, who won the Production race at the seaside circuit in 2000, will face stiff competition from a number of fellow Irishmen and a strong contingent of visiting riders.

Adrian Archibald and New Zealander Bruce Anstey will be aboard the TAS Suzukis and both riders will be looking to add to their solitary wins at the 'North West'.

Michael Rutter has eight victories to his name and will start as favourite on board the HM Plant Honda CBR1000 on which he currently lies second in the British Superbike series.

Ryan Farquhar claimed two wins at last year's NW 200

Rutter will hope that the clutch problems which have seen him make several poor starts this year will not hamper his efforts.

Lancastrian John McGuinness should be competing on a 1000cc Yamaha and Ryan Farquhar, a double winner last year, will campaign a new ZXR1000 Kawasaki.

Scottish rider Stuart Easton makes his debut at the event on a Ducati and Darran Lindsay will hope to add to the five successes he has enjoyed in the two national road races in Ulster this season.

Veteran Welsh rider Ian Lougher will again be a major threat as he competes in five of the six races on a variety of Honda machinery.

Other riders expected to make an impact in the Superbike, 600cc and Production races include Martin Finnegan, Guy Martin, Stephen Thompson, Callum Ramsay and newcomers Steve Allan and Steve Brogan.

The 125cc race looks set to be a cracker with Lougher being challenged by Robert Dunlop, William Dunlop, James Crumpton, Lindsay, Chris Palmer, Michael Wilcox, Paul Robinson, Nigel Moore and Davy Lemon.

Roads close for practising at 1800 BST on Tuesday 11 May and Thursday 13 May, and for racing at 1030 on Saturday. The first race is scheduled to start at 1130.

The six-race programme includes two Superbike events, two 600cc races, a Production event and the 125cc class.