McWilliams to ride in BSB

Jeremy McWilliams will be riding in British Superbikes this year after being forced out of MotoGP.

The 40-year-old Ulsterman, who has been in GPs for over 10 years, was hoping to ride for the KTM/Proton squad again this year. But behind the scenes manoeuvering has forced him out and and into a ride for Paul Bird’s Stobart Honda team in BSB.

MotoGP bosses Dorna have admitted telling Proton boss Kenny Roberts that a younger British rider would be a much better option and it looks likely that McWilliams former team-mate Shane Byrne will be that rider.

Byrne himself claimed his future was still unclear on Monday this week (Click here to see him on video)

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Byrne has still not had anything confirmed about the move but with Roberts and Dorna both putting him in the frame he looks set to ride the V4 machine.

McWilliams will now become the top rider in the three-man Stobart BSB squad, alongside Gary Mason and Michael Laverty.

“Jeremy was always my number one target and I offered the ride to him in the first plac,” said Paul Bird. ”Of course we were interested in both Shakey Byrne and Gregorio Lavilla as I didn’t think we had a chance of signing a rider of Jeremy’s calibre and it has taken a lot of time and patience but I’m absolutely thrilled to have secured his services. He is a rider with so much experience and he will bring a new dimension to the team.”