Former MotoGP rider Jeremy McWilliams has been sidelined by KTM. The 60-year-old Northern Irishman has been a test rider at KTM for the past 15 years and has signed all sporty KTM street models from the RC8 onwards.
He may not be a Grand Prix legend, his statistics in Grand Prix motorsport are small compared to greats such as Valentino Rossi, Mick Doohan or Marc Marquez, to name just a few names, but nevertheless there are probably few drivers with more experience in road racing motorsport than Jeremy McWilliams.
McWilliams only put himself on the map in the twilight of his career, which lasted until 2007. The racer from Belfast immortalized himself in the eyes of all two-stroke fans in 2002 because he took pole position on the two-stroke three-cylinder Proton at Phillip Island that year. took advantage of the already stronger four-stroke 1000cc machines. It turned out to be the very last pole position with a two-stroke machine.
After ending his racing career, McWilliams became involved in the project of BMW’s first Superbike S 1000 RR, but switched to Austria and KTM as a test rider in 2009. The qualities of the fast and well-trained Irishman initially benefited the superbike project around the RC8.
As his expertise spread in Mattighofen, McWilliams became increasingly involved in KTM’s development projects. The ex-MotoGP rider’s ambition to optimally tune a 125cc engine with 15 hp ultimately earned McWilliams a permanent contract and a leading role in testing. McWilliams was also involved in the RC16 project in the early stages, alongside Mika Kallio. The 1290 Super Duke R – McWilliams’ signature. The RC 8c and RC 990R – ditto.
In principle, McWilliams still had a contract until the end of 2025, but as a result of the financial malaise at KTM, the test rider was immediately removed from his position. KTM’s R&D department has also apparently been hit hard. It was previously announced that staff will not be paid their salaries for November and December.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.