Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams was today denied his fourth Phillip Island Classic pole position by three-tenths by Australian’s Dave Johnson
While it would have been nice for McWilliams to have taken pole position, he explained to bikesportnews.com that it’s even more rewarding just to be there at the front, so he doesn’t have to fight his way through the pack.
“We’ll take this all day long in terms of qualifying on the front row,” said McWilliams who has started on the front row six times in the previous years since 2011. “Qualifying is not the real thing, so we are happy to be where we are as we have most of Team GB’s bikes there thereabouts.”
Apart from McWilliams, the remaining UK team riders have pulled their fingers out, as you expect them to do. The likes of Glen Richards, Peter Hickman, Dan Linfoot and Michael Rutter are all lapping in really good pace, which is why McWilliams believes this is the strongest that he and the UK team have ever been.
While the likes of Richards, ‘Hicky’ and co are on good form, it was just unfortunate to loose Lee Johnston as he high sided out of turn four in the later part of qualifying two.
McWilliams explained" “It just goes to show just how hard everyone is trying, as everyone wants to be up there. They all know how important it is to be up the frontend of the grid as well, seeing it’s only a six lap dash to the chequered flag.”
The 53-year-old believes all four races will be a real ding dong battle, as everybody is really, really close. In terms of the McWilliams’ mindset heading into race one and two tomorrow, he admits that he will never be able to pull away from this lot of riders, who are in the leading pack.
“In the past, you could have put a game plan together, if you had a margin. But there is nothing there. It’s just going to be a case of who can stay on the track, stay out of trouble and who doesn’t get swallowed up by the better group.
"If you can get away with one, two or three riders it will be a really good couple of races. It’s hotting up to be the best set of races ever I believe, but unfortunately I’m in the middle of it.”
McWilliams joked by saying it will be a relief when he gets back to the finish line at the end of the two races tomorrow.
