Seeley to join RAF Reserves BMW for BSB and NW200

Alastair Seeley will join the RAF Reserves BMW team for this year’s MCE British Superbike championship. The Northern Irishman will take over from Peter Hickman as he launches his first attempt at the challenge since 2012.

“It is great to be back in the Superbike Championship, the elite class, again. I have been there before and know what it takes – I have had some seasons to regroup in Supersport and Superstock and I want to come back and pick up where I left off in 2012. I have obviously been keeping a close eye on BSB and it looks like it is not going to be easy with the level of riders on the grid and everyone is so close on times – but that is good for me and I am ready for the challenge.

“I feel that my experience on the BMW in the Superstock class will help me this season and I am working with crew that I know already, which is a big bonus for me too. I want to start the season strongly, as when I was in the Showdown before you need to get yourself inside the top six and then to maintain it.

“We have a really good testing programme, so we should be able to start fighting from the opening round and moving forward from there. The team have proven they can be on the podium so I obviously want to try and make that happen again this year and be back in the Showdown again.”

Seeley, who finished runner-up last season on the Tyco BMW in the National Superstock 1000 championship, will also line up at the North West 200 for the team where he is pushing to become the most successful racer of all time after drawing even with Robert Dunlop in 2015.