William Dunlop will spearhead Halsall Racing’s charge on the international road races in 2017 after signing a deal with the squad but it is not yet confirmed on which brand of machinery it will be.

The team recently exited the MCE British Superbike series and now Halsall will take his experience to the roads with Ballymoney’s Dunlop to contest the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix, as well as considering other events.

“Martin runs a very strong team and you only have to look at what he has done and achieved on the short circuits to see that he ensures everything is done in the correct way. It’s sleek, professional and highly driven. To have the team dedicated to me alone, will certainly raise my game. It’s the ride that I have been seeking and it’s been worth the wait to finally get this agreement in place,” said Dunlop.

“ We’ll be learning a great deal along the way, but I’m confident we can deliver some success in 2017 and I can’t wait to get started. This is also an opportunity for me to express my thanks to the loyal supporters and sponsors that have backed me in 2016 and have been extremely positive about the move to Halsall Racing. I’d like to thank everyone for their continued support.

The team will begin an extensive programme of Spanish and UK testing during the early part of the New Year. “Time on the bike is so important ahead of the new season. It worked this season as we saw, particularly on the Superbike at the TT for riders that had the preparation before the start of the roads season.

“I was not as sharp at the start of 2016 because I had very limited time on the bike in those opening months. By the time we arrived at Portrush, that deficiency was very clear for me. It really set the tone for my season and I don’t want to be in that position next year. Our plan with Halsall Racing is to ensure that I am in the best form by the time we arrive for the North West 200.”