Former MotoGP rider Jeremy McWilliams believes he is “in the mix” and “definitely” a top three rider in the Supertwin clasღs at the 2025 North West 200.

The 61-year-old is a multiple winn🍎er at the North West 200 and remains an acti✃ve races in various disciplines around the world.

Returning for another crack at the North West 2𒅌00 this year with JMCC Racing in the Supersport and Supertwin class🀅, McWilliams is confident of being a podium contender in the latter.

Running an Aprilia for the first time, which he says is all-new, he has battled numerous teething issues with it during p✨ractice but is “pretty pleased” with the bike.

“Just a brand-new bike,” he told BBC Sport.

“🧔Just trying to get my head around what works better.

“We definitely weren’t in the right window at the start of the session but st🌃arted getting there at the en🅺d.

“All the laps were on my own, so it’s not really a true reflection I think of what the bike i♐s capable of.

“We’ll make a gearing change, played about with t🐲he suspension. We’ve realised that we kind of need a big geometry change.

“So it’s just ♕back to the drawi𝄹ng board, but it was new out of the box at Kirkistown.

“We had a bit of an overheating problem that repeated itself yesterday, so I’m kind of glad it didn’🌼t go yesterday.

“We’re somewhere in the mix with new machinery. ✨First tim꧙e I’m riding an Aprilia. So, I’m pretty pleased with it. It needs some tweaks.

“I think we’re definitely going to be🦩 in the top three or I wouldn♉’t be here.

“And the bike is definitely capa🎶ble of that. I just have to make sure I’m up to it.

“But I feel pretty comfortable ou🍌t there. I’m not able to brake where I want to, which is why we want to make the geometry change.

“If we can improve the braking zones, then we are right in th🔯e mix.”

McWilliams was fifth fastest in qualifying on Thursday morning on 𒀰his Supertwin bike, which was ru🅷n over an hour after the Wednesday session was cancelled due to numerous red flag delays.