Alastair Seeley 'relieved' after landing British Supersport series ride

Alastair Seeley has been a regular on the top step of the podium at the North West 200

Alastair Seeley says it is a relief to have secured a last-gasp ride for the 2024 British Supersport series but a deal to compete at the North West 200 remains elusive for the 44-year-old.

Seeley will race a Yamaha for the Binch Racing team after Zac Corderoy was injured in pre-season testing.

The first round of the championship is at Navarra in Spain from 20-21 April.

"It's an exciting year ahead. It's all sort of last minute but we've put a deal together," Seeley told BBC Sport.

"I'm back on the Yamaha R6 which I rode in 2014 and again in 2018 and 2019. We're due to fly to Spain for the first round next week," said the Carrickfergus rider, who won the series back in 2011.

'Fit and raring to go'

Seeley looked set to sit out the 2024 season but will now be part of a strong field of riders and machinery to contest the 2024 Supersport series.

"I'm excited to get in among the next generation of Supersport bikes - the Ducati, the Triumph and the Suzuki - so it would be nice to see if we can still keep the Yamaha up there, see if I can get back to the front of a class that I know so well.

"It's a relief because obviously we are a week away from the season starting.

"I've been keeping myself in shape because the North West was coming close and I thought something might come of it but I've let it go as nothing has become available."

The Yamaha R6 Alastair Seeley will ride in the 2024 British Supersport series

Seeley finished third in last season's National Superstock 1000cc series in the colours of the Northern Ireland-based TAS Racing team, winning one race and accumulating 10 podiums in total.

"The two day test in Navarra next week will be the first time I have ridden a bike since mid October last year in the Superstock class so the rest of the guys have all had their pre-season Spanish testing and will be able to hit the ground running.

"I'm still learning the circuit on You Tube, where I'm going and where I'm at, but I should pick it up pretty quickly.

"It'll be exactly like Supersport racing always is, nip and tuck from start to finish, but I'm a bit of a fighter, a bit of a dog, and I'll just get stuck in."

'Baffled' by lack of a NW200 offer

Seeley remains "baffled" that he has been unable to secure competitive machinery for next month's North West 200 road races despite winning a record 29 times at the event.

"I went there last year and had two wins, two seconds and a fifth place but I'm left with nothing. I wanted to ride for one of the premier teams and there only are a select few of those.

"I feel sometimes, with me doing the North West it can be a hindrance. If I did the Isle of Man TT as well they would say 'we'll build bikes and we'll get value out of the rider', but just one week's event at the North West is going to cost teams a lot of money.

"I can't see any other reason given my CV there and my pedigree.

"The only reason I could see me being there is if someone tips off, but you never wish a rider to be hurt to take their seat. It does happen though, so if something does appear and I feel it is competitive then maybe we could do a deal and go for it."

Instead of gracing the Triangle circuit in early May, Seeley is set to be carrying out his 'day job' as a postal worker with Royal Mail.

"It would be frustrating not to be there but I've told my boss that at the minute I'm not due to go to the North West now so I'd like to work that week to take my mind off not being up at the north coast.

"It is what is, I might miss this year, but I'm not going to announce a retirement because I still feel I have plenty left in me, so teams might look at me and think there's a rider who missed a year, he might be hungrier for next year."