Contrary to rumours that Josh Brookes would return to the Fonacab North West 200 with Be Wiser Ducati this season, the Penrith squad have signed Alastair Seeley to keep up their winning Superbike run on the new Panigale V4R

The team have been victorious in the last three NW200 Superbike races with Seeley’s arch rival, Glenn Irwin. Irwin has now switched to a rival Kawasaki team and Seeley’s move to Be Wiser Ducati will see the two Carrickfergus men go head-to-head on the nine-mile circuit once again come May.

“I am chasing my 25th victory at the North West 200 and I really want another Superbike race win. know the PBM team will give me a great bike in the new Be Wiser Ducati V4R to help me do that,” said Seeley.

“Everyone saw what the Ducati was capable of in the opening round of the World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island last weekend and I am very excited to be riding the bike at the North West 200.

“PBM have enjoyed lots of success at the North West 200 but this is a new chapter in a new book for the team with the new V4R machine.

“There can be some teething problems with a new bike but hopefully PBM’s BSB riders, Josh Brookes and Scott Redding, will have those sorted out for me before I get on the bike.”

The 39-year-old will also race in the North West 200 Supersport races aboard the EHA Racing R6 Yamaha that he will compete on in the British Supersport Championship.

“Hopefully I will be coming to the north coast with a couple of good performances in the opening two BSB rounds and with a good testing programme on the PBM Be Wiser Ducati V4R under my belt.

“Top speed and good stability are key at the North West 200 and I think I will have the tools to do the job. The new V4R sounds like a MotoGP bike and it will be exciting for everyone to hear it going around the North West 200.”