McWilliams prepares for Grand Prix return at Silverstone this weekend

The local man who recently celebrated his 50th birthday will race in the Moto2 class aboard the all new Brough Superior.

The team announced last month that they would have a Silverstone wild-card with Luke Mossey, but with Mossey dropping out it left the door open for Jeremy.

At the recent Indianapolis MotoGP Jeremy took a victory from pole in the Harley Davidson race so despite the age thing he is still up to speed as far as racing is concerned and although the Moto 2 class is ultra competitive, he will be more than up for the job in hand.

He said: “The reason that I’m doing this is that I got the test on the bike and they asked me if I’d be prepared to help them and get the bike up to speed in a very short space of time and if I was willing to race it.

“With Luke Mossey dropping out it kind of left them in a sticky situation so I agreed to go and test the bike at Mallory Park and I was pleasantly surprised with how we got on.

“I can’t say by any means that we’re there yet but we’ve got a good starting point and if we can move forward with another test scheduled before the GP and then onto the race at Silverstone we might have something that we’d be able to race with.

“They’ve done a lot of racing with this bike in the States so it’s not as if it’s completely brand new.”

How does he think he will do at Silverstone?

“I’ve been watching Moto2 closely and it’s a very, very competitive class and we’re somewhat in at the deep end and we’re certainly going to struggle because it’s not easy,” Jeremy added.

“I won’t make any secret about the challenge ahead and it would be completely unrealistic to think that we could put this bike on the podium but we are taking the first steps of what is a completely brand new project with a very innovative chassis.”

IRWIN IS CROWNED IRISH 50CC

CHAMPION

Ballyclare’s Charley Irwin is the 2014 Irish 50cc automatic champion.

The seven-year old Fairview Primary School pupil has headed the championship in all 6 rounds on his Discount Beds KTM.

The local boy has raced all over Ireland taking in races from Londonderry to Cork in his quest to become champion.

Being his first full year of racing it is a great achievement and to show such promise at such a young age he must be a great prospect for the future. He will certainly be one to watch out for in the coming years.

GLENN LIFTS ULSTER MX2

CHAMPIONSHIP

Gleno rider Glenn McCormick wrapped up the expert MX2 Ulster Championship last Saturday at Laurelbank, Saintfield with one round to spare.

The local 18-year-old took his Watt Motorcycles /Agnew Recovery 250 KTM to two wins and a second place at the penultimate meeting of the Ulster season.

After a bad start in race one and a crash on lap two left Glenn had a bit of work to do before the chequered flag.

He determinedly picked his way through riders with some very impressive riding to finish second, only a few seconds behind the winner at the flag.

A good start in his second race and a start to finish victory followed, even with a rear wheel puncture towards the end of the race.

In the third and final race he didn’t get off the line cleanly and had a little work to do in the first few laps but when he got to front he extended his lead and controlled the race to another victory.

A delighted champion reflected on the past season saying.: “It’s been a tough year, but I’m so happy to retain my MX2 Ulster championship. To wrap it up with one round remaining is a just the icing on the cake.

“I really felt good today, and was able to mix it with the bigger MX1 bikes at the front. So far so good and now I can concentrate on hopefully adding the Irish title before the end of the year.”

BARR HAS UPS AND DOWNS AT CULHAM

With no British Championship racing last weekend, Doagh rider Martin Barr was inaction at the MX Nationals at Culham.

He qualified 4th and finished 4th in race his opening race on Saturday.

His second race was Sunday but things didn’t go quite to plan.

He was lying fourth before getting a puncture and was forced to retire.

His final race on the VMXMOTO.com/ Mallen KTM resulted in a first corner crash but he remounted to finish seventh.

“It wasn’t a perfect weekend but it was still a good workout to help get me back to full race fitness,” said Martin.

SPONSORS OF DAVID WOOD

MEMORIAL TROPHY RACES

The Road Racing Club of Ireland has announced the sponsors for The David Wood Memorial Trophy Races at Bishopscourt Racing Circuit.

The main class at this event – which takes place on September 20 – will be the Supersport class as 600cc machines.

That in itself will be a fitting tribute to the man who introduced the 600s to Ireland under the Regal Championship banner in the late 1980s.

The Road Racing Club of Ireland announced that the long-term partner of Team Wood, Pirelli Tyres will be the sponsor of the Supersport class at the Bishopscourt meeting, where the overall class winner will receive The David Wood Memorial Trophy, a set of Pirelli tyres and £800.

Other sponsors announced were Nutttravel.com,Wiz Knee Sliders,Emerald Road Racing, Robinsons Concrete, Ophir Motors, The Killinchy nd District MCC, Kenny Duncan Plant, Lifford, SIGNstiK Pre Injection, Enkalon Club and Arai Helmets.

The Motor Cycle Road Racing Club of Ireland added that they are grateful to all the sponsors named for helping them make this event a fitting tribute to Davy Wood.

Race regulations and entry forms are available to download @ www.mcrrci.co.uk

Anyone interested in placing an advert in the event program should contact Mark Sanlon on 07861747004.

A full 16 race program, commencing at about 11am, follows practice at 9am.

Spectator’s admission charge of £10 including a programme to the event and under 16s accompanied free of charge.

SUNFLOWER TROPHY

Riders should note that regulations are now available for the Sunflower Trophy meeting which takes place at Bishopscourt Friday 24 and Saturday 25 October.