Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/365773
INTERVIEW JEREMY MCWILLIAMS P102 pose, bike fit," McWilliams said. "You're riding for 55 minutes out there against full open-class sportbikes." Part-time status has the nice benefit of picking and choosing the events you want to race and, for McWilliams, racing at India- napolis Motor Speedway is one of them. "When you come to Indy it's a special place," McWilliams said. "How many riders do you see kissing 'the Brickyard.' It's a spe- cial place. I haven't done it. And the reason why I haven't is be- cause I know I feel I've done so well without doing it, what hap- pens if I kiss it and then it all turns bad. So I keep seeing riders do it and I'm thinking, 'Ah, I should've done that the first year.' " In addition to Indy, McWil- liams' list of must-do events is: the International Island Clas- sic at Phillip Island, the famed Northwest 200 (raced on the streets in Northern Ireland), and the Goodwood Revival. "I go to Phillip Island in Janu- ary for the International Classic," McWilliams said. "I really enjoy that event… again there's a lot of motivation to win that because it's an iconic meeting as well. The Goodwood Revival is com- ing up shortly; we'll take part in the Goodwood Revival on 365 machinery. That's tight going, there's a lot of BSB [British Su- perbike] and ex-world riders in amongst that." As of now McWilliams still plans on racing the Indy Harley race (if there is one), the Inter- national Classic, and Northwest 200 again next year. So maybe racing has sort of served as a fountain of youth for the Northern Irishman. "It keeps you motivated," McWil- liams said. "You have to keep on top of things. As I say you've got to keep on riding bikes. I think once you stop riding bikes you're going to lose that. If you're off the bike for too long than it might be an issue getting that speed back again. "But keeping me young…? I don't know," McWilliams said af- ter his second day of racing at the Brickyard. "I don't feel too young right now after two days of this, in this temperature. I feel pretty old right now - particularly now that I'm in fifth instead of on the podium where I think I should've been." Racing, teaching… McWilliams wouldn't have it any other way. "It's been great racing and mo- torcycling in general has been great for me," McWilliams said. "It's been my life and I wouldn't want it any other way. I wouldn't change it. Life's been good and I'm still enjoying it. I mean if you can call this your job… it's pretty cool. CN McWilliams (center) catches up with Neil Hodgson (left). Until Scott Redding's win at the 2008 125cc British Grand Prix, McWilliams was the only Brit to win a MotoGP World Championship race or pole that decade. "I ride bikes a lot. I don't believe that age has an affect on that. Everybody links age with slowing down; you lose your edge or your reactions or whatever that might be. I think that's not right. Okay, there's a limit, but I don't know what that limit is yet." – Jeremy McWilliams