Jeremy McWilliams(born 4 April 1964 inBelfast)[citation needed]is a British motorcycleroad racerfromNorthern Ireland.McWilliams became ineligible for mainstream racing after the 2014 season due to his age exceeding the 50-year-old cutoff point, but has continued to ride occasionally in fringe events not controlled by theFIM.[1][2]

Jeremy McWilliams
McWilliams followingValentino Rossiat the 2000 British Grand Prix
Born(1964-04-04)4 April 1964(age 60)
Belfast,Northern Ireland
Motorcycle racing career statistics
MotoGP World Championship
Active years19931996,2000,20022005,2007
ManufacturersYamaha,Aprilia,Team KR,Ilmor
Championships0
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
118 0 2 2 0 300
Moto2 World Championship
Active years2014
ManufacturersTaylor Made
Championships0
2014 championshippositionNC (0 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
1 0 0 0 0 0
250cc World Championship
Active years19971999,2001
ManufacturersHonda,TSR,Aprilia
Championships0
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
58 1 4 1 0 384

Career

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Early career (1993–2001)

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Between 1993 and 2001, McWilliams rode in the 250cc and 500cc classes. He took two podiums in the 500cc class in 2000, at the Italian GP and the British GP. The following year he won the 250cc race in theNetherlandsaboard anAprilia.[3]

MotoGP and British Superbikes (2002–2007)

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In 2002 and 2003, McWilliams rode forKenny Roberts' Team KR in MotoGP aboard the Proton KR bike.[4]In a surprising performance, he took pole position at the 2002 Australian GP, riding a three-cylinder two-stroke bike against the much more competitive four strokes. His best race result over these two years was 6th at the 2003 French GP[citation needed].

In 2004, he rode the much-malignedAprilia RS Cubein MotoGP, alongsideShane Byrne.[5]His best finish was 12th place, which he achieved three times, amidst a season where he was frequently hurt due to the vicious nature of the bike. He later claimed to have experienced broken ribs and a dislocated collarbone, amongst other injuries, during that season.[6]

For 2005, McWilliams was contracted to return to the Kenny Roberts KR team, who would be receiving engine support fromKTM.However,Dornastepped in later and revoked the contract on the insistence that Shane Byrne be given the ride.[6]This came as a huge disappointment to McWilliams, leaving him scrambling to find a ride late into the off-season.

Instead, he spent 2005 racing in theBritish Superbike Championshipon a Honda, but finished outside the top 10 in the end of year standings, partly due to a shoulder injury suffered during the season.

Later in the year, he did get a chance to fulfill his initial plans of riding the for Team Roberts in MotoGP. KTM withdrew their support for the team one day before the Czech grand prix at Brno, refusing to supply engines.[7][8]This left the team in a difficult situation, as they were contractually obliged to fill their position on the grid, but had no engines to use. Furthermore, the team's sole rider, Shane Byrne, was technically contracted to KTM and unable to ride any other bike, leaving Byrne unable to compete and Team Roberts with no rider.

With less than 24 hours notice, McWilliams found himself competing atBrnoin theCzech Republic,racing on the Team Roberts Proton V5 bike the team used in 2004.[9]The weekend started promisingly, as McWilliams immediately started posting lap times as much as 1.5 seconds quicker than what the bike had posted the previous year. However, McWilliams ended up being forced to retire from the race due to an engine sensor failure, causing the throttle to stick open.[10][11]

Following the race, McWilliams expressed interest in competing in the rest of the season. Team Roberts subsequently announced that they would not be able to make it to the flyaway races due to their sudden loss of funds from the now terminated KTM deal, but hoped to show at the season-ending race in Valencia with McWilliams.[11]For reasons unknown, the team and McWilliams failed to show.

For 2007, McWilliams was contracted to race in the MotoGP series for the newly foundedIlmorteam,[12]despite a heavy crash in testing in late 2006.[13]He had to miss the first race of the season inQatar,due to another crash, near the end of theLosail International Circuit.After this round the team suspended its racing operations and did not return[citation needed].

Later years (2012–present)

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In 2012, McWilliams participated in theNorth West 200races, where he scored a second place in the Super-Twin event[citation needed].Riding for theKMR Racing Team,McWilliams finished second behind his fellowIrishman,Ryan Farquhar.

In 2013, McWilliams had a supporting role in the filmUnder the Skin,starringScarlett Johansson.[14]

In 2014, McWilliams returned to Grand Prix racing at the age of 50 for a one-offwildcard ridein theMoto2series at theBritish Grand Prixheld atSilverstone.[15]He finished in 29th place aboard a machine with American origins entered as Brough Superior, using the controlled-standard600 cc four-cylinder Honda engine.[16][17]

McWilliams occasionally enters fringe events not controlled by theFIMwith their age limit.[1][18][2]

McWilliams is involved in development work for motorcycle and tyre manufacturers, such asKTM,and also in coaching young riders through his Masterclass race schools.[citation needed]

In 2022, McWilliams returned to road racing full time in theMotoAmericaKing of Bagger Series with theIndian Motorcyclefactory team along site 2021 class Champion Tyler O’Hara.[19]During the 2022 season, McWilliams was able to take his first win the series during theDaytona 200weekend. For 2023, McWilliams remains on the Indian factory team alongside O'Hara in both the King of the Bagger and the Super Hooligan class.[20]

Career statistics

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Grand Prix motorcycle racing

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By season

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Season Class Motorcycle Team Race Win Pod Pole FLap Pts Plcd
1993 500cc Yamaha Team Millar 13 0 0 0 0 17 22nd
1994 500cc Yamaha Team Millar 14 0 0 0 0 49 12th
1995 500cc Harris-Yamaha Team Millar 12 0 0 0 0 20 19th
1996 500cc ROCYamaha QUB Team Optimum 15 0 0 0 0 26 16th
1997 250cc Honda QUB Team Optimum 14 0 0 0 0 73 10th
1998 250cc TSR-Honda QUB Team Optimum 14 0 1 0 0 87 9th
1999 250cc Aprilia QUB Team Optimum 14 0 1 1 0 83 10th
2000 500cc Aprilia Blu Aprilia Team 16 0 2 1 0 76 14th
2001 250cc Aprilia MS Aprilia Racing 16 1 2 0 0 141 6th
2002 MotoGP Proton Proton Team KR 16 0 0 1 0 59 14th
2003 MotoGP Proton Proton Team KR 16 0 0 0 0 27 18th
2004 MotoGP Aprilia MS Aprilia Racing 15 0 0 0 0 26 19th
2005 MotoGP Proton Team Roberts 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2007 MotoGP Ilmor GP Ilmor GP 0 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2014 Moto2 Taylor Made Brough Superior Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Total 177 1 6 3 0 684

By class

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Class Season 1st GP 1st Pod 1st Win Race Win Podiums Pole FLap Pts WChmp
250cc 1997–1999, 2001 1997 Malaysia 1998 Germany 2001 Netherlands 58 1 4 1 0 384 0
500cc 1993–1996, 2000 1993 Australia 2000 Italy 70 0 2 1 0 188 0
MotoGP 2002–2005, 2007 2002 Japan 48 0 0 1 0 112 0
Moto2 2014 2014 Great Britain 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 1993–2005, 2007, 2014 177 1 6 3 0 684 0

Races by year

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(key) (Races inboldindicate pole position)

Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos. Pts
1993 500cc Yamaha AUS
Ret
MAL
DNS
JPN
Ret
SPA
Ret
AUT
20
GER
Ret
NED
Ret
EUR
11
RSM
13
GBR
Ret
CZE
16
ITA
19
USA
12
FIM
11
22nd 17
1994 500cc Yamaha AUS
17
MAL
14
JPN
13
SPA
11
AUT
16
GER
Ret
NED
Ret
ITA
15
FRA
8
GBR
10
CZE
10
USA
9
ARG
9
EUR
12
12th 49
1995 500cc Harris-Yamaha AUS
DNS
MAL
14
JPN
Ret
SPA
11
GER
Ret
ITA
Ret
NED
18
FRA
7
GBR
Ret
CZE
16
BRA
12
ARG
Ret
EUR
17
19th 20
1996 500cc ROC Yamaha MAL
14
INA
12
JPN
13
SPA
14
ITA
16
FRA
11
NED
14
GER
Ret
GBR
Ret
AUT
14
CZE
14
IMO
Ret
CAT
12
BRA
Ret
AUS
Ret
16th 26
1997 250cc Honda MAL
9
JPN
16
SPA
9
ITA
9
AUT
Ret
FRA
11
NED
9
IMO
7
GER
8
BRA
10
GBR CZE
Ret
CAT
11
INA
10
AUS
10
10th 73
1998 250cc TSR-Honda JPN
10
MAL
7
SPA
Ret
ITA
Ret
FRA
7
MAD
9
NED
12
GBR
7
GER
2
CZE
4
IMO
Ret
CAT
Ret
AUS
Ret
ARG
6
9th 87
1999 250cc Aprilia MAL
7
JPN
Ret
SPA
7
FRA
11
ITA
4
CAT
6
NED
3
GBR
6
GER
Ret
CZE
8
IMO
13
VAL
Ret
AUS
Ret
RSA BRA
Ret
ARG
DNS
10th 83
2000 500cc Aprilia RSA
Ret
MAL
10
JPN
8
SPA
Ret
FRA
12
ITA
3
CAT
12
NED
Ret
GBR
3
GER
Ret
CZE
9
POR
11
VAL
Ret
BRA
Ret
PAC
14
AUS
8
14th 76
2001 250cc Aprilia JPN
8
RSA
6
SPA
10
FRA
7
ITA
Ret
CAT
6
NED
1
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
CZE
Ret
POR
5
VAL
5
PAC
3
AUS
4
MAL
5
BRA
5
6th 141
2002 MotoGP Proton KR JPN
Ret
RSA
Ret
SPA
16
FRA
10
ITA
Ret
CAT
12
NED
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
7
CZE
7
POR
9
BRA
Ret
PAC
10
MAL
12
AUS
10
VAL
8
14th 59
2003 MotoGP Proton KR JPN
Ret
RSA
Ret
SPA
12
FRA
6
ITA
Ret
CAT
Ret
NED
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
12
CZE
Ret
POR
19
BRA
16
PAC
Ret
MAL
17
AUS
11
VAL
12
18th 27
2004 MotoGP Aprilia RSA
16
SPA
Ret
FRA
13
ITA
16
CAT
DNS
NED
15
BRA
14
GER
12
GBR
16
CZE
14
POR
12
JPN
12
QAT
Ret
MAL
15
AUS
14
VAL
13
19th 26
2005 MotoGP Proton KR SPA POR CHN FRA ITA CAT NED USA GBR GER CZE
Ret
JPN MAL QAT AUS TUR VAL NC 0
2007 MotoGP Ilmor GP QAT
DNS
SPA TUR CHN FRA ITA CAT GBR NED GER USA CZE RSM POR JPN AUS MAL VAL NC 0
2014 Moto2 Taylor Made QAT AME ARG SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER INP CZE GBR
29
RSM ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL NC 0
Source:[21]

Superbike World Championship

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Races by year

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(key) (Races inboldindicate pole position) (Races initalicsindicate fastest lap)

Year Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos. Pts
R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2
1993 Ducati IRL IRL GER GER SPA SPA SMR SMR AUT AUT CZE CZE SWE SWE MAL MAL JPN JPN NED NED ITA ITA GBR
10
GBR
Ret
POR POR 48th 6

References

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  1. ^abJeremy McWilliams to race in Moto2 – aged 50!!"Moto2 age limit regulations state: 'For the Moto2 riders, the limit for the maximum age finishes at the end of the year in which the rider reaches the age of 50.'".Motorcycle News,21 August/24 November 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2022
  2. ^abNorth West 200: Jeremy McWilliams hits out at Supertwins cancellationBelfast Live13 May 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022
  3. ^"McWilliams wins 250cc GP".BBC Sport.BBC News. 30 June 2001.Retrieved16 October2017.
  4. ^"Jeremy McWilliams – IMDb".IMDb.Retrieved16 October2017.
  5. ^"McWilliams signs with Aprilia".MCN.2 December 2003.Retrieved17 October2017.
  6. ^abTrev (20 January 2016)."Jeremy McWilliams talks to Trevor Hedge about his racing career, his motorcycle development association with KTM, the Island Classic and many other topics".MCNews.Retrieved24 November2022.
  7. ^newspaper (12 August 2005)."KTM Will No Longer Supply MotoGP Engines To Team Roberts".Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.Retrieved25 November2022.
  8. ^"Roberts in the dark as KTM cuts the power".The Sydney Morning Herald.23 August 2005.Retrieved25 November2022.
  9. ^"Brilliant Rossi claims Czech GP".BBC Sport. 28 August 2005.Retrieved16 October2017.
  10. ^Sports, Dorna."McWilliams on his comeback with Team Roberts | MotoGP™".motogp.Retrieved25 November2022.
  11. ^abSports, Dorna."Mixed feelings for Mc Williams on his MotoGP return | MotoGP™".motogp.Retrieved25 November2022.
  12. ^"McWilliams confirms MotoGP return".BBC Sport.BBC. 19 December 2006.Retrieved29 August2014.
  13. ^"McWilliams hurt in MotoGP crash".BBC Sport.BBC. 30 November 2006.Retrieved29 August2014.
  14. ^McCann, Nuala (20 March 2014)."McWilliams is 'bad man on mission for Scarlett Johansson'".BBC News.Retrieved29 August2014.
  15. ^Emmett, David (22 August 2014)."50-Year-Old Jeremy McWilliams To Race Brough Superior In Moto2 At Silverstone".Retrieved16 October2017.
  16. ^Moto2 Silverstone: McWilliams reviews day one on Brough Superiorcrash.net, 29 August 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2022
  17. ^2014 Silverstone Moto2 Results & Recapultimatemotorcycling, 1 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2022
  18. ^Jeremy McWilliams To Replace Injured Dan Kneen In Mar-Train Yamaha Teamnorthwest200.org, 8 May 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2022
  19. ^"Ex-GP racer Jeremy McWilliams coming to the US… to go bagger racing?".9 March 2022.
  20. ^"Jeremy McWilliams to race two MotoAmerica classes with Indian in 2023".
  21. ^"Jeremy Mcwilliams".MotoGP.Dorna Sports S.L.Retrieved29 August2014.
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