Plater won Superbike races at the North West 200 in 2006 and 2007 (Photo: Alan Armstrong)

Lincolnshire racer Steve Plater will begin Saturday's Supersport races at the North West 200 in Northern Ireland from pole position on the AIM Yamaha.

Plater also starts from sixth position in the Superbike race, in which he is aiming for a hat-trick of victories.

"The competition's getting stronger every year. Hopefully we'll be on the pace," he told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

"The Supersport bike's working really well but we've got a few issues with the Superbike set up."

But Plater is confident that those problems will be resolved in time.

It's very sad. The organisers do the utmost for safety and they do a good job, but you can't guarantee anything Steve Plater on the death of Robert Dunlop

This year's North West 200 has been overshadowed by the death of Robert Dunlop, 15-time winner at the event and brother of road racing legend Joey Dunlop, in an accident during practice on Thursday.

Plater admitted: "It's very sad. The organisers do the utmost for safety and they do a good job, but you can't guarantee anything."

Several other Lincolnshire riders are competing at the event in County Antrim, which is second only to the Isle of Man TT in the British road racing calendar.

Rob Frost from Ruskington will start from 15th place in the Superbike and Supersport races, and from 14th in Superstock, while Branston's Dave Hewson was 59th in the Superstock class and 55th in the Superbike qualifying.

Bardney rider Ivan Lintin has qualified in 61st position for Superstock, 56th in Superbike and 17th in the 250cc race, and veteran 125cc racer Mick Wilcox from Torksey starts from pole position as he seeks his first victory at the event.