Veteran racer Michael Rutter has still got one eye on Alastair Seeley’s all-time North West 200 win record but says he would be very difficult to beat.

The Midlander will return to the Vauxhall-backed event this year with his Bathams/SMT-backed BMWs and wants to extend his own win tally which currently stands at 13 - four less than Carrickfergus man Seeley who is will also be racing the golden triangle in 2017.

“Hopefully I still have another win or two left in me. I’d like to think I could still catch Alastair Seeley’s record of 17 wins but it would be very difficult because he is so small and so good,” said Rutter.

Rutter is due to compete in the Pirelli National Superstock series again this year but will see how he fares in the official BSB test at Donington on Wednesday.

“We have built a superbike spec BMW and will ride it in the first BSB test at Donington next week. If we get on OK we will consider doing some BSB rounds. Last year the Superbike hadn’t turned a wheel before we arrived at the North West.

“We developed the bike all year and it showed how good it was in Macau. We have continued to develop it over the winter so it should be a good bike.”

If Rutter does move back into the blue riband class, it will put an end to an argument his is having with Ian Hutchinson over using the number four.