Former MotoGP rider Chris Burns will make his international roads debut after signing for Wilson Craig Honda.

The Newcastle man, who is 38, will contest the 2021 North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT Races on the Wilson Craig machines run by Darren Gilpin.

Burns is eager to get back into the saddle after a colourful career which has included MotoGP for the WCM Team back in 2003/4, stints at British Superbike, European Superstock, Dutch Superbike Championships and in IDM with the Holzauer Honda Team where he was team-mate to seven-time F1 king Michael Schumacher.

“I’ve been interested in the roads since I raced at Oss and Hengelo in 2011 when I was in the Dutch Superbike series. I loved them, after so many years racing on the big International tracks, I really took to these roads circuits and I knew then I wanted to tackle the Isle of Man TT,” said Burns.

“I had to take a step back from racing in 2012 for various reasons but coming back to try my hand on the roads has always been my plan. To be given the opportunity to join a team as successful and well respected as Wilson Craig is genuinely a dream come true for me.

“I am really excited about 2021. Darren and the team have been fantastic and we are all chasing the same goals. I’m looking forward to experiencing the North West 200 for the first time and in doing as much homework as I can at the moment learning the TT course.

“I am physically fitter than I’ve ever been so I just can’t wait to get back out there and see what we can achieve.”