Former MotoGP star Jeremy McWilliams will tick another box when he competes for the first time at the Tandragee 100 Road Races on May 1-2.

Fifty-one year old McWilliams will join Ryan Farquhar (38) to ride Roger Winfield’s 500cc Paton’s in the Classic Race.

More than 300 entries have been received for the 55th Tandragee 100, but certainly the name of McWilliams will raise a few eyebrows as he debuts at the most daunting of the Irish National road races – an over five-mile circuit that was once described by TT Legend John McGuinness as a ‘mini TT’ such is it contours and variety of bends.

McWilliams picks and chooses what events he rides at and has in the last few years ridden at the North West 200 and won in 2013, Armoy Race of Legends where he finished second in the 2013 Supertwin race setting a new lap record, raced as a guest in the high profile AMA Harley Davidson 1200cc series and won three times while back in January he led the UK team to victory in the Phillip Island Classic meeting finishing as top rider.
Why does he now turn to Tandragee? “The time was right, I was available and to race an iconic bike like the Patton is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Certainly names like Farquhar, the most successful national road racer in history, also making a return to the Open class this year, McWilliams, Keith Amor second in last year’s Supersport race on his comeback season, William Dunlop riding the CD/IC Supersport Yamaha and Jamie Hamilton to name but a few should ensure an enthralling two-day’s of action.