Tough return for Jezza

Published: 14 February 2007 Updated: 24 November 2014

Jacque hit his head so hard he couldn't remember his name
McWilliams was slowest on day 1 of the Qatar test

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British veteran Jeremy McWilliams bravely returned to track action in Qatar today after his injury nightmare.

The Ilmor rider, hobbling around the paddock with a crutch, was unsurprisingly the slowest of the 22 riders testing in Doha today on his first ride since he suffered multiple injuries at the end of November in Jerez.

McWilliams broke his left femur in that 120mph horror crash and only underwent surgery in Belfast last Friday to have a screw removed from his left knee.

He set a best time of 2.07.660 as he struggled to grip the new Ilmor V4 with the severely weakened left leg. McWilliams said: “I’m just struggling to grip the bike with my leg because the muscles just haven’t been used.”

Team-mate Andrew Pitt clocked a best time of 2.01.667 to finish 4.893s adrift of the best time set by Texas Tornado Colin Edwards.

By Matthew Birt

Jacque hit his head so hard he couldn't remember his name

McWilliams was slowest on day 1 of the Qatar test