Roads legend Ian Hutchinson is fighting fit and ready for this weekend’s FonaCans North West 200, saying he feels completely different than this time last year.

The Bingley rider, who has remained with Honda for 2019 but gets a new team-mate in the shape of David Johnson, has put in weeks of foreign test time over the winter and feels in a good place for when the flag drops for the first races on Thursday night.

“It has been a really good off-season and we’ve managed to get a lot of track time with a road bike and also for official team tests,” said Hutchinson.

I gave the lads a bit of stick over the winter, but they have pulled out all the stops and all the bikes have been absolutely brilliant.

“Everything is working really well and I can see the effort they have all put in, so I can’t thank them enough. Everything has gone in the right direction during testing and I really feel ready for the North West 200 with all three bikes.

“Personally I am in a totally different place coming into the races than I was last year, so I’m more excited than ever heading into the season.”