Last-minute change of plans for Jeremy McWilliams after late North West 200 deal with CD Racing/MSS Kawasaki

The former Grand Prix star will ride for the CD Racing/MSS Performance team on a Kawasaki 636 in a change from the J McC Racing Ducati V2.

McWilliams tested the Kawasaki at Kirkistown in Co Down and dipped under his best lap time on a Supersport machine.

A three-time winner in the Supertwin class at the north coast meeting, he also recently took up an offer to replace fellow Ulsterman Adam McLean on the Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV Yamaha R7 after McLean was ruled out of the event this year.

McWilliams said: “It has all been last minute.

“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.

“When you are riding in two classes you get much more track time so it’s a win/win situation.”

McWilliams claimed a podium in the opening Supertwin race 12 months ago but was left disappointed when a broken crankshaft ruled him out of the second race.

“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 added.

“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.

“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.”

Alastair Seeley rode the CD Racing/MSS Kawasaki at the NW200 last year, clinching a best result of sixth.

At 62, McWilliams is one of the oldest riders on the grid at the North West, but he insists he keeps coming back year after year because he is “still competitive”.

“People always ask me why I want to keep coming back to the North West,” said the former 250cc GP race winner.

“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.”

Opening practice takes place on Wednesday around the 8.9-mile ‘Triangle’ course.