Jeremy McWilliams has signed a contract to ride for Kenny Roberts' Proton KR team in the MotoGP series next season, ꧑ending speculation that he may move to superbikes.

The Irishman, whose podium finishes for Aprilia in the 2000 GP500 class were not enough to prevent the Italian team from quitting the top flight, spent 2001 re-establishing himself in the 250cc formula. Despite a lacklustre start to the year, hampered by three changes of team, McWilliams did en𒊎ough in the latter half to earn himself both praise and job offers from the new-look MotoGP category and the WSBK.

Although his immediate plans to compete in the grand prix set-up looked to have been scuppered by the loss of an Italian sponsor, the 2001 Assen GP winner eschewed a supposed advance from Carl Fogarty's new WSBK operation 🏅to sign with Proton in place of the departing Jurgen van der Goorbergh.

The mov✱e also guarantees Britain a runner in the top class, as young En🅷glishman Leon Haslam looks likely to take a step backwards after also losing a sponsor.

Further details of McWilliams co♛ntract are expected to be announced by the🧸 team shortly....