 Steve Plater leads Alastair Seeley at last year's North West 200 |
I have always enjoyed the North West 200, whether I've been racing, spectating or commentating, and I'm as enthusiastic as ever about this year's event. The meeting is adored by teams, riders and spectators, and I think that's because of the atmosphere - it's spread over the best part of a week and people get the chance to socialise, as well as race hard. The death of Robert Dunlop cast a huge shadow over the whole event last year but his son Michael managed to make something good out of something bad by winning the first race. It was an extraordinary situation, something that you could barely have scripted - a terribly sad event and then the dawning of a new career. Last year produced some of the best racing ever seen on the Triangle circuit and Steve Plater seems to be the new man on the block that everyone has to beat. He has really shaken up the established stars in recent years and I have never seen him ride better, whether it be on the short circuits, on the roads or in endurance racing.  | Alastair Seeley was a surprise package last year and he certainly gave the Northern Ireland fans something to cheer about |
He has started well in the British championship and seems to be improving with age - and with children. He has two kids now and obviously wants to get out of the house a bit more. Some of the riders have hinted that he is maybe a bit too aggressive in the latter stages of races on the coast road and at some of the chicanes but it is a situation where everyone has their thresholds and parameters. The regular short circuit guys probably have a slightly different perspective and some of the chicanes are arguably not as dangerous as other parts of the course so heavy braking and outbraking manoeuvres are inevitably going to be tough. One or two riders ended up having to take the slip road at Magherabuoy last year and maybe that is something the clerk-of-the-course will have to keep an eye on and speak to the riders about if he thinks there's a problem. Michael Rutter is riding for the Rob Mac Yamaha team and it has been quite an embarrassing start to the season for them, with some very poor results.  Michael Rutter has struggled so far this season |
The Airwaves Yamaha team seem to have the bike set up well but Michael is having all kinds of dramas with it and it's not good for him to be going to the North West and the TT with a bike that is seemingly not sorted. Hopefully they will get some good track time and get the bike sorted out. Alastair Seeley was a surprise package last year and he certainly gave the Northern Ireland fans something to cheer about. He has started the season well, and along with Ryan Farquhar on the 600 and the Dunlop brothers in the smaller classes, offers the best chance of a local success this time round. The North West has become a huge event and I just wonder how much further it can grow. When I was racing, it was something that British and Irish riders and enthusiasts knew about, but now it is known worldwide. With the television and internet coverage, people are watching it all over the globe and long may it continue.
Steve Parrish was talking to BBC Sport NI's Richard Petrie
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