LAST MINUTE MACHINERY CHANGES FOR JEREMY MCWILLIAMS IN THE SUPERSPORT AND SUPERTWIN CLASSES FOR 2026 BRIGGS EQUIPMENT NORTH WEST 200 RACE WEEK ON MAY 4-9

Jeremy McWilliams has made a last-minute change to his machinery line-up for the Briggs Equipment North West 200 race week on May 4-9.

The 62 year old will now ride a CD Racing /MSS Kawasaki 636 machine in the Tides Restaurant and Fraser Homes Supersport races at Portrush next week after switching to a Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV Yamaha R7 in the Maxwell Transport and JM Paterson Supertwin events. McWilliams is replacing Adam McLean in both teams after the Tobermore rider was ruled out of action for this year’s north coast races.

‘It has all been last minute.’ the three-time North West 200 winner explained.

‘It was nice to get the phone call from a long-established team like Steve Linsdell’s Flitwick outfit which has a good pedigree. And now I’m joining Nick Morgan and Chris Dowd for the Supersport races who I have also known for many, many years and I’m happy to join forces with them.’

‘The CD Racing / MSS Kawasaki package comes with two fully prepared bikes plus a support crew. It is a good option that is difficult to look over for the North West which is tough on machinery.’

The former Grand Prix star is as determined as ever to be back on the NW200 grid for 2026 where he says he still has ‘unfinished business’.

‘When you are riding in two classes you get much more track time so it’s a win/win situation.’ McWilliams explained after dipping under his best lap time on a Supersport machine during Friday’s test at Kirkistown.

Although he claimed a podium finish in the opening Supertwin race at last year’s NW200, McWilliams was disconsolate when his machine suffered a broken crankshaft in the second Supertwin outing.

‘After I finished on the podium in the first race, I was just so disappointed that I wasn’t in the fight in race two when conditions were perfect and there was a huge crowd looking on.’ he recalled.

That disappointment was compounded by an under par Supersport showing.

‘I didn’t feel I had the best package in the Supersport class after a last-minute switch to a R6 Yamaha that Tom Booth Amos provided for me the night before the race.’ the veteran explained.

‘I was still able to run inside the top ten so I’d like to make that result a bit better this year and maybe get into the top five or six or even fight for a podium. That would make me a lot happier.’

He may be the oldest rider on the grid but McWilliams shows no sign of letting up on his bid for more North West 200 success.

‘People always ask me why I want to keep coming back to the North West.’ McWilliams explained.

‘It is because I am still competitive. That’s really it. We come with friends and have a good week up on the coast and there is nowhere like it when the sun is shining. The atmosphere around the North West is unlike anywhere else in the world. It is a really special place but if I wasn’t competitive I would go and do something else because I would hate to be here and not be racing.’