Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider Stuart Easton has confirmed he will ride at this year’s Vauxhall North West 200 aboard his British Superbike ZX-10R.

The Hawick rider, who was seriously injured at the event in 2011, is set to renew his rivalry with Alastair Seeley, who replaced him in the Mar-Train British Supersport team, after the pair pushed each other to the wire for the middleweight title last year.

“The bike that I will race at the North West is the same bike that I will ride in BSB this year. It is a great bit of kit and I feel comfortable on it. I just need to get enough practice and I will be ready to go,” said Easton, whose best result was a second behind Seeley in the 2010 feature Superbike race.

“Tuning an engine for the North West is a bit of a black art but I know that PBM will have it covered and that the team’s engine builder Frank Wrathall will give me a motor that will be up to the job.

“The team have won North Wests, TTs and world championship races and working with that experience makes my job so much easier. I just have to turn up and race.”