Hegarty's ready for the North West 200!

Top Gun Hegarty all set to fire at 2017 Vauxhall International North West 200.

Dan Hegarty made his debut at the 2016 Vauxhall International North West 200 and the Nottingham rider can’t wait to return with his new Top Gun team in May.

Held wearer Dan Hegarty: Getting ready!

The 31 year old will be riding in the Superbike, Superstock and Supersport races on the Honda Racing Fireblade that Conor Cummins campaigned last season alongside a Supersport spec CBR600RR Honda and a 2017 spec Fireblade in the Superstock races.

“I really enjoyed last year’s North West.” the Nottingham rider said during the Honda test at Castle Combe last week.

“The weather was great and I had a good run in the Superstock race.”

A Scarborough specialist and the top privateer at last year’s Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix, Hegarty is building his road racing CV. A maiden appearance at the 2016 Macau Grand Prix is now being followed with another season on the Irish roads, beginning at the North West on May 7-13.

Dan looks good in the black Held suit too! 

“The North West is a great circuit and it requires a lot of work to guage your braking markers from the high speeds.” he explained. “My favourite part of the circuit was the coast road section. Coming over Black Hill and the run down into Juniper with all that heavy braking was awesome.”

One of the fastest newcomers at last year’s event, Hegarty will be on one of the fastest bikes on the circuit in 2017.

“I know what riders like John McGuinness has done on the Honda and I know there is plenty more to come from me.” he said. “I will have 20bhp more than I’ve ever had before. We have the donkey now, it is up to refine everything around that.”

Hegarty has switched from the K Tech suspension and Dunlop rubber he used on his stocker Kawasaki last year to Metzeler tyres and Maxton suspension for 2017. What is his goal with the new Honda superbike at this year’s North West?

“I don’t set goals because that is pressure.” the level headed 31 year old says. “As long as I am always going forwards on the roads then I will be happy.”

Dan Hegarty!

Good luck from all at Held!

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