Former MotoGP star Jeremy McWilliams is looking forward to the upcoming 2016 Phillip Island Classic and intends to repeat this year’s British victory over the Australians on home soil.

Earlier this year, the UK pulled of a stunning upset at Phillip Island to defeat the 10-time defending champion Australia in the International Challenge, and the team's spiritual leader Jeremy McWilliams wants that feeling of adulation to continue.

"We just loved beating the Aussies. To be honest I thought we were never going to beat Australia on home soil, as their riders always seemed to have that little bit extra over us: circuit knowledge, the ability to test when we couldn't, a very tough line up and great machinery,”| said McWilliams.
 
"When we eventually won it was a sweet victory; the whole team and our sponsors Rog and Pat Winfield were all over the moon."
 
Sport always throws up its challenges however, and retaining silverware is often a much sterner test than winning in the first place. McWilliams, who will ride alongside riders like Isle of Man hero John McGuinness, Ryan Farquhar, Conor Cummins and Glen Richards in 2016, is fully aware of the challenge.
 
"We all love the competition and atmosphere at the Island, as well as camaraderie — but we're not under any illusions that it's going to be easy to defend the title. Saying that, this is our strongest team yet, which gives us a lot of confidence," said McWilliams.
 
"There's always a fair bit of banter between all the teams, but when the flag drops the shit stops. The Aussies take this event very seriously; Shawn (Giles) is always consistently fast as is Brendan (Roberts), Beau (Beaton) and Cameron (Donald), so everything has to be right to beat them.
 
"And Jed Metcher turned up to help the Aussie team last year. He's at the top of his game it was nice to show him the way home in one of the races… I see he's been out testing already so I guess he means business and like all of us he wants to win the individual honours."