Jezza: "work to do"

Jeremy McWilliams rode through the pain barrier to complete 36 laps on the final day of testing in Qatar.

The British veteran was not surprisingly last on the timesheets, with the new Ilmor still struggling and McWilliams being far from 100 per cent fit making it a gruelling three days in the Middle East.

McWilliams ended the test with a best time of 2.02.612 having knocked another 1.5s off his best time set this morning on his first return to action since his 120mph horror crash in Jerez almost four months ago.

Still walking with the aid of a crutch while his broken left femur still recuperates, McWilliams said: “It was good to be back on the bike if a bit awkward. We have got work to do but it’s difficult when I’m not fully fit.”

Aussie team-mate Andrew Pitt clocked a best time of 2.00.455 declaring some progress had been made with the Ilmor’s troublesome power delivery in Qatar.