Jeremy McWilliams took a thrilling North West 200 Supertwins race this evening after firstly having a big dice with William Davison and then holding off James Hillier and Jamie Hamilton. The KMR Kawasaki rider became the first Grand Prix race winner to take victory at the North West 200 since Tom Herron way back in 1978.
The sun began to break through the clouds when the race got underway but the majority of the riders opted for full wets and it was Hillier who grabbed the holeshot before Davison took the lead going into York Corner. McWilliams followed him through and the duo eked out a small gap over the rest of the field and they were almost insperable at the end of the first lap, just 0.03s splitting them. Hillier was still in third followed by Lee Johnston, Ivan Lintin and Hamilton.
“This ticks a box I have always wanted. To win a North West 200 race is an amazing feeling. It also lays a few ghosts to rest for the doubters who cast doubts on whether I could win a road race or not," said McWilliams.
On the second lap, there was still nothing between McWilliams and Davison whilst there was a superb four way dice going on for third although Johnston overshot the Juniper chicane before rejoining the group.
Former GP winner McWilliams was using all of his experience on the brakes to edge ahead, particularly on the link road, but on the third lap, him and Davison were only inches apart at the Metropole. Going up Black Hill side by side, Davison shot up the inside only to lose the front end and crash out unhurt.
That appeared to give McWilliams some breathing space but he couldn't relax as Hillier and Hamilton were less than two seconds behind going into the final lap. The wily veteran, in just his second NW200, was able to hold on for a famous in with Hillier and Hamilton crossing the line in that order.
Ivan Lintin took a strong fourth with Johnston holding on for fifth from Michael Rutter, on a third KMR Kawasaki, who lost too much ground on the opening lap. James Cowton made it four KMR Kawasaki's in the top seven, a fine ride on his circuit debut, with Michael Sweeney, Colin Stephenson and Paul Shoesmith completing the top ten.
