McWilliams eyes a second victory at the North West

Age is no barrier for Vauxhall International North West 200 star Jeremy McWilliams, who has his sights set on a second victory at the famous road race in May.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Feb 2014, 10:37 BST
27/7/2013 PACEMAKER PRESS INTL. Jeremy McWilliams during the Supertwins race this afternoon at the Armoy road races. Picture Charles McQuillan/Pacemaker.27/7/2013 PACEMAKER PRESS INTL. Jeremy McWilliams during the Supertwins race this afternoon at the Armoy road races. Picture Charles McQuillan/Pacemaker.
27/7/2013 PACEMAKER PRESS INTL. Jeremy McWilliams during the Supertwins race this afternoon at the Armoy road races. Picture Charles McQuillan/Pacemaker.

McWilliams took a hard-earned win in the Supertwin class on the Thursday night of race week in 2013, following on from his runner-up finish in the inaugural 650cc race on the 8.9-mile Triangle circuit a year previously. The former 500cc Grand Prix podium finisher will be 50 years old by the time of this year’s North West 200 on May 17, but McWilliams shows no signs of slowing down.

“I suppose I would be happy to make the podium three years running but I’d really love to pick up another win,” said the KMR Kawasaki rider. “Nothing else really counts after a North West win except doing it again, it is just so special.”

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However, the Newtownabbey man accepts there will be greater pressure on his shoulders in 2014, with expectations high in the wake of his debut success last year. “I suppose I will be the target man now in the way Ryan used to be and that brings its own pressure,” added McWilliams.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s Ernie Lyons, the oldest surviving winner of the North West 200, sadly passed away recently only one month before his 100th birthday.

He was a former winner of the 500cc race at the North West 200 in 1939 and after his brother, Alan, went on to record a victory in the 250cc class at the event in 1955 the duo became the first brothers to celebrate success at the international road race.