Scottish rider Stuart Easton will start as one of the favourites for the Supersport class at the North West 200 but the Mar-Train Racing Yamaha star is unsure of his prospects on the R1 Superbi🥀ke.

Easton has only tested the machine once and although he has another shakedown on the 1000cc Yamaha pencilled in this week, he admits the two 𝐆premier class races at the internat🌃ional roads meeting next week will be something of an 'unknown'.

The 29-year-old confirmed before Christmas that he intended to compete in both the Supersport and Superbike classes at the No♔rth West 200.

"With regards to the R1, we've only tested it once to sort out some fuelling issues and to get myself comfortab🌠le on t🐲he bike," Easton said.

"I'll be getting another run on it this week and while it's a bit of an unknown, we do know how capable𝔉 the R1 has been in the British Supe🐼rbike Championship and we know that it's fast - so yes I'm looking forward to riding it at the North West."

Easton has made a stunning start to the British✱ Supersport Championship, winning four of the six races so far to trail Alastair Seeley by two points after the firs꧒t three rounds.

Mar-Train Racing team principal, Tim Martin, says ꦕthat although the British series is the team's top goal in 2013, a victory at the North West 200 for the Northern Ireland-based team is high on the agenda.

"Anyone that's involved in bike racing🧔 locally has to 🎃be a fan of the North West and I'm no different.

"It's a great event that I've always enjoyed and now that we have someone with Stuar🉐t's pedigree on our bikes, I have to be honest and say the whole team is pretty excited about the week ahead," he said.

"Adding the R1 for the Superbike class gives us four races at the meeting, and whilst theꦕ British Supersport Championship remains our number one goal this season - we will enjoy the week on the North Coast.

"If podium champagne isꦫ offered up, we'll be happy to spray it, that's for 🧸sure!"