North West 200 bosses have today announced the 2018 races will take place between May 13-19 and Glenn Irwin is already confirmed in the line-up.

Irwin was the star of the show this season, taking the big race win for Paul Bird’s Be Wiser Ducati mob edging out race legend Alastair Seeley on the last lap.

“I’ve had a good season with the PBM Ducati team, winning the North West and getting my first BSB win despite getting injured at Knockhill,” said the Carrickfergus man.

“I am really looking forward to coming back to the North West again. It has a special buzz for me because it is where I watched racing when I was a kid. After last year I sort of feel that I am now the person that I used to watch and that is really cool.

“I am as hungry as ever to win at the North West and I know how much the team want to win again too. I thrive on support and I know how much I get from the fans at home. I grew up in Northern Ireland and for us winning the North West is like winning a world championship.”