Jeremy McWilliams to race at North West 200 in May

Jeremy McWilliams is to race at the North West 200 for the first time.

The former 250cc world championship and MotoGP rider will compete in the Supertwins class on Thursday 17 May.

The 47-year-old will ride for Ryan Farquhar's KMR Kawasaki team, for whom he rode at the Sunflower Trophy short circuit races in October.

On that occasion, McWilliams was third in the first race of the day at Bishopscourt, but improved to win the second event.

The veteran rider's most memorable success came in the Dutch round of the world 250cc championship in 2001.

He enjoyed several years in the premier MotoGP class and also competed in the British Superbike championship.

McWilliams has made sporadic short-circuit appearances in recent seasons and has also helped guide the careers of a number of Northern Ireland's rising young racing stars.

The Supertwins class is being staged for the first time at the North West and will be one of two races held on Thursday, before the main five-race programme on Saturday.

"Jeremy McWilliams is nothing short of a living legend in motorsport and no doubt our fans will be excited at the prospect of watching him race at the North West," said the event's Technical Director Mervyn Whyte.

"The Supertwin class is a new race for the North West 200 this year and we are pleased to be introducing it with such a high calibre line-up."

"The North West 200 is renowned in the world of motor sport, I've been attending it as a fan since I was a teenager and I'm really looking forward to experiencing it at first hand," said McWilliams.

"It has a unique atmosphere and exceptional racing. I'm hoping that I can be a competitive newcomer.

"I've some great competition just from my team mates, Ryan and Jamie Hamilton, who will also be a newcomer.

"It would be a fairytale to win the new Supertwin race but I have to be realistic.

"I'm really happy with my bike and it's been great to work with Ryan Farquhar who is no stranger to winning at the North West 200."