Steve Plater was a treble winner at the North West 200

Steve Plater, a treble winner at this year's North West 200, is being linked with the HM Plant Honda team for next year's international event in May.

The Lincolnshire rider is also likely to ride for the team at the Isle of Man TT Races and in short circuit events.

Plater currently rides for the AIM Yamaha team and is expected to confirm his 2009 plans in the next few weeks.

A spokeswoman confirmed that Plater had been talking to various manufacturers but would race at the North West 200.

"He will definitely be at the North West 200 - he loves it there," she said.

The 36-year-old has six North West wins to his credit, having broken his duck with two Superbike successes on an HM Plant Honda machine in 2006.

He followed that up with another victory in 2007 and then won the feature Superbike event and two Supersport races in the AIM colours this year.

Plater won his first TT race in the Supersport class in June but soon afterwards told the BBC that he was considering whether to contunue competing in road racing.

He will not race in this year's Macau Grand Prix, which he has won for the last two years, but is expected to return to the road races next year.

If, as expected, he lines out for the HM Plant Honda outfit, he will be partnered by John McGuinness, who has already signed for the team for next year.

In the meantime, the Woodhall Spa man will continue to compete for the AIM Yamaha team in the British championships.