By Illustrious, famous, historic event names will combine for this years North West 200, as the most successful rider in NW200 history Alastair Seeley leads Be Wiser Ducati’s defence of the feature Superbike crown.
Feature Superbike class winners with Glenn Irwin in 2017 and 2018, allied to sustained success in the British Superbike Championship, there’s no question about that only one kind of a result matters to the PBM (Paul Bird Motorsport) run Be Wiser Ducati outfit, race victories.
It’s a mentality that is equally applicable to new team member Seeley, who in the past decade at the North West 200, has shown determination and some in pursuit of victories on the fast flowing, technical, tight and twisty Triangle course.
Photo by Stephen Davison
Speaking recently about securing a deal to pilot this May Panigale V4R Ducati machinery in what are certain to be compelling, engrossing, pulsating Superbike encounters on the coast roads, he candidly stated:
“I am chasing my 25th victory at the North West and I really want another Superbike race win. I know the PBM team will give me a great bike in the new Ducati to help me do that.
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.
PBM have enjoyed lots of success at the North West but this is a new chapter in a new book for the team with the new V4 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.”
Photo by Stephen Davison
The 24 times North West 200 winner went onto add:
“Hopefully I will be coming to the north coast with a couple of good performances in the opening two BSB rounds, and a good testing programme on the PBM Ducati under my belt.
Top speed and good stability are key at the North West and I think I will have the tools to do the job.
The new V4 sounds like a MotoGP bike and it will be exciting for everyone to hear it going around the North West.”
Reaction this evening to the high profile news from Be Wiser Ducati, was provided by Team Co-Ordinator of Paul Bird Motorsport, John Mowatt who stated:
“The North West 200 is a fantastic event and we have enjoyed some great success there over the years.
Three Superbike wins on our return with Ducati over the past couple of years has been magnificent and we want to build on that with the new Be Wiser Ducati V4R.
So, who better than Alastair Seeley, the most successful rider of all time at the event, to ride the bike and we are confident we can challenge for more race wins.”
Event Director of the North West 200, Mervyn Whyte MBE added his thoughts on the Be Wiser Ducati/Seeley combination:
“We have been working on securing this tie up between Alastair and Paul Bird’s Ducati team for several months. PBM/Be Wiser Ducati is one of the leading teams in the British Superbike championship with a fantastic record at the North West 200 over the past two years.
Alastair Seeley is the North West’s most successful rider and the prospect of seeing Alastair on board the new V4, locked in a battle with riders like Glenn Irwin, Michael Dunlop, Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison is a mouth-watering prospect that will excite every road racing fan.”
Words by Stevie Rial
