Jeremy McWilliams confirmed as late replacement on Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV Yamaha R7 at North West 200 as Adam McLean 'ruled out' of Northern Ireland road race and Isle of Man TT
Former Grand Prix star Jeremy McWilliams is a late replacement for fellow Northern Ireland rider Adam McLean in the Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV team to ride a Yamaha R7 at the North West 200.
McWilliams has been drafted into the team after McLean, who was also due to ride a Kawasaki ZX-6R for CD Racing in 2026, was ruled out of the North West and Isle of Man TT, with Flitwick Motorcycles “fully behind his recovery”.
McLean finished second on the R7 behind Richard Cooper after a race-long battle in the first Supertwin race in 2025 at the North West 200 and was again fighting at the front in the second race until he crashed out at Juniper Hill chicane.
McWilliams is a three-time winner in the Supertwin class at the north coast road races and claimed a podium last year, taking third in the first race on the J McC Racing Aprilia.
The 62-year-old will ride a Ducati V2 Supersport machine for Jason McCaw’s J McC Racing team at the North West.
Flitwick Motorcycles dealer principal David Linsdell praised Ulsterman McLean’s input over the past two years as he led the development of the Yamaha R7.
“We have hugely enjoyed the last two years with Adam riding our R7 and his input has led the development of the bike so far, showcasing it’s potential at the North West and TT in 2025,” he said.
“Unfortunately he needs a procedure to correct an issue that will put him out of those two meetings this year, but the team and our sponsors at SMV are fully behind his recovery, recognising that his health is absolutely the most important thing.
“The North West 200 is very important to us and we are heading into the meeting simply delighted that we have been able to secure a rider of Jeremy’s calibre at such short notice.
“We are confident that the experience he brings to the team will be invaluable in the continued development of the bike and he has shown us in recent years at the NW200 that he has lost none of the ability or hunger to contest the win at the event.
“We are confident of putting a bike under him that will allow him to continue those performances into 2026.”
McWilliams said the deal offered him the chance to ride “one of the most competitive bikes on the grid.”
“Very pleased to have the opportunity to ride for Team Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV and to ride their Yamaha R7,” he said.
“The Supertwin class is ultra-competitive and to have the support of one of the best bikes on the grid gives me a lot of confidence going into the North West 200.”
Flitwick Motorcycles will also run two machines in the newly-branded Sportbike (formerly Supertwin) races at the TT for the first time, with confirmation of the riders “to be announced shortly”.