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Surely more wins are on the cards for Seeley and the 2011 Gixer?

Thu, 02 Jun 2011

The amazing Alex Lowes is deservedly grabbing all the attention in the BSB paddock at the moment, but I believe last year’s top Superbike rookie, Alistair Seeley is doing an equally impressive job in the Supersport class. Although he looks ten years younger, thirty one year old Seeley  is riding one of only two 2011 600 GSXRs (fellow countryman Marty Nutt is on the other) in the class. Alistair has finished on the podium four times including a race win at the opening Brand Hatch round and currently lies second in the championship.  He also took victory on the Gixer in the only race run at the North West 200 last month and was looking like the runaway winner last Sunday at Thruxton until electrical gremlins struck after opening up a seven second lead. He stands out because after much post launch hype none of the major Supersport players believed the new Suzuki (there are none in WSS) would be competitive.

NM. After a great first season on a Superbike why did you move to Supersport?

AS. I had other Superbike offers, the main one being Tyco Honda but the North West 200 is of huge importance to me and only TAS Suzuki could provide the package I wanted. It was also an honour that Suzuki wanted me to ride their new 600. Michael Laverty moved back to this class, won the title and now has a successful Superbike career so there is no reason why I can’t do the same. The British Supersport class has also been a great route for Brits recently so I’d be open to offers in the world championship if they came my way.

NM. So is the 2011 GSXR competitive?

AS. I can’t fault the chassis and suspension and it took us very little time to get it dead right for me in pre season testing. The engine does lack a wee bit of punch especially at faster tracks. I can follow other riders but where you would normally slipstream and pass I seem to run out of steam. That said, the team is working hard to make the motor stronger and I know there are some areas of my race strategy that can improve.

Watching at Thruxton, Alistair Seeley and the little Suzuki certainly looked made for each other so I have no doubt we’ll see more race wins soon.  


By Niall Mackenzie


See also: Honda Reveals NSF250R Moto3 Racebike Specs, Mental Monkey video, Is This the New Suzuki V-Strom 650?.