Josh Brookes to return to North West 200 with Yamaha team

Josh Brookes

Australian Josh Brookes is to return to the North West 200 next year as a member of the Milwaukee Yamaha British Superbike outfit.

Brookes was seventh in the Superstock race and performed well in Superbike qualifying as a high-profile debutant with the Tyco TAS Suzuki team in 2013.

The 30-year-old will be joined in Yamaha colours by Ian Hutchinson.

It has also been revealed that John McGuinness and Conor Cummins will form the official Honda team at the event.

The pair will ride under the banner of Honda Europe, and will also contest the Isle of Man TT in June.

Hutchinson made a dramatic return to action at the recent Macau Grand Prix, taking victory after an 18-month absence from racing.

Guy Martin and William Dunlop will ride for the Tyco Suzuki team, but Michael Dunlop's participation in next year's international showpiece remains in doubt as he has so far been unable to secure a suitable deal.

American Jeremy Toye is set to return to the North West next year, and will be joined by fellow Macau Grand Prix regulars Marc Fissette and Didier Grams.

The North West 200 will be held from 13-17 May, 2014, with racing scheduled for Thursday night and Saturday.