Former MotoGP star Jeremy McWilliams thinks the 2018 Phillip Island Classic was the best so far, even though Team GB were beaten by the host nations.

The Ulsterman says it was fun competing against the likes of Troy Corser, Colin Edwards and Jason Pridmore, and really seeing what each other had.

While the UK team did lose out on the team challenge, McWilliams has praised his fellow teammates by expressing that the whole team is very strong.

“If you look where my teammates finished in race four, it was pretty impressive for them who have such little time on the bikes,” McWilliams explained to bikesportnews.com

“It’s as impressive with what Troy, Colin, Jason and Jake [Zemke] did, who came along and did the same thing, which was literally riding the same pace as us and we know this place inside out.”

McWilliams was also blown away by the amount of passion that Corser has in regards to how he came from dead last, after having to start from pit lane, to an impressive eighth place in race three.

On top of that, McWilliams also sung Edwards’ praises by saying: “We all thought maybe Colin is just going to have a bit of fun, but he was absolutely serious as it gets. It’s just so nice to be able to race with those guys again and come away and enjoy it.”

After the final race of the day, McWilliams expressed that it was a relief that it was all over.

“I mean we all love it, and it’s the joy of competing. I think it’s more when everyone gets back safely. Regardless of the outcome, we really wanted to win the overall, but the Aussies were just too strong this year. We lost a rider in the last race, being Glen [Richards] and we knew we were going to struggle.”

McWilliams admitted that the team weren’t really up to it on the weekend. From the first day Team GB were having too many mechanical dramas and things just were not going as well as it should have.

“Unfortunately once you get a gap in the teams challenge, it’s quite hard to claw it back. It’s the same during the race, as it’s only a six lap race. If anybody gets away, its impossible claw them back in.”

The highlight race was without a doubt the fourth and final race, which saw McWilliams getting the upper hand over Dave Johnson, winning by 2.62 seconds.

“I just wanted to beat Dave in the last race, because he really made us look silly in race three. I thought I just need to be with him and that was the game plan, which was to sit and watch and let everyone behind us work it out for themselves,” explained McWilliams.

For McWilliams to win the final six lap race, he had to change what he did on the 4.445km circuit to be able to beat Johnson who was so strong into turn one.
 
“I had to make my decision to do it on the last lap and not give Dave a chance to have a look at me again. So I just followed him and waited till I made the move.”

McWilliams had to square off turn twelve to get the run on Johnson, as both of their bikes were identical down the main straight.

“The slipstream worked perfectly, then I had to step out of my comfort zone in turn one to pass him. Had I let Dave back pass there, I would have never got passed him again before the finish line.”
 
McWilliams was expecting Johnson to come barrelling back up the inside of him at turn one, so he had to let go of the brakes and hope it all stayed together. Luckily it did. Once McWilliams got through turn two, he had a fair idea Johnson wasn’t going to get it back.

McWilliams, who turns 54 at the start of April, is still keen on competing and wants to return in 2019.

“I really hope I’ll come back again in 2019. It’s been the best racing we’ve had, with the biggest names in racing to, which is incredible. I take my hat off to Fergus [Cameron] and his workers who make this event what it is.”